The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1900-09-01
CHARLES G MILLER KILLED
Shot in His Room Wednesday Night by
John Blair

One oil the most shocking tragedie.
in the history OF Harrison was en-
acted on Wednesday night last, al
the Thurston Hotel, when Iohr
Blair entered the sleeping apart
ment OF Chas. Miller. a former man
ager of the Park Hotel, and emptied
q 10 calihre Colts revolver at him
shooting him with four of the bull
let's, one of which passed through
his heart. Miller died instantly
Blair went at once to the TurI
Saloon. and remarked with an oath
as he threw the empty cartridges
from his pistol. that miller hit me
over the head with chair and
killed him; and there are others who
may get the same dose If they don't
look out" He then went to his
home, north of the square, near
which place Marshal Freezing ar
rested him shortly after.
Blair is originally from the Pan
handle country OF Texas, and has
been in Harrison but a short time;
his brother Attorney K. F. Blair,
located here about year ago, com
ing from San Antonio. He has been
in St. Louis for month or more,
but has been telegraphed for, and is
expected home to-day.
The cause generally assigned for
the crime is that Miller made severe
remarks concerning Blair in eonnec-
ton with a recent assault by him
upon preacher who was escorting
the wife of his brother home from
church.
Mr.. Thurston, the proprietor of
the Hotel at which the decd was
committed, states that shortly after
9 o'clock John Blair entered the
the Office and inquired for Chas.
Miller; being told that he had pro-
badly retired, he asked to be shown
to his room up stairs. which Mr..
Thurston proceeded to do at once.
The door of the room was pointed
out to Blair, who knocked in a quiet
manner. and Mr. Thurston returned
to the office; but he had scarcely
reached the room below when six
shots in quick succession were heard,
and he rushed back to learn the
trouble. Near the door of MilIer's
room he encountered Blair who,
with smoking pistol ordered him
to get out of his way, and, at the
point of the pistol, marched him
down stairs to the office again.
Here BLAIR stuck his pistol in his
pocket, and, before the crowd could
overcome its surprise, walked off to-
ward the square.
Messrs. Pierson, Cave and other
boarders of the house went to the
room at once, and as soon as the
smoke could be dispersed sufficiently
to see anything, found Miller on the
floor in his under-clothes, dead; his
clothing in places being on fire from
the blaze OF the weapon which killed
him.
The authorities were notified
promptly, and while the Marshal
and possee went in search of Blair,
coroner's jury was summoned by
Esq. Cotton and the body and sur
roundings carefully inspected Nine
bullet holes were found, lit being
evident that four of the six shots
struck Miller, one shot passing
through his heart, while another
went through both arms and his
body, at the back. Two ugly CASH
es in the back ofhis head justified |
the conclusion that he had not only
been shot after he fell, but had also
been struck, most likely with Blair's
pistol. Three of the balls passing
through the wall near the floor like
wise strengthen this theory.
Chas. Miller was a young man of
quiet habits and exemplary charact-
err; he was born at North Middle
town, KY, in 1865 and came to
Arkansas in November 1896; was a
member of the M. Z. South Church;
and during the four years of his re-
sidence here has conducted himself
in manner to win the respect of all.
Up to the time OF leasing the Park
Hotel, year ago he had been en-
gagged in farming and mining, having
handled several large sales of miner
al properties throughout the dis
trict in a manner satisfactory to all
parties concerned. His brother, H.
A. Miller left but short time since
for Colorado; and at present is in
the town OF Florence. George |
Miller, younger brother who has
charge of the Excelsior Mining Co.'S.
operations at St. Joe, Searcy county |
was telephoned at once, and arrived |
in time for the funeral Thursday al
ternoon. Deceased was buried by |
the side of his mother, in the Har-
rison Cemetery, Rev. Johnsey con-
Quoting the services. The funeral |
was one of the largest ever seen in
Harrison.
The coroner's jury after careful
examination OF all evidence avail
able, on Thursday evening rendered
the following verdict
ave, the jury, find that the deceas-
ed, Charles G. Miller, came to his
death at the hands OF John Blair"
The preliminary trial, presided over