The Washington times., 1930-04-05
VALET DENIES
GIVING MILES
H|GHBALL
Nurse Claims Orange Juice
Was Drunk About Hour
Before Sudden Demise


Although the Department of
Justice is still running out loose
ends in the investigation of the
sudden death of Basil Miles,
former diplomat, here at Emer-
gency Hospital two years ago, it
was indicated today that the
probe will end within a few days.
Statesments to the effect that
the body of Miles will be ex-
humed were denied by Assistant
United States Attorney Neil
Burkinshaw, under whose direc-
ton the investigation is being
conducted. BurkinShaw took the
stand that unless new evidence is
discovered that such a step would
be unnecessary.
In any any event it was stated
at the Department of Justice, the
Attorney General would have to
act before the body of the former
diplomat can be ordered exhumed
by agents working on the case.
It is also said that Mrs. H. H.
Rogers, wife of the Standard Oil
magnate. the widow of Miles,
would first be consulted before
any such move will be made.
AS the investigation seemed at
q standSti1l yesterday, number
of conflicting stories we're de-
veloped regarding Just what tran
Spired in the room at Emergency
Hospital short time before Miles
died.
Hicks Enters Denial
James Hicks, colored, formerly
employed as Miles valet, today
denied reports that he was at
his employers bedside when he
died. Hicks also said that so
far as he knew there vas no
liquor at the bedside ard that
reports he had delivered some
liquor to his former boss were
false.
Hicks said that he had earlier
in the day visited Miles but that
he had left him in apparent
good health and that he saw
nothing which indicated coming
death.
The valet informed the Times
today that he did not know of
the diplomats death until hours
aferwafd when he was informed
of it by one of the nurses at
the hospital.
A statement by Mrs. M. G. Nash,
nurse in the case, stated that her
patient had drunk nothing but
a glass of orange juice and that
about an hour before he died.
She was emphatic in her state
ment that Miles died from pull
monary embolism. the diagnosis
Of physicians at the hospital.
Supporting the nurse, Mrs.
Wells Root, wife of a newpaper
man, now in Los Angeles, stated
that she was in the room when
Miles died and that he was not
even given a drink of water prior
to his death. She, too, stated
that the diagnosis Of the phySi-
clans was correct,
Administered Oxygen
In deposition, which is supposed
to have been forwarded to the De-
partment of Justice here, Mrs.
Root is purported to have stated
that when Miles fell back gasp.
ing on his pillow that DR.. Edward
Grass, resident physician at the
hospital at that time, ran into
the room and administered oxy-
gen to the patient in a futile
effort to revive him.
The entire investigation, accord
ingto those interested, was
started as the result Of ugly
rune which have persisted from
time to time in the last two
years.
DR.. Grass stated when first
interviewed several days ago that
Miles had had a highball just
before he died. 1t was also said
that at the time of his death
the nurse was in a diet kitchen
preparing him his dinner and
that the diplomat was alone in
the room with Mrs. Miles.