The log cabin Democrat., 1914-03-16
Conway. Arkansas MON AY, March I6. 1914
WILLIS KILLED ON
 ARKANSAS RIVER
SHOT BY WALTER MILLER
MEN WERE IN BOAT IN MID- STREAM WHEN THE TRAG-
 EDY'OCCURRED.

While the two men were in boats in midstream of the Arkansas, opposite Red Hill, six miles west of Conway. Walter Miller shot and instantly killed Thomas E. Willis at , o'clock Sunday afternoon Willis a few sec onds before he was killed had fired at Miller and is said to have been re- loading his weapon when Miller fired the fatal shot. Willis brother, Ray Willis, who was in the boat with him, was slightly injured in the hand by shot from Miller's gun. The cor oners jury last night recommended that Miller be held to await the action of the grand jury, on account of the inability of the jury to secure addi- tlonal evidence at the inquest.
 It IS understood that the trouble between the two arose several days ago, when Miller charged that Will lis had used improper language to- ward his (Miller's) wife A. A. Pat terson was in the boat with Miller. and Willis and his brother and two negroes, Ike Conley and one Morgan were m the other boat. Patterson and Ray Willis told the story of the i tragedy al the coroner's inquest, but the testimony of the two negroes could not be secured. According to Coroner J. 4. Pence, the evidence ad- duced at the inquest was sufficient to justify Q verdict eXonerating Miller. but the jury thought best not to do so until the testimony of the negroes could be heard.
 A jury composed of J. J. Cantrell, foreman, o. K. Bradley, R. D. White, Billie Ward, J. K. P. Smith, John Hale, J. C. Brady, G. NJ. Smith, P. A. Ward, Alvie Bryant, Perry Ward and Jerry Cantrell served at the in- quest conducted by Coroner J. A. Pence near the scene of the killing last night. A. A. Patterson, who was in the boat with Miller, testified as follows:
 Il started across the river in the boat with Mr. Miller and we met Ray and Tom Willis in mid-s stream. l Tom Willis said Halt, or will shoot you Tom Willis then threw up his gun and fired. He reloaded his gun and made an attempt to shoot again, then Mr. Miller shot him before he could shoot the second time. Ray | Willis was rowing the boat and Tom Willis was sitting on the back seat with his gun in his hands when he halted us.'
 1 Ray Willis, the brother of the man killed, testified as follows: "On the morning of March 15 my brother Tom and put two negroes, Ike John son and Morgan, over the river About 3 P. m. the negroes called at the opposite bank for us to come and 1 put them back across the river We 1 started after them and when we got to the bank of the river we found the Miller boys had started after them. We told them to go back, that the negroes were our customers and we were going after them. They went back, we went and got the negroes and in midstream We met Miller. Miller came close to our boat and looked like he was trying to run into us at this time. Tom told him not to come another stroke farther or he would shoot him. Miller stopped and turned around, then my brother shot at him and missed him about a foot. Miller raised his gun and shot at us, killing my brother, and some of the shot struck my hand. We did not carry a gun with us when we went after the negroes, but borrowed a rife over the river fom negro, Dun lap Harpole."
 Miller was arrested by Deputy Sheriff C. o. Payne and brought to Conway last night.
 At 2:30 o'clock this afternoon, after hearing evidence under habeas cor pus proceedings, County Judge J. w. Holt fixed a nominal bond of $200 for Millers appearance before the grand jury next July. In straightforward manner Miller, who was represented by Attorney R. c. Bruce, told the story of the tragedy to the court, and if he was telling the truth, as he ina pressed those who heard him that he was, the killing was clearly done in self-defense. He said the trouble be- gan some weeks ago, when Willises, taking offense at him from some un-