The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-16
TOM MILLER SHOT
Killed Instantly by a Negro,
Fits Simmons.
NECK BROKEN BY FALL
Stories of Eye-Witnesses and
People Mo Know

Tom Miller, a negro. who lived on IN
corner of Tenth street and Washington
avenue. and worked for H. ]. Hagny, wa
shot in the head last night and Instant,
killed by Fits Simmons. young negr
who came here from Topeka four or fiv
days ago. The trouble was over Miller
wife
The shooting occurred at the corner o
Market and Elm streets. diagonally acros
from the county jail, at a quarter-past
O'Clock Miller and Simmons had a DIFF
fculty at the same place, back of Snyder
feed store, the evening before, in which
Miller had pounded Simmons quite severe
~. John Snyder, who runs the feed stor'
Oh the corner, says that when they sep
arated Miller turned and said to Simmons
who was by that time half way across the
street: IN get even with you yet, damn
you
Yesterday evening as Miller was going
along just about the same place, Simmons
saw him. and going across the street the
two men had a few words and Miller was
shot dead. The ball went into his head
Ter, after the second shot. threw his hands
up to his head, fell backward without a
ward, and died with cigar in his mouth
Simmons ran across Market street and
back Of the bill boards on Elm. As he ran
across Main street he was seen by Doug
Simmons. who happened to be driving
along at that time. Doug jumped out and
chased the murderer. who ran on the
north side Of the Cenropolis hotel and up
the alley back Of it. Up the alley few
yards the officer, Doug Simmons, was
chasing so closely that the murderer stop
ped and was taken to the jail.
The young negro was accused OF being
on intimate terms with NIiTer's wife and
OF writing letters to her. 1t is said that
Miller ran Simmons out Of town last sum-
mer.
THE MURDERER's STORY.
Tho murderer is about feet inches in
height and is % years old. When ques-
toned in the Jail, he said:
II don't know anything about what the
trouble was over"
what was your quarrel sbout?"
Il don't know"
''Who spoke first when you metz"
MILLER did"
what did he say?''
He cursed me. and drew his gum
what did he curse you sbout?"
Il don't know. He has been coming to
my place and bothering me-
WAS the trouble over a woman?"
y guess So"
Nv hat did you do when you met Miller?'
II didn't do anything. He drew a gun
and tried to kin me and I shot him.
did Miller shoot?"
81 don't know. He beat me up like a dog
the day before, about the same Place"
where do you live?"
u live here I used to work in the Man
haitian. I went to Topeka last summer
and worked in the Throop hotel"
why did you come back here2"
For jacket and apron which I had
ic.t"
Why didn't you go back when you got
then?"
81 have been az work here"
Where do YOU live?"
Il live at 6l3 North Market"
why did You XIII MHler?"
Because ne tried TO kill me-"
What was your trouble sbout?'
Il don't know"
Elmer Murphy, who lives at the Oak
Street hotel, Was hit by one OF the shots.
lie tells 4 story of the trouble:
ELMER MURPHY'S ACCOUNT.
AT about go last evening [ met Tom
Miller on tho corner Of Market and Elm
and talked win hIm for a minute or 50.
and thcn we started east on Elm street"
DID you sec anybody in The immediate
vicinity"
IL did not
What time in the day was it?"
From what a gray-haired. heavy set |
man said to me, L fix the time as $50"
Could You have seen a man as far as /
across the street?'
Il could see, for ii was not yet dark"
Did YOU talk TO Miller or did he speak 1
Of any trouble he had with any one?"
No; We talked about business mat
ter. Miller owed me "a little something,
and We talked about that"
What Was the first thing that attract
ed your attention."
"A shot fired, and l felt the ball strike
me Il struck me on the hip. I did NOT
know how badly 7 Was hurt. Miller and
both hooked around and there saw a.
man some twenty feet away leaning for
ward. raising his gun and pointing II at
one or us. ! ran behind the buildinC-the
htile frame building on the northeast cor
ner of Market and Elm. passed hack
and into the second house and lay down
A. Went heard the second shot
What did Miller do after the first shot
and when yeu turned around"
Miller turned. facing the man defiantly.
leaning slightly forward. and said: You
8 D."
WAS tfat all no saij?"
All I heard him say lie was dead
when ] saw him three minutes later"
Did he exhibit any disposition 10 runq"
No. He seemed TO have lots Of grit"
Did Miller have amy gum
II did not ses any gun. l saw no effort
- pun any gun. lie Rad some butchers
meat under his ARM
Did BE speak after he was shot?"
Il was examining my own wound a. this
time IN the houSe-the second from the
corner. A. soon as discovered ;hat 1
Was only hurt slightly I came ont and
found Miller lying IN the alley. his head
70 the northeast"
How badly were you hurt. Mr. Muir
phy?"
Il was only stunned. The ban is a -
RiIsOusness