Evening star., 1926-10-10
SOLDIER IS SOUGHT
IN MILLER DEATH
Unknown Man Reputed to
Hold Key to Mystery
of Circumstances.

The investigation into the death OF
Pvt. Edgar H. Miller, the 3rd Cavalry
trooper, who was shot through the
head in Arlington National Cemetery
last Monday night, only a stones s
throw from the spot where a young
man and woman were fired on the
same evening. has narrowed down
to a search for the soldier who ac-
companied him the night he was
killed
That Miller was one Of the two
men-described as soldiers who
Johnson of 1921 Ninth street and Ma
rian GRAY as they sat near the south
west corner of the cemetery wall
seemed to be established late yester-
day afternoon. when it was virtually
proved that Millers stolen Army au-
tomato fired the bullets.
Department of Justice agents, &C.
companied by Lieut.. P. T. Barnum,
member of the board of inquiry ap-
pointed by the officials at Fort Myer.
found five AS caliber shells yesterday
afternoon near the spot where john
son and Miss Gray were attacked.
Lieut.. Barnum Immediately noticed
that a defect in the mechanism of the
pistol from which they were fired had
caused each to be plainly pressed in
and scratched at particular place.
Shells Peculiarly Marked.
When five shells were placed in the
AS caliber automatic that was found
near Miller's body and fired, the eject
ed shells were marked in exactly the
same manner and in identically the
same spot. Additional proof that the
same pistol had been used in the at
tack on Johnson was found in the fact
that the firing pin pierced all 10 per-
cussion caps at precisely the same
point.
At the same time sufficient proof
was obtained to satisfy officers at
Fort Myer that the gun belonged to
Miller. 1t was stolen from a corporal
of the service troop of the Sd Cavalry
on the target range several weeks
ago. Three soldiers admitted to the
investiga tors yesterday that they had
seen the trooper with the weapon, had
suspected that it was the missing
pistol. but had been assured by
Miller that he had bought it.
Miss Gray was taken to the scene of
the shooting by Department of Justice
operatives yesterday afternoon. Lieut..
Nina Van Wrinkle, chief of the Wom-
ems Bureau, accompanied them. Miss
Gray, it is understood. changed her
previous story that she and Johnson
had fed when the latter was struck
by a bullet. She said that they re-
manned On the scene for fully five min
utes after the last shot had been fired.
johnson was brought to Emergency
Hospital by friends later that night.
Miss Gray, according to the story
she told police, was cautioned by
Johnson to maintain silence on the
events which took place that night
She also gave the Department of Jus
tice agents the name of q man she
said had been forcing his attentions
on her and who she believed, had been
following her. This angle is being in
Vestigated, as the man in question is
available at any time for questioning
All efforts to find a shell near where
Miller's body lay have failed thus far
The ground was raked over carefully
by military prisoners yesterday after
noon, but neither the exploded shell
nor the missing cartridge clip were
uncovered. Some red spots were
noticed on the cemetery wall. where a
body might have been lifted over. and
scrapings were taken by the authori-
ties for chemical analysis to deter
mine whether they were made by
blood. They may have been caused
by iron particles in the rocks.
Military knowledge Valuable.
The discovery of the exploded shell
cases at the scene Of the attack on
Johnson and Miss Gray was dramatic
Directed by Lieut.. Barnum and the
Department Of Justice operatives a
squad Of military prisoners raked over
the ground carefully. The first shell
was found in exactly the spot from
which the attack was described as
having begun. Military knowledge Of
firearms then asserted itself
If the man with the pistol stood
here" declared the sergeant who was
guarding the prisoners, and retreat
ed at the regulation military pace,
firing as he went. then the next shell
ought to be there"
He indicated with his shotgun the
spot. Two men examined the ground,
and not more than inches from
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