Evening star., 1926-10-11
MILLER MYSTERY
IS STILL UNSOLvED
Sightseeing Bus Lecturer
Recalls Observing Two Men
Near Death Spot.

Mystery surrounding the death of
Pvt. Edgar Harry Miller, Fort Myer
cavalryman, presumably one week
ago tonight in Arlington National
Cemetery, today appeared not much
nearer solution than at any time since
the Department of Justice officials
and Fort Myer authorities began their
investigation.
Two new leads opened for considera-
tion Of the investigators today, but by
IL o'clock one of them apparently had
been shattered, If not totally wiped
out. These new developments since
Saturday night were the arrest Of
Earle v. Betty, SO years old, who
described himself as an evangelist
and who resides at the Gospel Mission.
The other was the report to the in
vestigators by Albert Pralle, lee
turer of the Gray Line Sightseeing
Co, to the effect that on Tuesday
morning he saw two men near the
spot near where Miller's body SUBJ
sequently was found. One man, PraIle
said. was in the cemetery and the
pther was outside the wall. AS the
bus approached, Pralle now recalls.
the man in the cemetery jumped over
the wall and, joining his companion,
both turned their backs and appeared
70 be examining the ground.
Saw Motor Cycle There.
A motor cycle was parked on the
roadway. Pralle thought nothing Of
their actions at the time, but since the
body Of Miller was found there, he
now recalls the incident. The arrest
Of Betty was made by Robert r. Dye.
superintendent of Arlington National
Cemetery, yesterday afternoon and the
man was turned over TO Sheriff Fields
Of Arlington County for confinement
until he could be questioned.
The Investigators today closeted
themselves with Betty in Sheriff
Fields Office for more than two hours,
and when the interview ended, Betty
was taken back to his cell in Airing
ton Jail to be held for further ques-
tioning. The investigators, while not
willing to order his release, plainly
indicated that the detained man was
not of very much assistance to them.
Mr.. Dye arrested Betty after the
latter had declared to him yesterday
that he was the husband of Marion
Gray, who was with Ernest Johnson
one week ago tonight near the ceme-
terry wall, according to her statements.
At that time Johnson reported he was
fired on from ambush and wounded
in the leg.
Betty, because Of his knowledge Of
Johnson and Miss Gray, impressed
MIR. Dye as one who could throw some
light on the shooting of Johnson, as
we'll as the death Of Miller. 1nas-
much as Miller's death is believed
to have occurred at or about the
same time Johnson was fired upon by
persons unknown to him. the fact
has not been positively established
whether the shootingS bear a relation
to one another or taht Miller's death
was coincidental with Johnsons
wounding.
Because the investigators, so far as
could be learned today, have not been
able to clear up a positive angle on
the two shootings, the suicide theory
originally advanced in Miller's death Is
gaining greater strength in the minds
Of Fort Myer officers connected with
the case. The statement was made
today that If all sources Of investiga-
ton become exhausted in a short
while there is nothing else to do but
accept the theory that the trooper
killed himself However, so many suS-
picionS enter into the two shootings
that every one connected with the
case is not willing to subscribe to the
suicide theory.
Betty came in contact with the
investigators last week and Is re-
ported to have said he was a close
friend of Miss Gray. Yesterday, how
ever, he declared emphatically that
he was her husband and that they
were married in Rockville several
years ago. Questioned for proof of
this statement Betty is reported to
have answered that the minister who
performed the ceremony and. the wit
loo a1e-@
to have told officials that he knew
Miss Gray and Johnson We're plan
ming a ride together last Monday
night and later saw them depart.
The man, however, did not tell a
very coherent story of his connection
with Johnson and Miss Gray, accord
ing to the investigators. He will be
questioned probably tomorrow after
the interrogators today have followed
up some of the information given
them by him.