The San Francisco call., 1896-08-17
The Hero of the Franklin Resi-
dence Tragedy Again
Arrested.
IN SANTA BARBARA's PRISON.
Captain Lees Declares H m a Bad Man,
Even Worse Than Is Oliver
Winfield Winthrop.

The arrest of Frank ]. Miller in Santa
Barbara, as announced in the dispatches
yesterday morning, reopens one of the
most sensational episodes in the criminal
annals of this City.
Miller, who was at the time butler in
the employ of ]. L. Franklin, a lottery
dealer, had for the second time made a
hero of himself in repulsing the attacks of
burglars upon his masters silver chest.
This time, however, instead of simply
frightening the thieves away, he killed
one of them, and, being himself wounded,
he swooned and the dead robbers body
was found lying across his own.
1t was a most tragic affair, and the
young mans bravery was extolled mo-
where so loudly as in the Franklin home.
The detectives worked on the case for
weeks trying to solve certain details that
did not appear very clear. They were con-
siderably hampered in their investigation
by the Franklins themselves, who would
not listen to any suggestion that there
were many suspicious circumstances con-
nected with the case. Finally, one fne
day, Mr.. Franklin bundled his butler out
of the house and his whereabouts became
perfect mystery so far as the public was
concerned.
The lottery man acknowledged that
Captain Lees had convinced him that
Miller was dangerous man, and that in
stead of having shot and killed burglar
while protecting his masters house he had
simply coaxed an inoffensive tramp to
visit him at the California street mansion,
where he murdered him in cold blood.
At no time during the duration of the
sensation, even when the case was brought
before the Grand Jury, was Miller per-
mitted to make public statement to the
press. At all times he was guarded, and
being satisfied to get away unmolested
Miller kept his own story locked securely
within his breast until this time, when
new troubles have come upon him. and he
has given the details of the affair, as he
regards them, to a representative of THE
CALL. He said:
On February Is my deposition was taken by
captain Lees, reporter and Detectives Glib
son and Wren. l told them the story just as 1t
happened as nearly as / could remember. The
Coroner's inquest was adjourned from time to
time until l was able to attend-about Febru-
ary 22-when told the jury all about the af-
fair as recollected it. The corpse of the burg
lar lay in the Morgue eight days awaiting
Identification.
All kinds of rumors were abroad, some i'm
plicating me in the attempted burglary and
others alleging that / decoyed a tramp TO the
house with the intention OF killing him, with
the expectation of gaining big reward and
adding to my reputation for bravery. An ire
sponsible tramp testified at the inquest that
while out on the evening of February IL
gave him directions in writing how to reach
the Franklin residence, and promising to give
him some clothes and SIS If he would come
there the following evening and carry away
two bundles that / would give him.
He swore that ne did not go, as some fellow
tramps whom he told about the proposition
advised him not to do SO, as there was evil
IDENTIFY some trick in the offer. The theory
sough. to be established by this vagabond's
tramp to come led another one into the trap
and killed him. But the verdict of the Coro-
ner's jury was that it was justifable homicide
and was eXonerated.
About this time there were published state
ments that was to be rearrested for the
crime. Mr.. Franklin, who had all along stood
nobly by me, was much excited over these
rumors but was calm and cool. as believed
make me afraid. The threatened arrest was
not made and had recovered sufficiently to
resume my regular work, when Mr.. Franklin
informed me one evening that my case was to
come up again, but he would stand by me
through thick and thin. In the meantime the
matter was brought before the Grand Jury,
Captain Lees attempting to get me indicted
for murder, but District attorney Barnes dis
missed the case.
Mr. Franklin had assured me of his belief in
my innocence all along, but at last yielding to
the pressure brought by Lees, he dismissed me-
He urged me TO go TO Australia, as he declared
the police would give me no rest here. But as
1 had done nothing to be ashamed OF declined
to go.
/ think the reason Mr. Franklin got rid of me
was because the police threatened to make
trouble for him If he didn't, discharge me-
Franklin and a man named Metzger conduct
the Little Louisiana and Little Mexican lot
teries in room 48, Wells-Fargo building. The
foa0 lnea bar m fhau xpar1 faIf