The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-07-18
A MIDNIGHT CALLER
A WASHINGTON SOCIETY MAN IN
DICTED BY THE GRAND JURY.
senator Harris Private Secretary
Is Charged With Having Entered
Young Lady's Room and At
tempted to ChlOrOfOrm Her.

Washington, July IA. - The grand
jury of the district has returned an
indictment against Benjamin Harri-
son Milliken, formerly of Memphis,
Tenn, a young well known man in
official and social societies in this city
and private secretary to Senator Har-
ris Of Tennessee, for housebreaking
and felOniouS assault. The Offense
for which he is charged was COM
mitted on the night of July 1, at
which time he was arrested and taken
to the station house, but was subse-
quently released. Two days later Mil
liken left the city and has not yet re-
turned. For some time past Milliken
has been a frequent caller at the
house of eX-SOlicitor General Samuel
F. Phillips, 1917 Rhode Island street.
Mr.. Phillips has two daughters, Ger
trude and Nora, both accomplished
young ladies of high character, and
to the former Milliken was especially
attentive. Milliken was always well
come to the house, as his character
was supposed TO be of the best. On
the night of the Fourth Milliken
called at the Phillips residence and
asked for Miss Gertrude. When the
latter saw him she noticed that he
acted queerly as if he was under. the
influence of liquor. She left him at
once and retired to her room. Milli-
ken then summoned a servant and
sent his card up to the young lady.
but she refused to see him again and
the servant showed him to the door.
About midnight. after every one in
hn hn AEp
was suddenly aroused by his daugh-
ter Nora calling to him eXcitedly.
Nora and Gertrude occupy COmmuni-
eating rooms on the third floor When
Mr.. Phillips reached this room he
found both his daughters there in a
high state of excitement. Gertrude
being apparently terror-stricken. The
door leading into the latter's room
was locked. Gertrude finally man
aged to tell him there was a man in
her room. She had been awakened by
the smell of chlOroform and had found
man leaning over her. She had
struck his hand away from her face
and escaped to her sisters room.
Mr.. Phillips started for his daugh-
ter'S room, while his wife and daUgh-
tiers ran to the lower floor. He was
joined by his partner, Mr.. Frederick
Mckinney, but in the meantime two
policemen arrived on the scene. The
man, however, ran down stairs and
escaped into the back yard. As he
passed the light he was recognized as
Milliken. The police followed and ar
rested the man and he was taken to
the station house.
He was released later in the night.
How Milliken got into the house is
not known. The servants say the
doors were securely locked as usual
Entrance could only have been eff
fected, however. by means of the side
window on the first floor. When
Phillips learned that Milliken had
been released he was intensely sur
prised. While naturally disposed to
shun unpleasant nOtoriety, which
would ensue, he thought the law
should take its course
Milliken is about thirty years old,
rather attractive in appearance and a
good conyersationalist He came here
from Memphis, Tenn, some years ago
as a correspondent for some South
ern newspaper Later on he was con-
nected with the local press.