The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-05-03
ACCUSE Filler
OF MURDER IN
WRITER DEATH
Warrant Charges Lancaster
Killed Fiance of Mrs.
Keith Miller.
DEFENDED BY WOMAN
4 Know He's innocent,
She Says; Early Trial
Is Expected.

BV fnred Prcss
MIAMI, Fla, May 3.-Mrs. Jessie
M. Keith Miller. noted Australian
woman aier, today defended Cap
tain William n. Lancaster. noted
flier. against the charge that ne
murdered the man she was 10
marry.
I know he Is innocent" Mrs.
Keith Miller said OF Lancaster, who
was arrested late Monday. accused
OF first degree murder IN the death
OF Haden Clarke, her fiance, a
Miami writer.
Clarke was found dead in the
bungalow occupied by Mrs. Keith
Miller and Captain Lancaster on
the morning OF April 20, and notes
found indicated Clarke may have
committed suicide by shooting him
self with a pistol.
Captain Lancaster also declared
he was absolutely innocent and
the outcome OF the case will prove
it"
Vernon Hawthorne, states attor-
ney who has been investigating
Clsrkes death. characterized the
affair as the most mysterious case
! ever have investigated
Voluntarily Clears Up Notes
Hawthorne indicated he expected
indictments will be returned against
Lancaster by the grand jury now
in session.
Mrs. Keith-Miller, appearing bag
gard. expressed confidence in Lam
caster despite the fact the murder
charge was filed after he volun-
tarily admitted he had written two
notes, signed in Clarke's name and
indicating the youth had committed
suicide.
Captain Lancaster and cleared
up the mystery OF the notes when
we voluntarily made an appoint
ment last Sunday morning TO see
the states attorney" she said.
Captain Lancaster had explained
he wrote the suicide" notes. to
save himself and Mrs. Keith-Miller
from involvment.
Early Trial Is Asked
Asked why Lancaster tried to re-
vive Clarke to get him to sign the
notes. the Australian flier said:
That probably was momentary
panic"
Hawthorne's intimation that he
would try the case at once, If an
indictment is returned, was consid-
cred as in Difference to the captains
wishes.
Behind the arrest is one of the
strangest mysteries local authori-
ties have had to deal with in years.
Mrs. Keith-Miller and Lancaster,
an Internationally famous flying
team, have been here several years.
Their fame spread five years ago
when they made a fight from Lon
don to Australia. Since then. Lam
caster had served as manager, and
close associate, Of the British
woman
Reverses Encountered
Since coming to Florida. how
ever. they had encountered re-
verses. None of their flying projects
succeeded. There was even in
sufficient money to pay gas and
electric bills. Mrs. Keith-Miller
said
Then, about that time, she met
Clarke through his mother, an in
structor at Rollins college.
While Lancaster was in Mexico
examining a flying projection which
he subsequently claimed was a plan
to smuggle Chinese into Mexico
Clarke and Mrs Keith-Miller
worked on book OF her flying ex-
periences. They fell in love
They notified Lancaster, who was
in ST. Louis. Of their plan TO marry,
and he telegrapsled them urging
they postpone the nuptials until he
could arrive and be best man. He
hurried to Miami. arriving at the
house the trio shared on April Is.
The following day. Clarke was
found dead. He had been shot. A
pistol was under the body The two
notes we're found in the room.
Mrs. Keith-Miller and Lancaster
subsequently were detained BY po-
lice and questioned for several days.
Pair Questioned Again
Throughout the questioning Mrs.
Keith-NIiller told Of her love for
Clarke, Of their marriage plans, OF
the economic hardships that had
pursued her recent career, and of
the fact that Lancaster and she
had never been in love. but had
been friends and business aSsoci-
ates. They finally were released.
Today they again were summoned
for questioning After considerable
time they emerged. Mrs. Keith
Miller appearing haggard and
GAVIN, but Lancaster was calm. He
advised he had been treated fairly.
and would talk when the proper
moment arrived
Mrs. Ida Mae Clarke, the dead
mans mother. told authorities that
the pistol found under her sons
body had been purchased by Ian
caster in 81. Louis She said she
always had doubted the suicide the