The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-05-12

The people of Kingstree and vicini-
ty were profoundly shocked early Sun
day morning as the news spread over
town to the effect that j. H. Miller
had been found dead on the roadside
one mile south of Cades. The news
was conveyed here to Sheriff Gamble
by Rural Policeman Brockinton about
4:3O a. m. Mr.. Gamble at once called
his deputy, j. P. Frierson, and togeth-
er the three officers repaired to the
scene of the tragedy.
Mrs. Miller, was notified Of her hus-
bands death by Sheriff Gamble be-
fore leaving town. DR.. E. T. Kelley
and Undertaken Courtney were also
called and hurried off to the Scene.
Mr.. Miller was engaged as super
intendent of the Electric Light plant
at Lake City. He made his home in
Kingstree where his wife and little
adopted daughter have lived for the
past six years. On Saturday nights
it was Mr.. Miller's custom to drive
from Lake City to Kingstree in his
Ford car, spending Saturday night
and Sunday here and returning to
Lake City on Monday mornings. He
was on his way from Lake City
here when he was killed, and left ly-
ing on the roadside Saturday night,
half to three quarters of mile south
of the town of Cades.
No facts in the case were apparent
ly known to Mr.. Brockinton, who
brought word of the dead body in the
road and Sheriff Gamble was unable
to give any information as to how Mr..
Miller had come to his death or at
what time in the night.
Phone lines were busy all over town
and by ZOO o'clock number of citl-
zens, in automobiles, had left town for
the scene where the body was found.
When Sheriff Gamble and his depu-
ties reached the scene they found
Coroner H. j. Brown and few other
persons present. The coro"er had
been informed by Mr.. Brockinton.
Mr.. Miller's Ford car was standing
near the middle of the road about ten
feet away from the dead body with
radius rod bent and out of condition
to run. The front of the car was spat-
tered with blood. The dead body OF
Mr.. Miller was lying on the roadside
with a bullet hole in his head. About
twenty feet from the body there was
standing in the road Ford roadster,
headed towards the Cross Roads and
also out of running condition. Mr..
Brockinton said he thought the Ford
roadster belonged to Mr.. Cox, mail
carrier at Cades. There was evidences
of a collision by the two cars and the
natural Presumption on the sheriff's
part that the owner of the roadster
could give some light on the tragedy
that had been enacted in the dark,
lonely spot on the roadside sometime
during the previous night. Sheriff
Gamble went to Mr.. Cox's house,
awakened him and placed him under
arrest. Mr.. Cox informed the sheriff
that he had loaned the car to Tom
Poston the evening before and that
Poston had used it. They then went
to Poston's home, accompanied by
Cox. The party was met by Tom Pos
ton, who, upon being questioned con-
corning the dead man, told the sheriff
that he had shot him, that he was
then about to eat his breakfast and
start for Kingstree to report the mat
ter. When asked why he had killed
Mr.. Miller he told the sheriff that ne
had nothing to say. Poston was then
placed under arrest and taken to the
scene of the tragedy where he remain
ed under the eye Of the sheriff until
: the coroner and his jury had complet-
ed an inquest. Poston's attitude and
general demeanor was OF apsolute III
difference and no one on the ground
seemed as little concerned as ne.
During the morning he laughed and
chatted with acquaintances as ne
lounged on the rear seat Of an auto
mobile with his feet resting on the
hack of the front seat.
Coroner Brown summoned as Ju-
rors: E. C. Epps, foreman, W. l.
Hodges, Robt. Carsten, j. X. Will
liams, R. L. McElveen, E. F. Martin
y, The evidence was taken down by
Mr.. V. G. Annette of Cades. After
the jury had viewed the body it was
taken in charge by Undertaken Court
ney and brought to Kingstree where
for hnrial at his eS-