The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1881-03-03
OUR MILLER.
HOW HE PULLED TIE WOOL OVER
THE EYES OF THE CHILL
ICOTHE POLICE,
PRETENDING HE WAS THE DEPUTY
SHERIFF IN SEARCH OF A
BURGLAR.

S. D. Miller, who escaped from Jail here
week before last, of which the News gave
the full particulars last week, is still at
large, and we fear is likely to remain SO.
He was in ChilIcothe the Saturday after
he escaped, and succeeded in fooling the
police Of that city very cleyerly, the fol
lowing account of which we take from the
Ross County Register:
On the fourth page Of this issue mention
is made of the escape of S, u. Miller, from
The county jail at Hillsboro, and also the
I fhanner in which his escape was effected.
IiIler is the man who, a few months since,
E4rglarized the carriage shop of Dimes &
S6n, at Greenfield. About half past one
o'clock Saturday morning, as officer
Thatcher was walking along Paint street
near the Globe saloon, he was passed by a
stranger, who turned to look at him. Up
on discovering that Thatcher was an officer,
the stranger stopped to speak with him.
He was hunting place to sleep, so he
told Thatcher, and further stated that he
was Deputy Sheriff of Highland county.
The object of his visit was to look up
man named Miller, who had made his es-
cape from the jail at HillsbOro. Thatcher
wanted to know what sort of a looking
person Miller was, and the stranger repli-
ed 'Well, he is a man about my size,
is dressed very well and has heavy, sandy
mustache-jUst like mine" Thatcher said
he hadn't seen any one answering that de-
scription, and after some further cOuversa-
ton proposed to take the Deputy Sheriff
to a hotel. The proposition was accepted,
and The pair proceeded to the Commercial
House.
From the manner of the stranger
Thatcher began to suspicion something. He
began to seriously doubt whether the man
was an officer at all or not, and inclined to
the belief that he was the very bird who
had broken jail. He was tempted to take
him in and giYeshim lodgings at the station
house, but then the stranger was SO very
we'll dressed that he feared the possibility
of mistake-and hesitated. Before he
left the stranger at the Commercial House,
however, he inquired how long he intend
ed to remain. The reply was that his in
tention was to return to Hillsboro on the
seven a. m. train. Thatcher told him to
stay over until afternoon, and he would as
sist him then in hunting Miller. The stran-
ger replied that perhaps he would do so,
and further stated that a reward of $50 had
been offered for the capture of the crimi-
nal. Thatcher had his doubts about the
mans honesty, and noted the room to
which he was assigned by the hotel clerk.
He then reported to Chief Hatfler, and the
two conferred together for some time, fin !
ally deciding to keep on the alert and
await further developments. As yet they |
had heard nothing concerning Miller's es-
cape, except what they had been told by
the stranger. Later in the morning the |
matter was again brought up, and Officer
Downs was present. From the description |
given by Thatcher, Downs reported that
the stranger would not be found at the /
House at daylight, for he had
seen that identical party vending his way
toward the D. & S. E. r. R. depot, in time
for the early morning train. That con-
armed Officer Thatcher's suspicious, and
be was quite overcome with regret at not
having conducted the stranger to the. Ho-
tel de Haffler instead of the Commercial
House. His doubts as to the identity of
he man were entirely dispelled.
The same day a postal card was received
Jy the police, which had been left there
he evening before, by the bona tide Depu-
Y Sheriff Of Highland county, who had
passed through this city on the evening
Valley train, bound for Ironton, whittier
le was called by the illness of some of his
elatives. When this fact became known
he slightest shadow of a doubt as TO the
IDENTIFY Of the stranger disappeared from
be mind of Officer Thatcher, and he is
rOWing thinner and thinner every day, in
lrooding over ''what might have BEEN
The card was left with some person about
he platform, who was instructed to give
to the first police officer who made his
appearance, but unfortunately no officer
hanced to run across the individual bear
ng the postal.
Miller had repeated his first game, seek
lg refuge in the Metropolis" but this
ime he didn't remain as long as he did be-
ore.