The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-11-28
MURDERED.
Eootpads Take the Life of a Prom
inent Illinois Minister.
Rev. James Miller. Pastor of Grace M. II
Church at Bloomington. and "a Prom
fncnt Mason. slain and Robbed
mt Decatur.


Decatur, H.. Nov. 25.--Rev. DIR. James
Miller, OF Bloomington. grand Prelate
OF the grand commandery of Knights
Tempar OF Illinois, was found dead la
q dark alley IN this city early Tuesday
morning. There was an ugly bullet
hole In his head and everything indi-
Gates that he was foully murdered By
footpads and robbed. His pockets were
rified, and his gold watch and pocket
book had been taken. The murder has
caused the greatest excitement, aud
every effort is being made to find the
person or persons who committed the
deed.
w. 4. Roberts discovered the body
in the alley in the rear Of DIR. w. NJ.
Catto's residence, which is located In
the most fashionable section OF the city.
The head lay in pool of blood. There
was a gaping bulet hole in the fore
head, and by the side of the remains
lay a walking stick and a 3s-caliber re-
SOLVER. of which one chamber was dis
charged. DR.. Miller was at Springfield
Monday and arrived in this city at
10:30 o'clock Monday night. He walked
from the depot to the residence dis
trict. and when struck down was evil
dcutly going TO the house Of DIR. Cato,
where he usually stopped when he Wis
ited this city.
Peter Brucek, who lives block west
of where the body was found, heard a
single shot as he was going TO his home
Monday night. The handsome diamond
masonic charm worn by Mr.. Miller was
found this morning in the driveway of
residence n block east OF the place OF
the murder. indicating that the muir
derers ran across lots and toward tho
business part of the town.
Mrs. Miller. when she learned Of the
sudden and sad fate of her husband.
was completely Frustrated. DIR. John
Miller. of this city is son OF the muir
dered man.
The masonic fraternities OF this city
have authorized the chief OF police 10
offer $500 for the arrest of the muir
derer. At two o'clock Tuesday after
noon a pair OF bloodhounds arrived
firm Lincoln, H.. and were at once
taken to the scene OF the murder, but
the trail had been so destroyed the
hounds were unable TO carry IL far.
The inquest was held and beyond the
fact of the finding OF the body nothing
developed in the shape OF a tangible
clew. This morning the body will be
;plnced in state in the First Methodist
church. where IL will remain until Fri
day afternoon at two o'clock. when the
funeral will be held.
REV. James Miller was a native OF Eng
Hand. and was IS years old lie entered the
Methodist ministry when young man and
continued IN Il until highwayman's bullet
put an end 10 his career. In Decatur where
ne lived with his family few years ago, nc
was pastor OF the First Methodist church
until the time limit forced him TO relinquish
that charge. In 1892 no was appointed pre-
siding elder Of the Decatur district OF the
Illinois conference. He held this office one
year and then followed his desire to preach
TO a congregation rather than have charge
OF district. lie held pastorates In CHI
cnEo Jacksonville and bloomington At
the time OF his death he was pastor OF the
First Methodist church OF Bloomington.
one OF the largest Methodist churches In
Illinois
Among all preachers OF the Methodist
Episcopal denomination, both In the Rock
River conference and In the Illinois confer
ence, which includes all churches In the
state Or. Miller was well known
and highly esteemed both as a
clergyman and a man. He served his
denomination many years and was honored
by his fellow preachers In being made pre-
siding elder at one time. He was eiilcient
not only as a pastor. but was well known a.
nm orator
Az a knight templar DR. Miller became
prominent some years ago. lie was grand
preiate OF the grand commandery Of the
order IN Illinois Recently, too. he was
made state orator OF the commandery.l