Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-21
HE KILLED THIRTY MEN.
How Capt. John Miller Caused Hi
Foes To Bite the Dust.


are to be seen here at all times in attend
ance on the Federal court, either as de
PENDANTS, witnesses or jurors, and trequ
emily one meets some very remarkable
characters. During the present term
Capt. John Miller,ot JimtOwr, ChickasaW
Nation, has been here in the cOnsplcuou
role of defendant in a murder case,
though he has been released on the
ground that this court has no jurlsdic-
ton in tine case. He has credited to his
account the lives Of thirty man. that
being the number he is said to have killed
during his life, and he does not deny the
char0e.
Can't. Miller was born in Choctaw
county. Miss, in 1915, and is now 20
years of age, though no one would take
him for more than 80. Few men have led
a more adventurous life than he. Ac-
cording to his own statement, the first
man he ever killed was named Jones, and
the killing took place at Columbus,
Miss. He was tried Tor 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. NJ Her was a
member of jenkins company in the
ilibustering expedition to Cuba, when
Lopez was guillOtined and Capt. John J.
Crittenden and tilty-twO men shot. The
difficulty with the Turk brothers occurred
lust after his return from Cuba. He was
tried at New Orleans for the Turk killing
and again came clear.
In lS49. in difficulty near Shreveport,
La, he killed three men-Murphy, Mysick
and one Carroll. He was tried at SnreVe-
port and acquitted on the ground OF self
defense. He cut the nexttwo notches on
his gun at Lickskillet, La, ~ 1850, 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 man named Taylor
at Gatesville, Tex, with knife. Taylor
struck him IN the head with a rock. He
was also tried for this murder and came
clear.
In 1866, while en- route from Chickasaw
Nation TO Mexico, he, with six cOmpan-
ions, was camped near Spivey's Ferry, on
Red river, when "A general row took place
not far from his camp between five white
men and crowd OF negroes. Miller and
his men appeared on the scene after the
five whites were wounded ard opened fire
on the negroes, killing twelve OF them.
For this ne was tried before Gen.
Reynolds, at Austin, Tex, and released.
la 1871 he pursued three horse thieves
from the Indian Territory into Texas, and
all three of them we're killed. For this he
stood trial at Cranberry, ana was turned
loose.
In 1879 he killed or was charged with
killing Mathew Fletcher on his Miller's)
own farm near JimtOwn. For this he was
arrested and lodged in the United States
Jail at this place, where he rem aimed
eight months and in 1880 was tried and
acquitted. This, he says. was tue hard
est trial he ever had during all his expert
ence. sDI
He has killed three other men in the In
dian country, whose names be declined to
mention, for the reason, he says, that they
now have grown-up children in that cOun-
try, and he doesn't care to have the mat
ter resurrected.
The killing for which he was brOugh t
here this time occurred in his own house,
in January last. where be killed a pro-
minent young ChOctaw named Israel Full
som. This killing, he claims, was an ac-
cident; that FulsOm was drunk and drew
a PISTOL for the purpose o. killing him
that in trying 10 wrench the pistOl out of
Fulsom's hands it WAS discharged, the
bullet entering FulsOm's side. killing him.
No one saw the killing except Miller's
wife.
Miller served throughout the Mexican
war in Capt. B. H. Cooper's company,
JEFF Davis regiment, and participated In
the battles Of Orizaoa, Monterey and the
City OF MeXicn. At the close OF the war
he returned to the ChOctaw Nation and
living on the outskirts OF civilization en-
gagged to some extent in fighting the In
dams.
During the war between the States he
was captain in Gen. B. II. CoOper's
command (same Cooper mentioned above
as being a captain in the Mexican wary,
during which time he took hand in the
battles Of Wilson's Creek, Elk Horn,
Prairie Grove, Gibson, Cabin Greek and
numerous small skirmishes, being most Of
the time in command of scouts and saw
much rough service.
In fact, his company was recognized as
'Independent," going where and when
they pleased. He was quite notorious as
a raider, and was constantly on the go.
At the close OF the war he surrendered
with Cooper at Fort Washita. Chickasaw
Nation, bus had made such record our
ing the war that tor a long time after the
surrender he remained on the scout, liv-
ing n Mexico for quite a while.
Among the first men that enlisted in
Miller's company after the breaking out
OF the war was W. G. Quantrell. alias
Charley Hart, but he only remained with
Miller about three months, when he went
10 Missouri and built aim an everlasting
name. as is well known TO every body old
enough " remember anything about the
war.
Miller says If he killed any one during
the war they don't count in his list OF
thirty.
During all his adventurous lie he was
never wounded but once, and that was
at W eaihertord, Tex, in 1872, when ne
was shot in the knee by man named
Denton.
Millers mother was one-eighthC hoctaw
ana his father an lrishman and his right
IN the Nation comes from his mother. lie
has wife and three children and 10 very
well fixed, having a large farm near Jim
town, well stocked with horses, mules.
cattle and hogs.
Notwithstanding his are, he is as
strong and vigorous as OF old. and is still
considered very dangerous man, being
very quick with a pistol and an expert
shot.
He delights in recOuntng his exploits
during the war, and many Of bis war
stories are quite interesting lie is
widely known, and bis greatest fault,
aside from his violent temper. is his love
for strong drink; otherwise he an.
pears 10 be an industrious, well-to.d,
man.
THE RIGHT TO WORSHIP.