The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-06-25
Forty-tWo Ballots Were Tax
en- Before a Verdict Was
Finally Reached. 1t Being in
Favor of Acquittal.
ONLY THE SOUTH SIDE
HOUSE WAS BROUGHT IN.
Much Interest Was Attracted
Because 1t Was Thought
The Entire Fire Department.
Might Get an Airing.

Might Get an Airing.
After spending fifteen hours in tho
stuffy jury room. the twelve men upon
whose shoulders rested the innocence
or guilt of jeremiah Miller accused OF
assaulting John G. Brown. a member
of No. 4 hose company. returned yer-
dict of not guilty. The men received
the case at 4:30 o'clock Monday after
noon and returned To the coHrt room
this morning at 7:3o. From the very
first ballot there was deadlock and
during the night the case was agaim
discussed by jury members and forty
two ballots were cast before Miller
was declared innocent of the charge
placed against him.
During the course of the trial sever
al interesting disclosures came 10 the
surface in reference to the conduct of
the firemen at the No. hose house.
1t was shown that some of the men
invariably kept liquor about. the house
and on many instances became drunk.
Miller stated during the course OF his
evidence that on at least twenty-five
different instances he appealed. during
the time he was captain of the hose
company. to Fire Chief Ed Miller and
at least five times to the board OF pub.
lie works. but he received no relief
from the existing conditions. The
men persisted in their habit OF drink
ing.
Accusation Is Denied.
Miller denied the accusation that had
been made by Brown that in the
search through Browns locker. he
was looking for liquor under a false
pretense and he said that his motives
We're just in this case. The weight OF
the evidence by Miller tended to show
that the other firemon who had been
drunk on different instances had So
influenced Brown that he took sides
with them against Miller. Brown. it
was shown. never drank. but had got
into the affair between the men drink
ing and Miller. simply through sympa-
thy. and when the locker episode oc-
Cured. took advantage OF the OCCASION
TO hand Miller few warm ones This.
il was shown, led to Ill feeling between
the men which was brought to a cli-
max the next day when Brown and his
witnesses declared that on coming
down from the locker rooms where's
Miller had searched them Under or
ders. in hope of locating whiskey.
Brown accused Miller OF searching for
the whiskey the day before on the pre-
tense OF looking at some pipes.
The witnesses for the plaintiff de-
clared that Miller kicked yiciously at
Brown while the latter was below him
on the stairway. Each of the wit
nesses. however. declared that Miller
struck Brown in different places while
Brown himself made the declaration.
that Miller struck him on tho.
thigh. point which Attorney Bond
for the defendant proved could not
have been struck by Miller II Brown
WIS standing whore the witness claim
ed Ii was shown during the trial
that Miller WAS unpopular 1T the hose
house. because he persisted in telling
the officials that the men were drink.
ing and on several occasions had be-
come completely "'souseG" 1t was
for this that the grudge was held
against Miller.
An interesting Point.
A very interesting point came our IN
the course of the evidence. when the
witnesses had testified as TO the past
record OF Milier. Miller himself was
on the stand and had declared that he
had never been in trouble before.
Prosecutor Jessup turned to him and
said:
Is it true that you were prosecuted
for assault upon Charles Eowes when
Bob study was deputy prosecutor:'
KILLER admitted that he was.
Is IL not true that Study was given
50 as his ice If the case was thrown
from the docket:''
Miller again admitted il was correct.
The Miller case has attracted great
deal CT interest. as IL was thought the
would be thrown on the
fire department from bottom to top.
and come sensational facts disclosed.
but the whole evidence was kept at
the situation at the south side house.
and Il was shown that liquor was
drunk freely at this place. No other
houses were brought into the trial
The Miller trial. although in itself
and in reality a police
court case. cost the county about $s5.
Judge Fox is of the opinion that many
If the lesser cases should be held in
he city court. where they belong. al
though it is necessary. he said. that
some come before the circuit-court,