Evening star., 1932-08-13
BACK
CLARKE SUICIDE
Three Called to Support Capt.
w. N. Lancaster's Denial
He Killed Writer.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
MIAMI, Fla, August 13.-Capt. W.
N Lancasters attorney called three
physicians to court today to support
the British airman's denial that he
murdered Haden Clarke, youthful
writer.
The skull of the writer, who died of
bullet wound In the home of Mrs.
Jessie M. Keith-Miller, Australian flyer.
already occupied gruesome niche
among the exhibits.
1t was handed around to the jurors
yesterday as Ebert H. Hamilton of Au-
burn, N. Y, defense ballistics expert,
demonstrated his contention that the
bullet hole in 1t must have been in
hicted by Clarke himself. The defense
maintains Clarke was an honor suicide.
that he killed himself because he could
never marry Mrs. keith-Miller, whose
affections he had won away from Ian
caster.
Brother Makes Analysis.
Lancaster says Clarke performed q
beautiful act" when. affected by re-
curing illness, he took his own life.
Defense and prosecution awaited to-
day an analysis of the flesh surround
ing the wound. Hamilton said powder
burns on it would support his conten-
ton. The analysis was performed by
Clarkes brother. DR.. Beverly Clarke
The Jurors trying Capt. Lancaster
visited the scene of the shooting yes
terday after the skull was introduced
lff~ evidence.
The jury. accompanied BY attorneys
for the State and defense, Judge H. F.
the former home of Mrs. Keith Miller,
where Clarke was shot on the night Of
April 81.
Expert Questioned Closely.
Testimony concerning the skull, which
showed holes where the bullet entered
and left the head, was offered by
Hamilton, whose experience in the f1eld
of criminology and ballistics was ques-
toned closely by the State.
There is not scintilla OF evidence
here" Hamilton said. Ito show that
Clarke was murdered"
Are you sure Clarke was not muir
dered?" asked Defense Counsel j. M
Carson.
II am absolutely sure" Hamilton re-
peated with emphasis. There is every
indication of suicide and nothing in the
world to give the slightest indication oil
homicide"
DR.. M. H. Tallman. one Of a commits
sion of four specialists who conducted
the autopsy, brought the skull into the
court room.
Wound Described.
Hamilton said that when the muzzle
of gun is held loosely against the
head powder marks generally show on
the surface II the weapon is fired.
Where the Inuzzle Is held tightly the
powder gases force flesh aside and leave
powder and gas marks on the inner
tissue, he said, explaining the latter
action was known as "ballooning."
The autopsy report of the commission
which examined the body three weeks
after Clarke's death told OF finding a
"ballooned" condition.
Suicide, Hamilton said, Is indicated
in cases where pistol is held closely
to the head in sealed contact.
Hamilton explained he entered the
trial at his own suggestion after read
ing about it in the newspapers.
A microscope showed blood and It's
sue on the front sight of the pistol and
indicated 1t had been held firmly
against Clarke's head. he said.
States Attorney N. Vernon Haw-
thorne in cross questioning the crimi-
nologist dwelt especially on his connec-
ton with the Sacco- -Vanzetti case. The
prosecutor moved for a recess after the
jury inspection Of the scene of death,
saying he would need the time for in
vestigation on which to base an effort
to discredit Hamilton as an expert.