Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-08-02
TRAGEDY AT MuLLERsToWN.

s..@
Miller Is NAMED Vim. Wagner. The New
port, Perry county Nevs says; VIM. Wse
uer is the son of respectable farmer nam
ed John VI. Wagner. tenant on PER-,
Kreames's farm, Ia Tuscarors township al
most 9 miles from Millsrstown, on the roa
to Ickesburg. He is not quite 81 years old
weighs 40 pounds, is i've feet ten inches
high, of light complexion and dark hair
Wagner, and . burly negro named Charley
Grren, worked together in tho Eaines'
Green, was recognised - the "best man"
physically in town. When ia liqnor, Miller
hst mauled Green on more than one oc-
casion, and in an enco unter with him on
Saturday night. July Is, 1882, hammered
him until the blood lowed freely from the
negro. Shumsn afterwsrd took Green TO
the pump and washed the blood of his face
and then s'set up'' the drinks. In tho fra
Gus, however the landlord received several
abrasions Of the skin on his face, which
were still visible a. be lay In his coffin on
MoDday. Wagner and the negro not only
worked together but they were friends, and
associated together t0-such an extent as to
occasion unfavorable comment on the part
of those, Who think tSo familiar comp an
ionship socially between q negro and q
white man Is not desirable On Saturday
evening. July 22-lss2, Green got into a
fight, on Sudbury street, nos. the canal
bridge. II looked as IL Green would 60 out
Of the battle victor, but several other white
men rushed IN and assisted in uumereiful
ly pummcling the "nigeer." Shuman MilIsf,
standing in his hotel, q, least square away !,
jumped from his porch and rushed to the
scene Of the disturbance and took q hand
in pounding Green, who finally succeeded
in getting away from his enemies, who
would have handled him rougher had he
not made good his escape. Drinking was
INDUCED in up to late hour, and during
the evening Wagner said Green want
shown a fair chance in the row. This reach
ed Ailler's ears and highly incenssd him.
Green, afraid of bis life. got out Of the
reach of his asssilants and wsgner's future
movements were directed to drinking up to
the time he entered the Union hotel, early
Sunday morning.
The testimony of the witnesses, before
Esquire Tit.elPs jury, best relates the story
associated with the actual killing OF Shu-
man Miller.
Paul CocHIUs-Sworn-In tho FIRST place
known to me. VIM. Wagner took sides with
the black man against the white man. was
told the mans name was William Wagner.
He entered the sitting room of Shumau
Millers hotel about ll;2D O'Clock .. IN =, Ju-
ly %, 1882. i describe VIM. Wagner as
rather sober looking,
pale, middling prominent nose, heavy chin,
all the lines of his face cut deep, hair and
eyes appeared dark blonde; probably about
"a or % years old. Shumsn Miller approach
ed this man reproaching him tor taking
the part of the black man against tho white
an Ahu OEutTtu uitu Out Ol tQc
house Miller and others followed except
myself. sat on the window. II appe red
10 me there was a senh. outside, but did
not see any. then approached the front
window and heard some one. whose voice
seemed to me, to be that of the man Was-
ner say, SCENE on, if you dsre, Shuman
Miller, you s-of b., I'll shoot you"
At the commencement Of this sentence
Shumaa Miller started to run tow ards him;
at the close Of the sentence heard the shot
and saw Miller stagger and fall on his face.
Question. How lar was Wagner from Shu-
nan. Answer; Not more than yards, in
my o Union. / saw Shumsn; he Was in hi.
shirt siee' cs; saw the fish of the revolver.
The street lamp WAS extinguished on the
corner. Wagner was clad in dark clothes,
could see the outline OF his person. l be-
lieve Wagner fired the fatal shot. recog-
nized him by the voice. | was in the front
window.
Two minutes after Wagner came into the
bar room the shooting occurred l am not
certain as to the time given above. l had
been to the stable with Shuman and returned
with him about ii O'Clock, and do not know
how much time elapsed after that until
Wagner came in. was reading in the Office
iu the meantime. 1t appeared to me that the
shot was fred from close to the side OF walk
leading from Millrr's to Martins hotel.
RALPH b. TuoNPsoS-Sworn-In the first
place csrie into the hotel of Shuman Mil
Ter AMI lay down on the icung. in the Office.
Mr.. Miller talked about white nieu taking
the part Of colored men. Il. said hs would
lick any white man in Millerstown, big or
little, whe would take the part of the black
s-of b- WIN Wagner and some one
unknown to me came into the Office and
was going straight through to the bar room.
when Shuman stopped them. Shunan said
to Wagner, 'you are one of those men who
take part with the niggers." He then made
As though he would strike Wagner, and
Wagner begged of, and said he was drunk
and that Shuman was better man than he.
Shuman said, 'sthat don't make damn bit
Of difference; .ou take part with the piggers''
Shum,n then struck Wagner on the left
ride of the face. Wagner went out; Shuman
followed after. He begged off onco more
and walked away, Shuman still following
Wagner said a few words before he shst
Miller, but can't tell what they were.
When he fired Shuman staggered back,
turned and fell on his face. He never utter
ed word after the shot was fired. Wag.
ner ran towards the bridge as soon as be
had shot. Shuman staggered back aud turn.
and fell at my feet about 6 or s. feet from
the point at which he was standing when
shot. believe WIN. Wagner to be the man
that shot Miller. VIM Miller, son of Sbumau
fired or shots at Wagner as he was run.