Evening star., 1930-04-02
Body May Be Exhumed, but
Value of Action in Probe
Is Doubted.
WIFE WITH DIPLOMAT
AT TIME HE EXPIRED
Pulmonary Embolism Blamed Then
as Cause-Doctor Had Be-
lieved Him Safe.

The death of Basil Miles, American
diplomat and economist, who died in
Emergency Hospital on June IA, 1928,
presumably of pulmonary embolism,
has been under investigation by the
district attorneys ONCE and the De-
partment of Justice for several weeks,
it was learned today.
Assistant District Attorney Neil
Burkinshaw, who has been conducting
the investigation, is expected to inter-
rogate a Washington woman of high
social standing believed to have been
with Miles in his room shortly before
he died.
With Mr.. Miles at the time of his
death was his wife, who subsequently
married Col. Henry H. Rogers, Standard
Oil magnate.
Burkinshaw also may order the body
exhumed, but it is considered doubtful
that an examination would disclose any
thing material to the investigation at
this late date.
Doctor Thought Him Safe.
Miles, former American diplomat and
delegate at large for the United States
Chamber of Commerce, underwent an
operation on June 4, 1928. by DR.. James
Mitchell, prominent surgeon. Ten days
later he had so far recovered that DR..
Mitchell left the city on trip.
DR.. Edward j. Grass, at that time
resident physician in the hospital, was
attending another patient late on the
afternoon of June II, when he heard
a woman scream. He ran into the cor
ridor and met Mrs. Miles, who told him
her husband was dying. When he
apparent evidences of pulmonary en-
bolism, otherwise known as blood clot
on the lung.
4 death certificate giving an embol-
ism as the cause of death was signed
by DR.. Grass.
Mr.. Miles was buried in Murray Hill
Cemetery at Philadelphia.
DR.. Grass Qusstionet
DR. Grass has been questioned by
Burkinsflaw and an agent for the De-
partment OF Justice; TO whom he out
lined the physical facts Of Mr.. Miles
death.
Burkinshaw also is expected to uues-
ton Mrs. M. G. Nash, the nurse who
attended Mr.. Miles. Mrs Nash, how
ever, Is understood not to have been
in the room at the time of his death.
1t is believed that Miles drank a
hlghball a few minutes before he died.
The present Mrs. Rogers was one of
three persons against whom a suit for
$750,00 damages was filed in the New
York State Supreme Court last year.
The action was brought, according to
the Associated Press, by Edward e.
Kern, a former secretary of Col. Rogers.
Kern charged that Mrs. Margit Borbala
Braun Rogers and Andrew and Marie
Zichy maliciously caused his discharge.
He alleged that one Of their reasons
was an investigation he had made at
Rogers request into Mrs. Rogers
antecedentS and .1e before Ter mar
riage to the oil man last year.
Emperor Is Involved.
One of the questions contained in
Kern's petition, which he said he would
ask in open court, was whether the
present Mrs. Rogers had told the colonel
that she was an ilegitimate daughter
of the late Franz Josef, Emperor OF
Austria Hungary. Attorney for the de-
fense charged this question was put
merely to give publicity to Kern's suit
and made an unsuccessful effort to have
the papers sealed.
Reports that a settlement out of
court for large sum had been effected
were published in February of this year,
but attorneys for the parties to the
action declined to comment on them.
Mr.. Miles marriage to Mrs. Margaret
Peabody Savell, nee Won Braun, took
place in Europe in 1925, when he was
on a mission there for this Govern
ment.
Headed Russian Division.
Born in Philadelphia June 20, 1877,
Mr. Miles started his career in the
Government in 1905. when he was as
signed as secretary to the Ambassador
to Russia, later becoming third secre-
tary of the embassy.
Later he became associated with the
Chamber of Commerce, and in 1917
accompanied the Root mission to Rus
sia. In 1917, he was named head of
the Department of Russian Affairs in
the State Department.
Little is known in Washington of his
wife, prior to her appearance in Paris
in 1924, following her separation from
her first husband.