Evening star., 1944-05-20
Miller

from the trial As he questioned the
jurors to determine whether any of
them had an inkling or had heard
rumors concerning the cause of the
long delay.
The story Of yesterdays events
was given out jointly by Assistant
United States Attorney Daniel B.
Maher and Mr.. Welch late in the
afternoon. According to the attor-
neys, this is what happened:
A telephone call was received at
the home Of Mr.. WEIGH yesterday
morning by . man who wanted to
know where he could find the de-
Tense lawyer. He was referred to
Mr.. Welch's ONCE. When he tele-
phoned the ofIlce, he talked to Harry
WEIGH, . brother Of the defense at
torney, and was asked to come to
the oflce.
Says He Was Approached.
Shortly afterward man who said
mis- name was Walter Lee Vow of
High Point, N. c., appeared At the
Law Offices at ITO Fourteenth street
NV. He said he had been ap-
preached Thursday, Immediately
after the Miller trial was adjourned
for the day. oy colored man in .
first floor lavatory in the Municipal
Court Building, who he later
identified as Lamar johnson, key
Government witness. He said the
coiored man asked him whether he
was . truck driver and when Vow
replied he was, he asked him
whether he wanted to make some
easy money.
Vow said he asked the man what
he would have to do. and the colored
man allegedly told him he wanted
Vow to back up Johnsons story to
the effect that johnson saw Miller
shoot DR.. John Z. Lind and place
a second gun in . white envelope on
the seat of DR.. Lind's car.
Vow told Harry Welch that he
had rejected the colored mans offer
with the comment that he didn't
want to stick my neck out" He
said the other man told him he
would see that Vow didn't get into
any trouble and that he would see
him at the beginning of the trial
yesterday.
We'll take care of you," he was
quoted by Vow as saying. Wen
pay you 500. johnson Is getting
plenty for what he Is doing"
After the discussion in Mr..
Welch's office, Vow was taken to
the courtroom where Miller is on
trial for his life. With Samuel
Block, . law associate OF H. Mason
WEIGH at his side, he walked slowly
up the center aisle of the courtroom
and back again in an effort to find
the man he said offered him the
bribe.
He pointed out Mr.. johnson, who
was seated alone on a bench re-
served for witnesses who have al
ready given their testimony. Mr.
Block then sent a note up to Mr.
WEIGH who communicated the in
formation to the court and the sec
ond recess of the day was called.
It was also at this point that the
court determined to lock up the jury
johnson was Immediately taken in
custody by q deputy marshal and
brought to Justice Moores cham
bers. He was held In custody until
4:30 pm.
In chambers and in the presence
Of Mr.. Maher and Assistant United
States Attorney Charles B. Murray
and Mr.. Welch and his associates,
James X. Hughes and Joseph A.
McMenamin, Vow told substantially
the same story.
Vow Admits Arrests.
Government attorneys sent for
Vows record and found he had been
held twice for mental observation
and that he had been arrested IS
times for variety of offenses in
cluding vagrancy, lettering and
making a nuisance Of himself. Vow
told Justice Moore he had been ar
rested in Lynchburg. Va, once be
cause people thought was a wild
man."
Mr.. Johnson was called into
chambers and said he had left the
courtroom at about pm. Thurs
day, at the close Of the days ses-
sion. He said he went out of the
building with his wife and baby and
that they remained in the park out
side the courthouse for q little
while. He denied that he had
talked with any one or that he had
entered any lavatory in the build
ing at any time during the day.
Mr.. WEIGH said he was satisfied
that Vow was "a thoroughly unde-
pendable witness" and that he did
not intend to have him testify. He
also said he would not ask for a
mistrial since the jury apparently
had no knowledge Of what caused
yesterdays long recesses.
According to Mr.. Maher, Vow told