Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-09-16
FRIENDS Of MILLER
REFUSE TO BELIEVE
THAT He WAS BANDIT
EXCELLENT BUSINESS RECORD
IN CHICAGO OF MAN FOUND
SLAIN LELAND THROWS NEW
ANGLE IN SOLUTION OF CASE.

The second days work on the un.
ravelirg of the mysterious murder OF
George l.. Miller at Leland, closed
without the authorities reaching any
more of a solution Of a case than they
had on Tuesday Friends OF the dead
man in Chicago insist that be was a
respectable business man, and must
have met his death by foul play, al
though the local authorities believe
that without doubt he was a Chicago
bandit.
The fact that William Barnes, a
nephew Of the slain man, with ms
wife and son, are said to have hur-
riedly left Chicago for an automobile
trips to Texas few hours after his
uncle was found shot back OF the
Erickson garage has added new com
plicatiOn to the case. II Is claimed
that Barnes told friends he was call
ed to Texas by his wile's illness.
The police in Chicago are seeking
two women. said to have been good
friends of the dead man, who are to
be questioned about his habits
Bore GOOd BUSINESS RECORD.
The fact that Miller hitherto bore
an exemplary business record has
caused his friends to maintain that
he was the victim OF gang Of rob
bers, rather than a members Of the
gang They maintain that he travel
ed throughout the country purchasing
poultry, and that he drove in front OF
the garage in Leland while il was be
ine robbed They believe that he was
killed by the robbers, who placed stol
en- articles in his pockets to divert
suspicion from themselves,
On the other hand an investigation
is being made by the authorities on
the supposition that Miller was
member of the bandit band and was
killed in a fight over the loot,
The theory is also advanced that
Miller was pressed into service by the
band after the Franklin Grove bank
robbery, and was killed TO prevent
him qQuealing on them. His friends
insist that the Dodge car found in the
field was owned by him, and that the
license number lGS5lS was his mum
her They claim that until Il few
weeks ago lie also owned Ford car
which bore the license plate 3SGl6S.
Both license plates were found in the
ECdr.
He is declared by former employees
ito have been sober and steady For
the past three weeks he is said to
have been touring the country pur-
chasing butter and eggs. He is said
10 have left Chicago Saturday and TO
have intedstl TO- rel urn Monday night
ln search OF IFS eroo.n,a nothing toll
indicate that he was engaged in Grim
inal activities was found,
Honest. Says Employer, /
James Heidenrich, 1924 ogden ave
nuc, Chicago, a butcher with whom |
Miller formerly worked, said that the |
dead man was honest and steady in |
his habits.
He left us about seven weeks ago |
after having been in our employ for |
eight months" said Heidenrich. "He |
always carried from $1,000 to $4,000 |
in his pockets The last time | saw !
him was last Saturday. when he came |
into the shop TO get 500 bill in ex
change for some $40 bills
Sweetheart Frustrated.
Miss Stella Brought0n of Madras,
OREGON, a sweetheart OF Miller, whose
letters WERE found in his pockets, is
PROSTATE over his death. She claims
to have known Miller for a number
of years as a prosperous automobile
broker. who weekly invested large !
sums in cars. and ALWAYS carried 800,
81 900 and $4,000 in bills in his peck
cts.
II cant believe he was ROT Der
she sobhed yesterday to a reporter,
II went with him constantly for over
six months. He never mentioned any
thing of the kind, and | believe ]
would have known it if he had been
crooked
Sheriff to investigate.
Sheriff Curt Ayers will leave in the
morning for Chicago To make per
sonal investigation Of the case from
that end of the line. He expects to
find some important evidence in the
case.