The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-18
JOAQUIN MILLER'S SON.
Repudiated by His Cruel Father When
Sentenced to Prison.
San Frapcisco Chronicie
San Francisco Chronicle.

Tears welled up in the eyes of Harry
Miller, the boy stage robber, in the San
Quentin prison yesterday, when informed
by a Chronicle reporter that Joaquin
Miller, in a private letter to a friend in
the East, had said: "All that story about
a bad son of mine holding up a stage
coach, etc., is bosh. He is no relation at
all of mine" Choking down his feelings
by strong effort the boy finally said:
"Well, you know it has been truly said
that it is wise child that knows its own
father. / may not be a competent wit
ness against my father on this point. I
am sure, however, that always was made
to believe that he was my father. l always
regarded him as my father. l never knew
any other father and he never denied that
relationship to me before. He never at
tempted to say my mother was not his
wife, and true and loyal and patient one.
/ have had many letters from him, in all
of which he addressed me as his son, and
always lovingly subscribed himself as my
father. Some of these letters were written
quite recently and are in my possession.
MY mother was not married before she
became the wife of Joaquin Miller. am
the youngest of the three children alive
that were born to them, and was nearly
7years of age when she remarked in 1878.
My sister Maud, the eldest child is now
2S and lives in New York George is the
second; he is % and lives in California. 1
am -. He never before repudiated any
one of these three as his child.
The poverty of my mother prevented
her from giving me advantages the others
received in the way of education, and l
have always felt the injustice done me in
T
down from Oregon on a visit TO my father
at his place in Oakland. | lived with him
two months He then recognized me as
his son and received me cordially enough.
| had come down to go to school, in the
hope of making something of myself, but
he gave me no encouragement. He was
kind enough to me in way, gave me
plenty to eat and drink and bed to sleep
upon, but | instinctively felt that was in
his way-that / did not receive his
sympathy. | remained with him two
months and then left OF my own accord.
why? Because il had become clear to
me that | would gain nothing by stavlng.
Not that things were made unpleasant for
me; not that | was not recognized as a
legitimate son and treated like one, but
because | realized that my earnest ambi-
ton To educate and better myself found
no responsive chord IN my fathers heart.
So left.
Why did l rob stage, or try to do so2
First, because l was fool, and then be
cause was hungry and hard up and con-
cluded the world owed me living"
Young Miller is about the height of his
father and somewhat his build, but has
largely inherited the features of his
mother. He is evidently OF kindly but
reckless disposition, but not naturally
vicious. In speaking of his father and
mother tears frequently came into his
eyes. He would not say harsh thing of
his father, and when it was suggested that
the poet had deserted his wife and family
the young man said: "Oh. well; that il
not thing TO be talked about 1t might
be explained, perhaps, and is purely a
family matter, anyway" He seems To
feel his situation very keenly and declares
he will lead an honorable life on being
released, eighteen months hence. He is
good prisoner and popular with his as
sociates and the officials, and gives earn
est OF his desire to improve his mind by
spending every leisure moment in the
prison library.