St. Landry democrat., 1880-10-02
George WiIls-EIis Tragic End.
MnrWan City RnNInN.

Centreville, La, man, his wife and a
little boy. The man called himself
George Mills. lie was an engineer. An
apt one-thougl deficient in writing and
| spelling. Rumors cnncerning his having
"gotten away" with several men in Ala
bama soon became current. For seven
years he followed his trade on various
plantations along the Teche. A good
man to his friend; an inveterate enemy !!
Often making an enemy OF a friend on
| slight prctcnse.
Early in 1879 George Mills and
Thompson bought out Tom Nincent's
saloon, Centreville. Mills kept the bar.
! His temper now became more vacilla-
ting. During the year 10 he lost his
only son of yellow fever, aged eleven
years-a great favOrite with him. His
temper soured-he drank frequently,
| and became on these occasions the ter
ror of the neighborlood.
George Mills was splendid shot. His
bar room bore testimony of this, on
sundry cards pasted in the back portion
of his saloon perforated with bullets.
He would go out into Centreville, and
fire off his arms at night, careless of
his targets-sometimes cat, a COW, a
! negro cabin was the recipient.
Lately, he became reckless, defiant
| ana pltSut'lpluOuSly o|ct otttllHS III HIS
conduct. Always armed and often in
liquor.
Thursday, Sept. 16th he gave out in
town that he would kill all the pigs that
came in sight. What he said he did :,
i Mr.. II. Crawford, ST., an esteemed and
honorable gentleman OF Centreville,
had among other things two young pigs
which he wished to raise and that were
then out, at large. Mr.. CraWford's son
told him of Mills threat. while Mr.. G..
was working in the garden that after
noon. Mr.. c. thought that he was on
friendly terms with Mills and at once
went to see Mills about it, asking him in
Il calm, dignitied manner. not to shoot
his stock as he wished to save it. He
turned and left Mills standing in the
middle of the road. No angry words
passed. But Mills then fastened after
him aud in a bullying way, suggested
certain plans by which Mr.. CraWford's
pigs might be kept indoors and how he
| Mills could do it.
Mr.. Crawford's reply was calm and
dispassionate: "Mr. Mills, have moth
ing to do with your business and you
have nothing to do with mine.' He
was about to turn away when Mills
struck him violently in the face twice,
and then drew his revolver on him. Mr..
Crawford was unarmed, in his shirt
sleeves, Just from his gardens work :;
never dreaming of such a termination
to his we'll meant and friendly errand.
What could Il gentleman reply to such
dastardly, contemplate cowarIice as
this, but "Iou are q coward and a
bully, sir"
Young Crawford then came up: "Fa-
ther, that man has the advantage of
you-come home"
Said George Mills as they walked
away: I'll kill your d-n boys and you
too!"
Truthful in carrying out his threats,
Mr.. Crawford knew that the demon
tdavit before Judge Wooster to the
effect against Mills he wanted to re-
strain this rasl,, overbearing man by
bond, from doing {Crawford) bodily
harm, for Mills bore a desperate char
acter, a cruel name, to the one he might
select as an impr0yised enemy.
| George Mills was quite outraged by
the audacity Of Mr.. Crawford in trying
to stay his bloody hand and spoke unre-
servedly, that he "would kill him."
Justice Wooster controlled Mills by
decisive authority, and lad him appear
before his court,
"How much time do you REQUIRE >
said justice Wooster to Mills, "before
you can submit your peace bond,-in
the meantime you know | will require a
bond for your appearance.'
Suppose we defer it until the yeal
| Justice Wooster commanded respect
in court and Mills seemed to come tC
himself. Matters We're arranged.
MIR. Henderson Crawford returned tC
hls family and took up the thread OF
hi, his duties that had been broken on
Thursday, the evening before. Young
Crawford who had engaged to pillow
some land for Mills, consciously return
ed to fill his contract with the man.
There was heavy cloud resting or
Mills features all day. He invited sew.
eral friends to drink with him, ne noted
people and things. he boasted that he
could edo as he pleased in Centreville,
and that he would "kill that d--n son OF
| a b Crawford "
Friday night, September 18th. was
} bri ght moonlight. A short time before
bed time Mr.. Crawford and family were
seated in their sitting room-s
family circle. Suddenly loud re
, port, a crash, several members of tht
family ran to the windows to look out
1t was George Mills, with his Spring
field rife-he was firing into Crawford's
) house! Another ana another deliberate
aim a serles of crashes the house is ;
large two-story the floors of the lowel
rooms became whitened wish plaste
and debris, The family were, w;tilou
weapons they assembled into the uppe
+ light, laughing derisively and cursin.
the happy home he wished to destroy
His aim changed to the second story
his shots penetrated the house from tw,
t to five feet from the floor, through fou
l and six thicknesses of plaster and fell ;
] quarter of mile away at George Bald
: wins. He fred diagonally: he fire.
: even: he fired across; the house is lite
i, rally sleved; hinges are cut into, bricl
chimneys are bored to the centre, doors
blinds, glasses are shattered, , 1t was
e miracle that any OF the Crawford fami
$ ly are alive. Their little daughter
p luckily, was not at home, her bedroom
! was shot through and through. MI
s Crawford sent after a shot gun. It ha,
), to be cleaned and loaded. Mills ha
' then retired, satiated with the execution
of his malice and mischief for the tim
e being.
}. Some dogs barked at him as he wake
t away he shot them!
/ Mr.. Crawford, now armed, watche
:: his residence all nj ght. Mills might re
e turn at any moment. Toward Satul
e day morning. George Mills came OF,
: the Bayou Sale road toward the eorne
!. of town from which he had fired som
/. of those shots the last evening. lii
s powerful Springfield rifle on hi
shoulder, his revolver at his side. Nj
Crawford was awaiting him. He wa