Evening star., 1937-03-07
SPROUSESCONFER
0NMYSTERY CLUE
Prosecution Is Dissatisfied
With Dentists Evidence
in Girls Murder.
/. BY IRVING F. LASH,
Stan Correspondent Of The Star.

SIAN correspondent Ol nc St9E.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, March
s.-Closing Of the States murder case
against DR.. Richard G. Miller, the
dentist accused Of Staying Cleo
sprouse, was far from complete
tonight.
Despite the insistent denials Of OFF,
c!as that another arrest was in the
othug. something was in the wind
az the investigation continued.
The most salient development to
st1bstantiate the contention that Com
monwealth Attorney W. o. Fife is not
content with the present evidence
came late today.
Members Of the family Of the pretty
is.year-old high school girl appeared
at the Albermarle County Court House
for a conference with Fife and Sheriff
J...Mason Smith
The why's and wherefores' OF the
conversation between the relatives
ard officials was not disclosed.
The investigators had little to say
about the status of the case except to
point out that they expect to have
reports early this week on clues sub
mitted to the Federal Bureau OF
Investigation and the Agriculture
Departments Richmond Office.
Mud Samples Taken.
The G-men are checking for finger
prints on paraphernalia the 53-year-
old dentist said he intended to use in
performing an operation on Cleo
Also. they have mud samples taken
from the girls shoes and from the
lonely wooded spot half a dozen miles
from here where she is said to have
died Monday.
Agriculture chemists have been
examining the vital organs Of Cleo. a
bride-to-be and an expectant mother
1t was certain. however, that both
Fife and the sheriff still are not salts
fled with DR.. Miller's story that Clec
died accidentally from chloroforn
administered as he prepared for the
operation.
They have announced they will try
for a first-degree murder indictment
when the grand jury meets here
probably April S.
Defense attorneys have minimizec
the charge against their client, hold
ing that DR.. Miller cannot suffer the
first-degree murder penalty because
death through an attempted or illega
operation is not punishable as first.
degree killing.
Admitting that their plans are
rebulous, the dentists lawyers, Harole
Ratcliffe, commonwealth attorney o.
Henrico County; E. V. Walker, 6
former partner of Fife. and Robert H
Taylor, said 1t Is possible they vii
plead insanity.
This, it Is assumed, would be basec
on a gunshot wound in the head DR.
Miller accidentally received while
hunting more than month ago.
Names in Appointment Book.
1T was learned tonight that an ap.
ppintment book found in DR.. Miller
efice when it was searched by police
yesterday may result In further ques'
tioning of prospective witnesses.
Another reported discrepancy" II
DR.. Miller's statement. made after h
was taken to the Henrico County Jai
in Richmond, was his alleged failure
10 take along bandages and antiseptic.
for the operation he said he intended
to perform.
Then, too. investigators so far have
been unable to find the unused in.
strument the dentist said he threw
away in the woods after Cleo died.
The possibility that DR.. Miller 1,
concealing the name of another mar
IN the case is still being considered
Sheriff Smith has said the dentist
told him Cleo revealed the name o1
the father of her unborn child before
she died, but that he forgot it. DIR
Miller has denied he was responsible
for the girls condition.
The members of the Sprouse family
who appeared at the court house were
the widowed mother, Mrs. Lulu
Sprouse; q daughter, Mrs Alice Poole
and a son, Chris. 1t was understood
only the children figured actively ir
the conference.
: Although investigators discounted
the report, it was learned that the
operator Of a tavern, near the spot
where Cleo died. has been questioned
It is believed this was done because
OF runor that the girl came to hel
end there and not in the car Dr.
Miller borrowed.
1t has been hinted many times by
officials that things which cannot be
revealed at present will be brought
out.