The sun., 1897-05-09

was aroused by the escape Of the 1--WE men from
conviction. They worc again indicted, this time
for arson and assault with intent to kill In tho
case OF Mrs. Bette Miller. Tho late Judge
Parker wns presiding. The mon werc convicted
In September, 1898. Charles Hook and Sam
Stufiiobeam were sentenced to nine years each
and the throo others to twelve years each.
The cases wero appealed and the men were
sent to Jail In default Of bonds.
Tho bloodest chapter of tho vendetta was
recorded while McElroy and his associates wcrc
in Jail awaiting new trial. Alexander Miller
and his family had returned to their homes near
Lawson from Fort Smith, where they had
testified against tho i've convicted men. Tho
Miller home consisted OF two rooms. A long
porch ran across tho front OF the house. In
the from troom were two beds, ono in the south.
west corner and the other in the southeast cor
nc-. \ door led from this room into the rear
room. In the yard was a dugout, where the
meals were prepared. On the evening OF Oct. IL,
1895, there were at the home Alexander Miller
the father so years old: the mother. OF about
the same age, and the childrcn-William. 10
wears old; Dorsey. 22 Benjamin. 16; Charles,
IL, and Bessie. II. The mother was cooking
the evening meal in tho dugout. The father,
who was i'll. owing to his long trip from Fort
Smith, was lying on tho outer edge OF one bed.
with his face toward the wall. lamp was
burning in the room. Dorsey had been
lying on the outer edge Of the other bed but had
rolled to the other sdo. when William. who had
just eaten supper, lay down and began reading
q book. Benjamin was sitting behind q stove in
the middle of the room. Tho little girl and the
youngest boy were with their mother in
tho dugout. Suddenly two winchesters were
thrust through the open door of the house and
were discharged almost at the samo instant. A
ball tore through tho fathers back and cut off
his left hand, which was resting against the
chest He sprang to his feet, staggered forward
a few steps, and sank down and died. William
was struck in tho left side, the ball coming out
at the upper part OF his right chest. He jumped
to the floor and ran to escape through a
door into a rear rooni As he reached
the door two more shots were fired. ono
bullet striking him in his lon and the
other tearing of his left hand BENJAMIN blew
out the lamp. The mother had Just sat down to
her supper facing the entrance to the dugout.
As she raised pitcher OF syrup in her hand the
assassins fired from the darkness and she was
killed instantly. She fell backward with a gap
ing hole in her chest. Another shot tore of one
breast. The pitcher Of syrup was lying on her
plate when she was found. The empty shells as
they had been thrown from the winchesters
were on the ground in front Of the door. 1t had
been the purpose Of the assassins to kill Dorsey
Miller instead OF his brother William. because
Of his having seen the men who killed Bruce
Miller ut Ingalls,. One of the assassins had
peered into the house to locate the different per-
sons and while he was gone to report to his con-
federates William Miller had entered the house
and taken the place of Dorsey on the bed.
As soon tho lamp was blown out Dorsey
seized Winchester and ran into the yard.
There was dim starlight. but no one could be
seen. The faint beat OF horses feet could be
heard in the distance. a search the next day
showed where four horses had been tied in
grove about two hundred yards from the house.
and there were also footprints OF four men lead
ing to and from the house. The horses had
been ridden away toward the Creek coun-
try. Dorsey Miller went at once for assist
ance. The children at the house were
alone with the dead until = O'Clock
in the morning. The wounded brother who had
sought refuge in the rear room. was found with
his head leaning upon u trunk He was in great
agony, and his blood covered the floor. The
children lifted him to the floor and rolled him
n mattress. He had been Christian for num-
ber OF years under adverse surroundings. and as
he embraced his brothers and sister he told
them that he was dying and hoped to get a
Christians reward.
None was ever arrested for these crimes.
Judge Parker died at Fort Smith. and the ap-
pealed case Of the i've men sentenced to the
penitentiary gradually lost strength. until last
January. when a nolle pros- was entered for ALL
and they went free Deputy United States
Marshals are afraid to search for evidence
within the territory scourged by the vendetta.
and the Millers who have not been killed of
have been forced to flee the country.
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