Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-06-25
Killed Thirty Men.

Fort Smith Ark Cor. OF Globe Democrat
Hundreds of men of all classes,
and from all portions of the Indian
Territory, are TO be seen here at oil
times in attendance on the Federal
Court, either as defendants, witness
es or jurors, and frequently one meets
some very remarkable characters.
During the present term Capt. John
Miller, Jimtown, Chickasaw nation,
has been here in the conspicuous role
of defendant in murder case, though
he has been released on the ground
that this court has no jurisdiction in
the case. He has credited TO his &C
count the lives of thirty men, that
being the number he is said to have
killed during his life, and he does not
deny the charge.
BEGAN WITH A MAN NAMED JONES.
Capt. Miller was born in Choctaw
county, Miss, in 1916, and is now 10
years of age, though no one would
take him for more than 90. Few
men have led more adventurous
life than he. According to his own
statement, the first man he ever kill
cd was named Jones, and the killing
took place at Columbus, Miss. He
was tried for the crime and came clear.
This was when he was quite young.
In 1S4S, at New Orleans, Miller and
two Maley brothers, Henry and John,
killed the three Turk brothers.
Miller was a member of Jenkins
company in the filibustering expedi-
ton TO Cuba, when Lopez was guillo-
tined and Capt. John j. Crittenden
and fifty-two men shot. The difficult
ty with the Turk brothers occurred
just after his return from Cuba. He
was tried at New Orleans for the
Turk killing and again came clear.
In 1S49, ina difficulty near Shreve-
port, La, he killed three men-Mur-
ply, Mysick and one Carroll. He
was tried at Shreveport and acClit-
ted on the ground of self-deiense.
He cut the next two notche; on his
gun at Licketville, La, in 1851, when
he and Alex Rudes followed two
horse-thieves from Texas, and Miller
killed them both in fight they made
while resisting arrest.
In 1867 he killed a man named Tsy-
lor at Gatesville, Texas, with knife,
Taylor struck him in the head with
rock. lie was also tried for this
murder and came clear.
TWELVE IN RIrNru
In 1866, while en- route from Chick
asaw nation 10 Mexico, he with six
companions, was camped near Spi-
vey's Ferry, on Red river, when q
general row took place not far from
his camp between five white men and
crowd of negroes. Miller and hi
men appeared on the scene after The
five whites were wounded, and open
ed fire on the negroes, killing twelve
Of them. For this he was tried be
fore Gen. Reynolds, at Austin, Tex.
and released.
In 1871 he pursued three horse
thieves from the Indian Territory in
to Texas, and all three of them wer,
killed. For this he stood trial a
Cranberry and was turned loose.
In 1879 he was charged with kill
ing Mathew Fletcher ON his (Miller's
own farm near Jimtown. For thi
he was arrested and lodged in tn
United States Jail, at this place
where he remained eight months
and in 1880 was tried and acquitted
This, he says, was the hardest trial h
ever had during all his experience.
THREE OTHER CoRPsEs.
He has killed three other men il
the Indian country, whose names h
has declined to mention, for the rea
son, he says, that they now hav
grown-up children in that country
and he doesn't care to have the mat
ter resurrected.
The killing for which he was brough
here this last week occurred in hi
own house, in January last, where h
killed prominent young Choctav
named Israel Fulsom. This KILN,
he claims was an accident; that Ful
som was drunk and drew a pistol 70
the purpose of killing him that i
trying to wrench the pistol out c
Fulsom's hands it was discharged
the bullet entering Fulsom's side kill
ing him. No one saw the killing ex
cept Miller's wife.
HIS WAR RECORD.
Miller served through the Mexicsl
war in Capt. B. II. Cooper's company
JEFF Davis regiment, and participate,
in the battles of Orizaba, Montere,
and the city of Mexico. AT the clos
of the war he returned to the Choc
taw nation and living on the out
skirts of civilization engaged to SOM
extent in fighting the Indians.
During the war between the State
he was a captain in Gen. B. II. Coop
er's command (same Cooper mention
cd above as being a captain III tn,
Mexican WARP, during which time h,
took a hand in the battles of Wilson,
creek, Elk Horn, Prairie Grove, Glib
sons, Cabin Creek and numerous
small skirmishes, being most Of tn,
time in command of scouts and saw
much rough service.
In fact his company was recognize,
as "!Independent," going where an
when they pleased. He was quit
, notorious as raider, and was cor
stantly on the go.
AT the close of the war he surrer
dered with Cooper at Fort Washitl
Chickasaw nation, but had made sue
record during the war that for
long time after the surrender he II
: manned on the scout, living in Mex
co for quite while.
QUAETRELL WAS HIS CoMRADE.
Among the first men that enliste
in Miller's company after the breakin
out of the war was w. G. Quantrel
alias Charley Hart, but he only RI
manned with Miller about thrt
months, when he went to Missou'
and built him an everlasting nam