The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-12-08
MURDER MAY RESULT FROM
ASSAULT ON MILLER
Storekeeper Assaulted BY Thugs Almost in Day
light and Beaten Into nsensibiIity--Five
Serious Wounds on Head-Police
Have Clue to Perpetrators.

John A. Miller, tailor and dealer
in second hand clothing, whose place
of business is at No. 131 South Walnut
street, is suffering at his home. No.
200 South Walnut, from wounds that
may result in his death. He is Ga years
old, and the injuries which might not
SO seriously affect younger man are
of more mortal import to one of his
age Mr.. Miller has no less than five
bad wounds upon his head, each OF
which fractured the skull, one of them
being near the base of the brain and
is considered to be the most danger
ous of them all. Besides these wounds
the nose was broken and he suffered
minor bruises.
Mr.. Miller was discovered in lis shop
at about half past five o'clock last ev-
ening in an almost unconscious conji-
ton. He was lying on the floor in the
back Part of the room. near the little
stove which furnishes heat for the
room. and was assisted 70 chair be-
hind his counter and an alarm made
for assistance. William Messner, who
was in the shoe shop mex. door door,
was one of the first on the scene. He
heard an unusual noise in the tailor
shop and went to investigate. He
found Mr.. Miller on the focr in the
rear of the room. He ass:stel him 10
a chair and called for help. A number
of people quickly gathered and telo-
phone messages were sent for physic-
ians and the police. Mrs. Miller was
also summoned and was at the store
before few others arrived.
Samuel Ringgenberg of 1873 South
Walnut street, whose shop and home
is next to Miller's store, said that
about $50 he heard something that
sounded like struggling but thought
nothing of it as there we're frequent
tumults of that kind. When asked if
he heard any sound as of a man fall
ing, he said that he had not. William
Messner came in and told him what had
occurred He went and saw the body
Of Miller lying in a chair. He then
went back to his place of business. Mr..
Ringgenberg says that last Saturday
night his sons wife went out In the
yard to draw some water from the
hydrant and saw man in the yard.
She asked him what he wanted, and
without replying he hid his face with
his coat. She then called William, her
husband, when the man jumped over
the fence and her husband followed but
lost his man in the crowd.
Percy Dittenhafer, who is located in
the building and two doors away from
Millers place, stated Friday evening
his attention was called to the fact that
Miller was quarreling with some one
in his place of business. Samuel Ring
enberg, a shoemaker whose shop is
between Dittenhafer's and the Miller
store, called his attention to the fact.
A short time after that he started
home and when passing Miller's glanc
ed in. He saw a low heavy set man
in the place, whom he says he could
recognize II he saw him again. He
heard loud and angry words and dis
tinctly heard some one say, You Cd
d-n s-b-, I'll knock your head off
Quarrels were OF frequent occur
renee in the shop. and he did not
think that there was anything serious
going on. When he came back from
supper he heard of the assault. Mr..
Dittenhafer stated positively that a
few evenings before. he saw the same
heavy set man at the rear of Miller's
place, and that when he was discovered
he ran back toward Piedmont stree t,
but little later appeared on the front
street near Miller's store. Dittenhaf-
er asked him what he wanted and the
answer was, None Of your damned
business"
The condition OF Mr.. Miller was pit
liable. The blood was still ooZing
from mis- wounds, and his hands were
red from his efforts to wipe II from
his eyes. He was unable to speak, and