Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1915-06-11
MILLER CASE TO Be
FINISHED SATURDAY
STATE COMPLETES ITS TESTI.
MONY THURSDAY - TRIAL AT
TRACTS MANY SPECTATORS.


TRACTS MANY SPECTATORS.
Resting its case late Thursday af-
ternoon. the state completed its tes-
timony in the prosecution Of A. L.
Miller, former sales agent of the
Union Lumber company, on the
charge of first degree murder arising
out of the shooting of William Chat
ten, manager Of the mill, and the
defense first placed two character
witnesses on the stand.
The testimony introduced by the
state was largely a repetition of that
brought out in Miller's preliminary
hearing shortly after his arrest. The
only new witness was David Hume.
an employe of the mill for about two
years, and at the outset he was inter-
rupted by objections by the defense.
Prosecuting Attorney George F.
Yantis, in an explanation given the
court, said he desired to obtain from
Hume testimony to the effect that
one Sunday night, a week or two
prior to the shooting, he had seen
Miller walking back toward Union
Mills from the next station, Kyro,
after apparently having taken the
evening train for Tacoma. the cir
being similar to those ON
the night of the shooting.
Many Women Hear Trial.
Every day since the trial started,
at 1880 Monday afternoon, the court
room has been crowded with specta-
tors, from one-half to two-thirds Of
them being women. Sitting along
side the prosecuting attorney ID Judd
foreman of the mill, while
Miller is sitting with his counsel,
Vance & Parr, and his wife, three
children and brother are nearby. 8.
H. Chatten, brother Of the murdered
man, is also here.
More than two days and half
were given over to the selection OF
the jury, the following being finally
chosen: Mrs. d. M. McClintic.
J. B. Sudman, s. A. Black and Carl
Wicks of Olympia; T. F. Giles. Gull
w. B. Taylor. South Bay;
T. J. Mounts, Gate: J. e. Rutledge
and r. o. Garrett, Little Rock; Rob-
ert Johnson, Tumwater; r. T. Fritz.
Lacey. and J. w. Wade, R. F. d. No.
2. Olympia.
AS the next step in the case, Pros
Attorney Yantis. in his OPEN
ing statement to the jury. told the
details of the shooting and of Miller's
actions on that evening. Taking up
the defense. Attorney T. M. Vance
made quite a lengthy statement.
pointing out that Miller had been an
employe of the Chattens' for years;
that he and his family had been
urged to come to Union Mills by Will
lam Chatten, the victim of the shoot
ing; that, as salesmanager and later
Miller's movements were
directly under Chatten's control.
'.Deliberate Ruination Of Home"
Further outlining the testimony to
be presented by the defense, Attor-
ney Vance said: Shortly after the
Miliers moved to Union Mills, the
older man, friend and patron of the
family, being attracted by the beauty
of Mrs. Miller, started a long series
of acts-being enabled in this course
by mis- control over the husbands
every movement--whereby he sought
to encompass the deliberate ruina-
ton of the home"
From this point Attorney Vance
told how Miller, hearing rumors, had
gone to Chatten and how the latter
had denied them vehemently. Later
domestic difficulties arose in the Mil
ler family, until the relations became
strained and Mrs. Miller suggested
divorce, "the result" SO the attorney
said, "of Chatten's constant urging"
Miller, however, would not consid-
er a divorce, the attorney continued
and seriously thought Of quitting his
lob at the mill and moving some
where else with his family. and. on
the night OF the shooting, got on the
train at Kyro and walked back to his
home with the intention OF resigning
his place the next morning. Arriving
at the house he saw a man enter. then
later leave, and in q fit OF passion
shot him.
Miller himself will take the stand
before the defense concludes its case'
and Mrs, Miller is also expected to
testify. The case will probably go to