Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-17
George Miller Found Killed
in His Saloon.
His Head Smashed While Asleep
in a Card Room.
The Statements Made by His Partner
and Billiard Marker.
Probably Killed Because He Was
Thought to Have Considerable
Money on His Person-The
Features OF the Case.

George Miller, one of the proprietor s
of the Carlton saloon and billiard par
lor, 243 South Spring street, was found
dead few minutes before midnight, in
one of the rear rooms OF the saloon, with
big hole in the left side OF the head.
A HERALD reporter visited the saloon
lust few minutes after the discovery
had been made. Miller lay on the sofa
on his right side. There was round
hole on the top of his head, and the
blood had poured over his face to the
floor. The blood stains were partially
dry, and it looked as. If the deed had
been accomplished several hours before.
Blood had also oozed from his ear, and
big pool had formed on the carpet.
The body lay as if the man had died
without even tremor, the position of
the trunk and limbs being that natural
to a man asleep. The clothes did not
seem to have been disturbed at all
There was a package of letters and
papers in the breast pocket OF the vest,
and they had partially slid out, but had
not fallen. The face showed no signs of
pain. In fact, but for the blood and the
hole in his head the man looked as if
asleep.
JOHN wooLEY's STATEMENT.
John Wooley was the young man who
made the discovery. He is nineteen
years old and is employed to look after
the billiard tables. Wooley made the
following statement to HERALD repor-
ter:
"George Miller and George Miles are
the proprietors OF the Carlton. Yester-
day Miller got very drunk. He had
considerable money on his person and
wanted to bet every one he met
large sums OF money, and I
believe did make several bets. Miller
displayed his money in most careless
fashion. About 6 o'clock he went into
the rear room and went to sleep on the
sofa. Mr.. Miles told me to lock the
door. A little before midnight Mr.. Miles
told me to wake up Mr.. Miller. climbed
over the partition by means of a ladder.
and called Miller. He did not reply.
shook him several times, but still did
not get any answer. l thought some
thing must be wrong as l gave him
several hard shakes. l felt his hand
and it was cold. then gave the alarm
that something was the matter with
Miller. Mr.. Miles and several others
came in, and upon getting a light, we
found that Miller was dead.
II attended to the billiard tables dur
ing the evening. / did not hear any
noise whatever. Two men and two
women occupied a room adjoining the
one where Miller was found dead, for an
hour. They came in at 80 o'clock.
Anumber ofyoung men occupied another
room for the best part of the night"
Wooley told very straight story. He
has lived in Los Angeles for years and
his reputation is very good.
HIS PARTNERS STATEMENT.
George Miles, the partner OF the muir
dered man, is a medium sized, prosper
GUS looking, middle-aged man, who
wears a Grand Army button in his coat.
He said: George had been awfully
drunka Il day, and had been playing
monkey tricks, pasting the $500 check
on his forehead, and flashing his money
around. After he went to sleep back
there we didn't hear anything from him
till Wooley found him at about IL 40
O'Clock. No, he hadn't an enemy in
the world that l know Of. He treated
me most generously, When l came here
he gave me half the business.
didn't have cent. At about half
past six Thornburgh, the barkeeper,
went off duty and l told him to take
George home, but he got into a game of
cards and stayed quite while. / came
from New Mexico here. have been
here about year. George has wife
but no children, at least he never men
toned them to me. / took the money
he hadfrom him before he went into the
back room and put it in the safe. There
was $500 check and 500 in gold. 1
think he had some more money, but |
don't know how much.
AT THE MoRGUE.
Shortly before l o'clock Coroner We'll
don arrived, and at once took charge of
the body. A closer examination showed
7 first noticed near the left temple, and a
second larger and more Jagged wound,
just back of and lite below the mid
die OF the ear. This wound was
nearly the size of half-dollar, and
fully an inch and a half deep No def
mite theory as to the kind of a weapon
used could be arrived at, buta large tack
hammer orfarrier's hammer seemed the
most probable TOOL. A search of the
pockets showed that if the man had had
awatch, it had been removed. Opinion
differed as to whether he had worn
watch that evening, but it was known
that he did not have his CHAIN. About
dollar and a half in silver was found in
his pockets.
An officer was placed on guard to
watch the rear approaches, and later
search was instituted in hopes of finding
some clue or track from which theory
could be formed.
At 2:15 the body was removed to the
morgue, and the doors of the Carlton
were locked, only the solitary watcher
remaining at the rear of the building.
THE PANEL GAME CASE.
The deceased, George Miller, came
here from Kansas CITY about four wears