The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-17
AFRAID OF MILLER
CoIored Girls Testimony
Showed That Simmons
GOT BEHIND A TREE
When He Saw Miller Coming
Talked ofMi|ler KiIIngHim.

The coroner's inquest over the dead
body of Tom Miller. murdered by Fitz
Simmons whose real name is Ed. Stew
art, attracted a good crowd at the coro-
ner's Office yesterday. The testimony
varied but little from that published in
yesterdays Eagle. Only two important
facts were brought out, which were not
contained in the Eagles report. Miss
Emma Payne testified that she was on
Elm. near Culp's green house. going east,
when she heard a shot fired and looking
back saw Fdtz Simmons shoot Tom Mil
Ter. She identified Fftz Simmons as the
man who did the shooting.
The other important new fact was that
brought TO light by George Cummings
Of the Centropolis motel. who saw Fitz
Simmons when in custody of Douglas
Simmons. deputy sheriff, drop something
in the hotel yard. He picked up a 80
calfbre American Bulldog. which he iden-
tilted as the thing thrown down by the
man under arrest.
These two important facts, taken in con-
nection with those disclosed by the
Eagles account, fully justified the verdict
of the coroner's jury that Thomas MEner
came to mis- death from a wound caused
by a bullet discharged from a revolver in
the hands off Fritz or Fftz Simmons
Much speculation was indulged in dur
ing the day. The colored people are dis
posed TO criticize Mrs. Miller. A repre-
sentative of the Eagle went to the Mil
Ter home but could not find Mrs. Miller
The neig4Ibors said she had gone down
&c
undertaker's Office at p. M and arranged
for the funeral TO take place at p. m.
today. She had little to say to the un-
dertaker.
Whether the killing is a matter Of de-
liberation and lying in wait is puzzling
matter. The fact that Stewart made no
threats but always talked of being afraid
of NlH1er is commented on. If he pre-
meditated the killing, Ii Is argued ne
would have let drop something indicating
such intention, as he talked about the
trouble freely to many persons. Then,
those who are acquainted with the scene
are puzzled to know whore he could have
concealed himself. 1t could not nave been
behind the Snyder house. as the first shot
was fired from behind and before Miller
and Murphy had reached tine rear of the
Snyder mouse going east.
1t could hardly have been in front of
the Snyder mouse, for the door was open
and Snyder was looking out of the door
while Miller came across Market street
in the direction Of his house, and but
few moments prior to the shooting
Emma Payne's statement to the Eagle
man throws light on this subject
She left the Woods house with Stewart:
walked directly east till she reached a
point near the east end of the Snyder
house and then went dfagonally across
Elm street to the south side and then east.
She left Stewart on the walk south by
the Snyder house and followed the line
indicated, there being only time enough
for her TO walk a matter of say fifty
yards when she heard the first shot. AS
she passed across Market street with
Stewart She saw Nilier at the east front
of dle jan. She says she did not stop
wa liking and went moderately fast until
she reached a point near Cups green
house, when she heard the first shot
fired.
A man walking at the rate of three
miles per hour wa1ks about ninety yards
to the minute. If her statement Is correct
the rate of three miles, it was not one
minute from the time she separated from
Stewart tin teh first shot was fired.
Where was Stewart in that short time?
He was standing behind one OF the cot
tonwod trees by the sidewalk south of the
Snyder house