Evening star., 1944-05-18
Porter Testifies
Miller Threw
Gun Into Car
Key Witness Says He
Sow White Object
Tossed Onto Seat
illustrations on Page BIZ
By NORMAN A. KAHL.


By NORMAN A. KAHL.
A colored porter, regarded as
the Governments key witness in
the first-degree murder trial Of
Robert I. Miller, testified in Dis
trict Court today that he saw
Miller place a white object"
containing a gun on the seat
beside DR.. John e. Lind, a mo-
ment or two after he fired two
mortal shots into the psychia-
trist's chest and brain.
Lamar D. johnson, 1902 Fourth
street NV, who was employed as
a porter at the Woodward & Loth-
rop department store on the day Of
the shooting, told the jury of IL
men and woman he had observed
Miller's actions from the time the
67-year-old attorney came into the
foyer of the employees entrance at
the store and began to pace nerv-
ously back and forth.
Miller tossed the white object"
on the seat of the automobile. the
witness said, while Mrs. Marguerite
Miller, the defendants wife, VINO
had been sitting next to DR.. Lind
when the shots were fired, tugged at
his sleeve and tried to drag him
back to the curb.
Took Object From Pocket.
"He was still leaning into the carr
the porter said. Then he reached
into his left overcoat pocket and
pulled out white object and laid
it on the seat. Then the lady pulled
him back to the curb. After she had
pulled him away, noticed there was
a gun in the white object"
MIR. johnson later identified the
white object" as an envelope. The
second gun, he said, was lying in
side the envelope. which was opened,
and was pointed toward the dead
man. He said the weapon appeared
to be a nickel-plated gun.
Johnson was the first witness to
provide any substanciation for the
prosecutions contention that Miller
had actually planned the staying Of
DR.. Lind In advance and had pre-
pared for a self-defense alibi by
taking second gun with him to the
scene.
Seven previous eyewitnesses have
stated they did not see Miller carry
ing any white object" In his left
hand at any time, but none Of the
other witnesses said they were in a
position to see what actually oc-
CURED inside the Lind automobile.
Assigned to Shine Brass.
The first question asked of the
porter by Assistant United States
Attorney Charles B. Murray, after
johnson identified himself, was
whether he witnessed the shooting
on February 81.
Il did," the witness said,
He was asked to explain how he
happened to be standing in the en-
ployes' entrance on the Eleventh
street side of the store at the time.
THE boss told me to go to Eleventh
and G and shine brass" Mr.. john
son said. Il got my rags and polish
and went to the employees en-
trance"
Did some one come there whom
you noticed?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
This man-Mr. Miller" The wit
ness pointed to the white-haired
defendant seated at the end of the
counsel table.
Miller Paced Nervously.
Mr.. johnson said that Miller had
come into the foyer from the out
side of the store.
When he first came in, he walked
back and forth very nervously," the
witness said
Defense Attorney H. Mason WelcIi
objected to the use of the word
"nervously," but was overruled by
Justice Ben Moore.
II saw him light a cigarette" the
witness went ou. He took two pufis,
then threw it down and stomped it
out. He walked back and forth
again.
II asked him whether he was look
ing for some one. He said yes, so
Immediately let him take my place
where was standing"
The porter then said he went out
side on the street and had walked
about two PAGES toward G street
when he saw a coupe coming north
on Eleventh street at very low
speed"
Il noticed a man open the car,
and a lady got in DR.. Johnson
testified.
Identifies DIR. Lind.
who was the MANI" Mr.. Murray
asked.
The man who's dead"
What was he doing them"
He was operating the automo-
bile"
Had you seen the lady before?"
mo, just as she got in"
Mr.. johnson then gave his version
of the hectic and tragic few seconds
that followed:
Just as she closed the door, Mr..
Miller brushed past me and yanked
the door out of the lady's hand.
Then he went to grab at the man
in the seat. The lady tried to push
him away. She yelled at him to
stop. She called out a name, but
I couldn't understand it.
Then Mr.. Miller took a nickel
plated revolver out of his right
overcoat pocket and shot the man
in the chest. The man sort Of
slumped over. He tried to ward off
Mr.. Miller, but Mr.. Miller got past
(See MILLER, Page A-4D