The Washington times., 1931-10-28
DEATH IN CHAIR
FOR SUSPECT
IS SOUGHT '
State Hopes to Prove WoIfen.
den Collected Insurance
On Alleged Victims Life

MANASSAS, Va, Oct. 2S.-With
Walter Wolfenden in Jail, Prince
william county authorities today
were bending every effort to send
him to the electric chair.
The authorities believe they can
convict him of the murder Of
Goodwin Miller and his wife, Vir-
ginia. whose bodies together with
that of their baby was found in
the ruins of their farm home on
the Joplin-Manassas Road more
than a month ago.
Hearing November
WOlfendan is scheduled for q
hearing November 5 on a murder
warrant sworn out yesterday by
Sheriff ]. p. Kerlin, that date hav'
ing been set after Commonwealth
Attorney T. H. Lion had asked
that the man be held in jail with
out bond.
In the intermin the Common
wealth expects, according to Mr.
Lion. to produced the following
evidence:
That WOlfenden, who needed
money to redeem his home,
Cashed a policy on Miller'S lie
which paid double indemnity,
S74S, for death by physical viO-
lence.
That WOlfenden previously
had asked q man what effect
fire would have on q body, par
ticuIarIy the limbs.
That the accused had Sug'
gested to another hat they
insure q mans life and bump"
him off.
That Wolfenden forged his
name as beneficiary to the
policy on which he collected.
Finances Held Motive
Behind this mosaic the State
expects to prove discouragement
over finances was the motive.
The State, according to the Com
monwealth attorney, can show
that the home in which Wolfen-
den and his sister, Bertha, had
lived since their fathers death,
had been sold at foreclosure last
August and that the oank which
bought it in had agreed tC per
NIT him or anyone he would
name to purchase it for the price
~ ca am I0l11S intnrnSf
At this point, Mary Carter,
former Manassas school teacher,
daughter of a prominent county
farmer and reputed fiancee OF
the accused murderer, enters the
picture.
Several days after the death
Of Miller, his wife and baby, she,
with the permission of Wolfen-
den, bought in the property, pay
ing $518.O2 and making deed
Of trust for the remainder.
Contributes Information
Miss Carter denies, according
to Mr.. Lion, that she knows any
thing about the death of the
MiIIers, but has contributed sew
eral bits of valuable information.
She has denied that Wolfenden
was at her home on the night
the Millers' home was seen in
flames. However, she has stated
that on the preceding night he
was there and told her he had
paid in 5000 on some insurance
which he expected to borrow on.
That was on Thursday, Septem-
her "a.
On September q, Miss Carter,
according to Mr.. Lion, said that
Wolfenden came back and was
apprised of the Miller tragedy.
At that time, Mr.. Lion says, the
woman told him he said:
"WelI, I'll use that (mean-
ing the insurance policy and
get the money"
The bodies of Miller, his wife
and child were found in their
isolated home on Friday, Septem-
ber IS, and before Sunday the
tragedy had become common gos-
sip.
Got Death Certificate
The following Tuesday Wolfen-
den visited Coroner E. H. Mar
Steller and obtained a certificate
of death, but had difficulty in
obtaining a notary's certificate
to the document. The claim had
been filed the day before, Septem.
ber %, when the premium on the
1870 double-indemnity policy was
due.