The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1912-04-06
SHERIFF MILLER FATALLY SHOT
MortaIIy Wounded In.Outer Jail Yard By Enraged
ItaIian--Diedi within An Hour

Tony would harm him. Tony was US
ually cheerful. Witness had heard him
say he would shoot the whole crowd (at
the jail)
States Attorney Albert Constable ask
ed to be sworn and stated that he had
seen Duke getting his hair cut in Will
son barber shop several days previous
to Saturday. Howard Green said: Tony,
show the States Attorney your pistol?'
Tony pulled it out of his pocket Mr.
Constable told him he had no right to
carry the weapon. He met Sheriff Mil
Ter at J. Frank Fra er's, an the evening
and told him he ought to get the pis tOl
from Tony. The Sheriff said 1t was a
toy affair, but he would get 1t from him
He neglected trying to get it, until Sat-
urday, when it was fired with fatal effect.
Er. John III. lamar who made the post
mortem examination of the Sheriff 8
body, gave its results. The bullet enter
ed six inches below the left nipple, and
about thre einches below the heart, pass
.ng inward, upward and backward, pierre
in gthe lower edge of the left lobe of the
liver and both walls OF the abdomen, and
was embedded in the left dorsal vertebra
VI 'hV oPihc' at luc JOlul VI IUe ululu
rib. About three quarts of blood flowed
into the stomach. Death was due to the
decorations of the principal vessels of
the stomach, the effects of shock and the
resulting internal hemorrhage.
Former Sheriff ]. Wesley McAlister
identified the pistol used by Duke. Wit
ness had taken it from an Elkton negro
named Wilson, at Layton's Carnival
Show on the Ball Park, several years
ago, and had given it to Mrs McAllister,
who kept 1t in her room. Later it was
put In the medicine cupboard in the Jail
once, where Tony probably found it be-
tore or after witness left the Jail 1t was
Of no use as weapon, except at close
range. He had been told that Tony was
carrying pistol. He told Sheriff Mil
Ter and Deputy Groves that If it was the
one that had been left in the cupboard
ne wished 1t returned TO him. He had
never seen Tony with weapon, save a
piece of iron slung to his wrist with a
cord, which witness got from him after
rapping him with a broomstick The
Key to the cupboard hung alongside of it,
and Tony could easily get the pistol as
well as cartridges kept with other pis-
tolls nthe desk in the office The pis-
tol was shown to the jury. When taken
IRON Tony 1t contained four cartridges
and one empty she'll. The trigger work.
ed stifi1y and required strong pull for
firing
The jury rendered the following yer-
dict, That J. Myron Miller came to his
death from the effects of wound from
niG in ba
that the jury believes that the said
wound was deliberately inflicted by said
Duca."
News of the shooting quickly spread
throughout the town and county. Throngs
gathered at the Jail and on the streets
and when it was learned that Sheriff
Miller had died indignation rose to a
high pitch and many residents talked,
notably younger people, with whom
t"r ct:m was very popular, of taking
vengeance upon the slayer. To avoid
possible trouble and the need of extra
guards at the TAIL, States Attorney Con-
stable had a southbound express, pass
ng Elkton about APO p. m, stopped and
Duke was put aboard, IN charge of De-
putty Sheriff P. NJ. Groves, Major John A.
Morgan and Clarence Perkins, who took
him to Baltimore Jail for safe keeping
He cl,ng to the bars of the cell door
and three guards were required to sub
due him. He muttered and talked to
himself during the night, but on Sunday
had quieted down and ate three meals.
After the autopsy Sheriff Mllers body
was prepared for burial and placed in a
heavy oak casket, which rested in the
parlor of the residence portion of the
jail, where many Elktonians and others
called on Monday evening to take a last
look at the features of their friend and
tender sympathy to his sorely stricken
wife Funeral services were held at the
Sheriffs residence on Tuesday morning,
conducted by Rev. E. P. Roberts, pastor
of Elkton NJ. E. Church, and Rev. Dr.
John Mc'Elmoyle of the Presbyterian
Church. The former spoke feelingly and
impressively on the lessons of the trag-
edy, and urged all his hearers, with the
near approach of Easter, to think upon
the need of being prepared for the life
beyond the grave. A choir sang Rock
of Ages, "Abde With Me-, and Jesus,
Lover of My Soul" After the close Of
the services the casket was taken to
Elkton station and placed on the 1918
train for Perryville, where it was taken
to the home Of the deceased's brother in
law, E. Wilmer Jackson, at Aiken, where
other friends gathered and joined in the
cortege. to Hopewell Cemetery, where in
terment was made in the evening with
final services conducted by Rev. E Sun
field, pastor of Perryville NJ. e. Church.
Messrs. Cecil Kirk, George NJ. Evans,
Joshua Clayton, ]. w Perkins, ]. Frank
Fra 'er and o. c. Giles were the pail
bearers. Resting on the casket were
tasteful floral tributes from Ekton
Camp of Modern Woodmen, the Singerly
Fire Company and friends of the de-
ceased.
Sheriff Miller who was ~ years of age,
was a son Of the late James Miller. Of
the Eighth district. lie served as deputy
under Sheriff Cecil Kirk in 1905-07. and
located in Elkton( where he followed his
trade as a carpenter. He was popular
with all classes fearless, yet k'ad,y as