Evening star., 1953-07-12
Blythe As.oeieted prsss


MIAMI, Fla. July 11.-Twen-
ty-one years have passed since
the trial of Capt. William New
ton Lancaster, and the sands OF
the Sahara Desert-a death trap
for the unwary-continue to hide
the last mystery of the London
born aviator who defeated at
tempts to have him executed on
charges Of murder.
Most Of Capt. Lancaster's Sec
rets were barred In a crowded
Miami courtroom. There he was
tried for the murder Of a rival
for the love Of a tiny English
woman flyer who shared one Of
his pioneering aviation adven-
lures.
He won the courtroom ordeal,
amid tales of passion and hate
and hints of smuggling. Then he
set of on a new adventure-this
time alone. On a nonstop fight
across the Sahara, he disap-
peared without q trace.
Story of Triangle.
Here are the two men and the
woman who formed a tfreesome
which soon became a triangle:
Capt. Lancaster, was in Aus
tralia when the first world war
began, joined the Australian
flying corps. After the war he
resumed studies in London and
performed a number Of flying
feats. In 1927, the year of Lind
bergh's fight. Capt Lancaster
few from London to Australia.
Mrs. Jessie M. Keith Miller
Capt. Lancaster at a London
flying field. A wealthy widow.
she heard his dream of flying to
Australia, and offered to finance
it. She went along as a pas
senger, and fell in love with him
on the long flight. Capt. Lam
caster had a wife and child in
London, SO the two came to
America and lived together in
Miami.
Charles Haden Clarke, son Of
a woman professor at the Uni
versity Of Miami. came to Mi
ami to be with his mother at
Christmas, 1881, from New Or
leans, where he had been a news
paperman. He met the dashing
Capt. Lancaster and Mrs. Keith
Miller alta Christmas party.
Intrigued by the flyer and the
little 85-pound woman called
"Chubbie," he offered to ghost
write a book about their adven-
lures, and to do so moved into
their home. He was 81; Capt.
Lancaster, "a; Mrs. Keith Miller,
80.
Voiced Jealousy.
The rest of the tragedy was
enacted against the backdrop of
the big depression. The trial in
the summer of 1882 shared the
headlines with economic distress.
Often short of dollars, the men
foraged in the neighborhood in
southwest Miami, brought back
chickens and rabbits.
Capt. Lancaster then went to
Mexico on a scheme to fly air
freight to the United States. Mr..
Clarke and Chubbie waved good
bye.
The first twinge of jealousy
showed in Capt. Lancaster's first
letter to Mrs. Keith Miller. He
said it seemed "as if you and
Haden wanted to get rid of me" "
Capt. Lancaster'S letters and
diary, read into the trial record,
showed he distrusted his part
ners in the flying venture. One,
j. F. Russell, was a trial witness
under guard. He was serving a
six-month sentence on a charge
of conspiring to smuggle aliens.
Another partner was M. G..
Tancrel. who was also under ar
rest while on the witness stand,
accused of impersonating a naval
officer.
Threat Is Recalled.
Before this. Capt. Lancaster
had written to Mr.. Clarke:
1--WE are within reach of some
cash if / take chance and make
a little trip with some unmen-
tionable cargo. Sound out Club
bic and see how she would feel.
For me, life would be empty
if I lost Chubbie."
Back came a telegram signed
Chubbif and Haden: Both ad-
wise against contemplated move.
You will be in doghouse on chain
if you ignore this"
A letter followed. Haden Clarke
and Chubbie planned to get