Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-28
Sheriff Believes Man, Wife
and Child Were Slain
and Then Burned.
ROBBERY MOTIVE SEEN
IN $122 BONUS PAYMENT
Two Members of Moonshine Band
Said to Have Left
Triangle.
By star Correspondent of Tn. Star.


TRIANGLE. Va, September "a
Three members Of an alleged bootleg
gang are being sought today for ques-
tioning concerning the deaths Of Good
win Miller, his wife and seven-month-
old child, whose burned bodies were
found in their cabin, seven miles from
here, last Friday night.
Convinced that the family was muir
dered before the house was set afire,
Sheriff j. P. Kerlin of Prince william
County, has organized q posse which
is searching the hills near here for the
men and their base of operations.
Authorities were informed yesterday
that two others, also members Of the
gang, boarded bus for New York Sat-
urday morning, following the discovery
of the tragedy late Friday.
Says He Qulzzed Victim.
Justice Of the Peace Willard e. LLOYD
of Triangle furnished O clue thought
to connect the dead family with the
moonshiners. He said that several
weeks ago he was searching the woods
near Miller's home for still. when he
found an automobile track leading TO
the Miller home. He aroused Miller,
who had been sleeping, and questioned
him regarding still, but the man de-
MED any connection with 1t. Mr.. Lloyd
said Miller's clothing was covered with
mash, of which he smelled strongly.
No motive has yet been uncovered
for numbering the couple and their
child. Three theories, however, are
being. considered, Sheriff Kerlin de-
clared.
Robbery Motive Seen.
The first is that Miller unarreled with
the moonShiner gang. Secondly, that
murder was committed by robbers who
heard that Miller received 1922 bonus
last week for service in the Army dur
ing the war. The third theory is
based on reports that Miller was In
fight in Triangle Thursday night,
few hours before his death.
w. H. Mann, proprietor Of q store &c
Triangle, told Justice OF the Pea &c
Lloyd that Thursday about midnight
he heard Miller and his wife utiarreling
beneath his window A man Is quoted
as saying Miller told his wife he was
going to clean up Triangle" MRS.
Miller replied he had better come on
home, since the baby was sleeping and
he had already had one fight tonight"
Lloyd said Miller appeared to be in
toxicated, Mann informed him.
Both Skulls Severed.
The skull of the dead man, severed
from his body, has not yet been found,
despite a thorough search Of the ruins
of the cabin and the vicinity. The
bodies of Miller and his wife were found
lying side by side in q frame bed with
a flash light between them. The re-
mains of the child was lying crosswise
in crib, 10 feet away. Mrs. Miller's
skull also had been detached from her
body. Her lower jawbone was found
lying near the lower portion of her
mutilation may have been the result OF
the intense heat and the collapse Of
the bed.
Coroner E. H. Marstellar was unable
to say definitely whether the two skulls
had been severed from their bodies with
an instrument or by the flames.
The time of the tragedy has been set
at between am. and $3.50 am. Friday.
Mr.. Lloyd said the Millers were seen on
their way home about / o'clock by two
colored men. Miller's watch stopped at
2:30 o'clock, while his wife's stopped
i've minutes earlier.
Miller is thought to have had about
$3.50 on his person Thursday. He re-
ceived his bonus Tuesday and Thurs
day brought about $50 worth OF chick
ems and eggs into Triangle and sold
them. The money was not found
among the ruins, but authorities point
out this does not indicate it was stolen,
since it would have been burned.
Whisky and Wheat Found.
When Constable C. A. Bryant Of
Triangle reached the ruins Friday eve
ming, following discovery that the FAM
lily had persisted, he found about IL
bushels of wheat still smoldering In
the ruins and two large cans which
contained rye whisky. Sheriff Kerlin
pointed to the latter as further evil
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