Evening star., 1936-07-09
CALLS DEFENDANT
UNSOUND At TIME
LETTER WAS SENT
Trial First Here Under Lind
bergh LaW-ProSeCution
Rests Case.
NOTE TO FERRANDS
READ BY PROSECUTOR
22-Year.0ld Suspect, Bearded and
Unkempt, Seems Un-
moved.

Bearded and unkempt, Jesse J. Mil
Ter, %, defendant in Washington's
first Lindbergh law trial. heard his
attorney contend in District Court
this morning that he vas of unsound
mind at the time he allegedly sent an
extortion note to Mrs. Stephen NICK.
Farrand, wife of Justice Department
attorney, threatening to kill their
young son.
Defense Counsel Fred j. Icenhower
told the jury of three women and nine
men that he intended to prove by Mill
ler's mother, his aunt. Mrs Rosie Mil
Ter. and his brother, Orville Miller. all
Of Thurmont, Nd, that the defendant
was morally irresponsible.
Miller appeared in court this morn.
ing with his chin unshaven and but
tons at the collar and cuffs of his
white shirt unfastened. He sat with
his left hand supporting his chin and
his right thrust into his pocket, fire.
quently changing this posture to lower
his head almost to his knees.
Prosecution Concludes Case.
The Government presented It's case
in rapid-fire fashion and Assistant
United States Attorney Roger Robb
was able to announce at 1890 pm.
that the prosecution would rest
The last two of the seven prosecu-
ton witnesses identified the finger
prints found on the extortion note
with that of Miller and the hand
writing with known specimen of
the defendants penmanship. Leo P.
Fallon, Justice Department expert,
said Miller left the print of his right
thumb on the letter Handwriting
Expert Francis j. Major demonstrated
to the jury how he was able TO say
that Miller wrote the note.
Robb read to the jury the ungram-
matical and almost incoherent note,
signed "R. B. G. Killer" demanding
$1,000 and threatening to kill IA
month-old Peter NICK. Farrand. son
the couple.
of the couple.
Letter Is Read.
The letter stated:
This letter is very important it is
up to you to decide what to do about
it. This is what I want from you and
nothing else. want you to pay me
$4,000 thousand dollars ransom money
or it will mean the life Of your little
boy peter. We know all about you and
kr1nvr- hay-p fno VnJIr
is working at Solicitor Generals Office
and We have found out all about you
and your family. We will give you a
week from the day you get this letter
to send the money when tell you in
this letter Send the money in care
Orville Miller, Blue Mountain, Md,
Thurmont. Md Now whatever you
wanted do. But if you don't send US
five thousand dollars We are going to
take the life of your little boy peter.
Keep this from the cops and pay us
the money or you be sorry. If you
don't send us the money I said its
gonna be the end of your little boy
peter.
Your home is in California. Don't
think this letter is from crazy fool
but remember We will get your little
boy peter if you don't pay U.s."
Taking the witness stand Mrs.
Farrand said she received the COM
munication at her home. BOIL Gates
road, June 9. the date it was post
marked, and. Immediately after read
ing it, took it to the Department OF
Justice.
Jesse Miller Arrested.
The next day, Federal Bureau of
Investigation agents arrested Orville
Miller, brother of the defendant, at
Thurmont. and took Jesse into Gus
tody three days later.
Agent Ralph Winton testified fin
gerprints found en- the letter cor
responded to those of the defendant,
whom he quoted as admitting he
wrote the letter.
Prove what you have on me-"
he said Miller told him. Il have been
in court before and sometimes they
could prove things and sometimes
they couldn't"
Miller has served jail sentences for
carrying concealed weapons and for
larceny.
Orville Miller, who was present in
the court room and was expected to be
called both as a Government and
defense witness, was eXonerated of any
completely in the extortion plot by the
Department of Justice investigators.
Postman Identifies Letter.
Robert P. CARRIER, the poStman who
delivered the extortion letter, identi-
fed it in court and said he remembered
It because the handwriting was so bad
and because most of Mrs. Farrand's
mail came from the West Coast. He
said he thought it probably was in
tended for a maid. A picture Of Mrs.
Farrand and her little son, printed in
a Washington newspaper June 6, was
found in the defendants coat pocket,
winton told the jury and Justice
Daniel w. O'Donoghue.
Robb said he thought the trial would
be finished today, since only few
Government witnesses were being
called.
Conviction would carry maximum
sentence of 20 years imprisonment
and $4,000 fine.
Arrested in Thurmont June 13.
Miller was taken to Baltimore by Fed
eral agents. He fought his extradition
to the District, but after several days.
was brought here and lodged in Jail.
Officials there described his attitude
during his incarceration as extremely
unco-operative" and said he has not
shaved for the two weeks he has been
in the jail and had to be forced to