Evening star., 1944-02-24
Grand Jury Begins
Taking Statements
In Lind Staying
MilIer's Attorneys Soy
They Voted Against
His Appearance

The grand jury today began
taking statements in the Staying
Of DR.. John E. Lind, victim of
the city's most sensational crime
in recent years.
Most of the morning session was
taken up in obtaining written state
ments from persons who will testify
later, and the actual hearing was
scheduled to begin this afternoon.
Mrs. Marguerite Kane Miller, wife of
Robert I. Miller, who admittedly
killed DR.. Lind, appeared at the Mu-
nicipal Court Building. She was
wearing the same mink coat which
was spattered with the psychiatrist's
blood as she sat in the car with him
when he was shot Monday. She
made no statement and, according
to Assistant District Attorney George
Mcneil. who is handling the case
for the Government, she will not
testify.
There was some speculation
whether Miller might ask to be heard
by the grand jury to give his version
of events leading up to the shooting
at Eleventh and G streets NV.
A conference to decide this point
was held last night, but Attorneys
James K. Hughes and Joseph A. NC
Menamin, Miller's law partners who
are defending him, said today they
voted against the unusual proce-
dure.
Mr.. Mcneil subpoenaed IA wit
nesses for today's hearing. The Gov
ernment will offer evidence to prove
Miller planned the killing against
the defense's contention that he
slew the noted psychiatrist in self
defense.
Admits Firing Shots.
Miller admits firing two shots with
a .38-caliber pistol A second mys-
terry pistol. found in a white, blood
soaked envelope beside DR.. Lind's
body, is the pistol the defense will
contend, that DR.. Lind pointed at
Miller, threatening to shoot him.
The prosecution, however, will Of
fer the testimony of a witness, La
mar Johnson, that he saw Miller
pull white object from his overcoat
pocket after firing the fatal shots
and place it on the seat of the car.
Miller, his attorneys said, last
week filed out an application for a
permit to carry pistol, but did not
file it with the Police Department
after discussing the matter with 1t.
Horace Lineburg of the public re-
lations squad. Miller said he lived
in bad neighborhood and had been
"yoked" near his home several
months ago.
Lineburg, however, said a permit
could not be granted on those
grounds and Miller did not file the
application.
Handkerchief Not Identified.
Miller's counsel said the 67-year-
old slayer had gone to meet Mrs.
Miller at Woodward g. Lothrop's to
have lunch with her and take her
home. Mrs. Miller, they said, did
not make a date to meet her hus-
band, but merely telephoned to say
she was going to the store to ex-
change some merchandise. A sales
check, dated February 81, and a
brassiere from the store also were
found on the front seat of the death
car after the shooting.
A freshly laundered, folded mans
handkerchief bearing the monogram
M" also was found on the seat
near the gun, but it has not vet
been identified as belonging to Mil
Ter. The handkerchief bore no
laundry mark and although sub
jected to intensive chemical tests
failed to reveal any tangible clue.
Both Miller and his counsel deny
any knowledge of the mystery gun.
Police are trying to check the owner
through serial numbers.
Miller is at liberty under $4,000
bail, pending the outcome of the
grand jury hearing.
Private funeral services for DR..
Lind, senior medical officer at ST..
Elizabeth's Hospital, were held this
morning at the s. H. Hines funeral
home. Burial was in Cedar Hill
Cemetery. =