Evening star., 1932-08-12
EXPERT DECLARES
CLARKE A SUICIDE
Absolutely Convinced Writer
Killed Self, CriminOIogiSt
TeStifieS in Miami.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
MIAMI, Fla, August 12-Using the
bullet-pierced skull of Haden Clarke
and the pistol that ended his life to
illustrate his testimony, Arthur II.
Hamilton. criminologist Of Auburn,
N. Y, told a jury today he was "ab-
solutely convinced" Clarke committed
suicide
There is not a scintila of evidence
here to show Clarke was murdered"
Hamilton testified as a defense witness
in the trial of Capt. w. N. Lancaster,
British aviator, charged with the young
writer's murder
Clarke was shot to death at the home
OF Mrs. j. NJ. Keith-Miller. Australian
aviatrix, in whose affections he had
succeeded Lancaster.
Describes Suicide Methods.
Hamilton's deciSively expressed opinion
climaxed a morhing Of testimony in
which he pointed out various char
acteriStics of suicide. Each of them
he demonstrated on the skull or with
| the pistol.
Are you sure Clarke was not MUIR
dered?" Defense Counsel j. NJ. Carson
asked.
Il am absolutely sure" Hamilton re-
peated.
There is every indication Of suicide
| and nothing in the world to give the
slightest indication Of homicide"
Suicide is indicated in cases where
pistol is held closely TO the head in
sealed contact. he. said.
Hamilton testified he entered the trial
at his own suggestion after reading
newspaper reports of trial testimonies.
Idly swapping the trigger, Hamilton
said microscopic examination Of the
! pistol showed blood and tissue on the
! front sight, indicating that it had bee
pressed firmly against Clarke's head at
1 the time he was shot
Taking Clarke's skull in his hands,
| Hamilton stepped down before the jury
| TO declare the characteristics of the
bullet holes, he handed the object to q
juror, who handled it gingerly.
| Eventually he passed the skull to each
of the taleSmen.
7 Women Leave Court Room.
A number of women spectators left
the court room.
| The skull shows five radial fractures
made not by the bullet but by eX-
! ploding gases that preceded the bullet
I
| ing Of the flesh around the wound ard
shows conclusively that the pistol was
| held firmly against the head when the
| bullet was fred"
! Spectators jumped rerviously as
/ Hamilton held the death pistol against
! his head and snapped the trigger. He
was showing the position in which the
pistol was held at the time the fatal
bullet entered Clarke'S head.
The skull, along with slides showing
parts Of the head, were brought before
the jury by DR.. M. H Tallman, defense
| witness and one of commission OF
| four specialists who conducted an au-
topsy on the body of the young author.
The two bullet holes, one marking
! entrance of the bullet that fatally
wounded Clarke, and the other marking
the exit, were pointed out by DR.. Tall
man.
Lancaster peered intensely at the
skull.
Beverley Clarke, brother of the young
author, betrayed no emotion as he sat
at the table of the prosecuting attorney.
Mrs. Keith-Miller was not in the
| court room at this juncture. Neither
was Mrs. Ida CLYDE Clarke, mother Of
7 the dead man, who was subpoenaed az
a witness, but who has not testified.
After brief argument by counsel, the
| skull was admitted as evidence, but the
slides were temporarily withheld.
This was because DR.. Tallman said 1t
would be impossible without chemical
analysis to tell whether the head tissue
was powder marked, frequent charac-
| teristic of suicide.
After the skull was displayed briefly
| it was placed in a square cardboard
| box and laid on the desk of the court
clerk, with other exhibits.
DR.. Tallman left the stand with the
understanding that he might be recall
| ed, and Hamilton was called.