Evening star., 1928-04-19
WIDOW QUESTIONED
ON MURDER MOTIVE
Rockville Police Act on The
ory Jealousy Figured in
Staying of Mills.

Bv stan Correspondrnt Of The star.
ROCKVILLE. April l9,-Mrs. Bertha
Mills. widow OF Edward l.. Mills for
whose murder Samuel +. Robertson is
being held In Jail here without bond.
was questioned today by Montgomery
County police in their search for a
motive which might help them in their
effort 10 link the Bethesda contractor
with the year-old mystery crime.
Acting on the theory that jealousy
prompted the killing OF Mills on his
farm last July Z. county authorities
were running down number of clues
in the vicinity Of Rockville and
Bethesda From Mrs Mills no Nidi-
tional light was thrown on the appar-
entity remote friendship between her
husband and Robertson. who lived on
an adjoining farm about a mile distant.
ut the time Of his marriage some II
years ago. Alleged QuarrelS between
Robertson and four neighbors in the
Bethesda district were also being in
Quircd into by the police.
Robert Peter. jr,. States attorney of
Montgomery County. issued a statement
today saying that the only develop
ment he would reveal 10 the press at
this time was the summoning Of Joseph
r. CiSsell. former States attorney, TO
assist him In the case.
Youth Not Needed Now.
There IS no intention at this time to
bring Clarence Miles 20~year-old farm
hand and only eyewitness To the muir
der of Mills. TO Rockville for the pur-
pose of confronting Robertson Miles
has been an inmate OF the Maryland
House of Correction at JessupS Cut
Md, serving a short term following his
conviction on charge Of larceny.
II was explained. however that the
eyewitness may be brought here later
10 find whether he could identify Rob-
ertson. whose denial Of any connection
with the murder Of Mills remains un-
broken after attempts by Baltimore and
Rockville officials 10 force an admission
I from him
Movements Of Robertson immediately
before July :. and on the day itself
when the body of Mills was found, form
an important part of the objective in
the attempt OF officials to uncover some
motive to back the circumstantial evi-
dence on which the prisoner is being
held
So far as was learned today Robert
son has not tried To prove any alibt.
although his wife has told police otfici-
ais that al o'clock the morning of
July 7. when Mills BODY was found.
her husband was in bed at home
Typewriter Tests Figure.
Mr.. Peter expects 10 have more def
mite information soon from the Bureau
OF Standards expert who is making
tests with the typewriter taken from
Robertson'S home. Its writing Is de-
clared 10 be almost identical with the
iyping on the death note" which was
pinned TO Mills body by his slayer This
typewriter and the two pistols obtained
from the prisoner constitute the cir
cumstanttal evidence on which he is
being held
One pistol vas obtained from Rob-
ertSon last month after the latter had
trouble with Wilson Trout at the Trout
home. near Potomac. during which n
cartridge vas discharged The bullets
fred from the two revolvers are SIM
lar to bullet found in Mills body.
1t In charged
According 10 his attorney, Stedman
Prescott. the prisoner will not be given
a preliminary hearing until week or
10 days Meanwhile he must remain
In jail without bond. under the pro-
cedure in Maryland involving a first
degree murder charge From Mrs.
Mills, widow of the slain man police
received practically no assistance,
although she w!llingiyx told what little
she knew.
When seen by newspaper men who
Travelled the rustic dirt read to her
lonely farm this morning Mrs Mills
admitted she had been questioned by
poliee officials
Find a motive and you will find the
man gho killed my husband" she de-
clared, Unless a motive is uncovered
can be OF little assistance"
Not Personal Acquaintance.
Although Robertson lived on the ad-
joining farm for several years, she said
today that she did not know the man
personally Between the prisoner and
her husband there was only neighborly
friendship. she explained. and she had
never heard Of any quarrel or disagree
ment between the two men.
Il am quite sure that they always got
along on friendly terms Mrs. Mills
added Since the Robcrtsons moved
away Mrs Mills said she had not heard
their Fame mentioned
Mrs Mills sister. Mrs Jessie Ma
gfudef. who was al the home could
shed no light on any of the investiga-
tons now being followed by officials,
According 10 Mrs. Mary Roberts. wife
OF Wilburn Roberts. Mrs Robertson was
raised on farm not distant from the
Mills place. She was an orphan and
reared by Mrs. Roberts brother
Slightly more than a year ago she
said that Mrs. Robertson revisited the
farm 90 nurse her mother. and re-
mained several days, The woman said
she never had heard OF any difiiculty
between Mills or any members Of the
Robertson family. Ofilctals today in
tended 10 interview Wilson Trout to in
quire into rllmors which they believe
might shed some light on evidence In
volVlng Robertson, During the alterca-
it0n between the two men. Robertson
is declared 10 have made suspicious
ullerance
Robertson Was declared today tn be
in cheerful frame OF mind and conn
dent OF being released after prelimi~
nary hearing To relatives who visit
him in jail he again made categorical
denial Of any connection with the Mills
case. lie Ii under a strict injunction
from his attorney not to divulge what
his defense viii be al the time Of the
hearing or trial
s=eaa-as#
| FIREMAN SAVES HIS TWO
| CHI DREN. KILLS MAD DnE