Smyrna times., 1925-04-29
SON KILLS FATHER SLEEPING
BESIDE MOTHER IS CHARGE
LAWRENCE MILLMAN ALLEGED
HE MURDERED PARENT
Shot by Candle Light But Later Law
renee is Put Under Arrest and
Confessed After a Grilling

Confessed After Grilling
While Charles Millman, so years
old, a farmer of near Lincoln, was
sleeping beside his wife Friday night,
Lawrence, his 15-year-old son, shot
and killed him, according to the police.
The boy half hour later confessed
the crime to State Detective Ottie
Donoway. The officer says the rea-
son he gave for shooting his father
was that he had been continually
beaten by him since last week for
stealing 500. Lawrence is now in the
Georgetown jail, while his mother,
who was in the bedroom when the
father was shot, spent the remainder
of the night at the home of neigh
Dor, John COverdale. According to
the story told to Detective DOnoway,
Corporal Ingram, of the State high
way police, and Deputy Sheriff Bud
Gov, Mr.. and Mrs. Millman and their
son had retired at about Z o'clock.
The three slept in the same room,
Lawrence having a separate bed. Two
hours later Mrs. Millman was awak-
ened by shot. At the same time
Lawrence jumped from his bed and
shouted that he had seen someone
shoot and run down stairs. Taking
a shotgun with him, the boy dragged
| his mother downstairs to the back
shed. He shouted to her that he saw
someone in the darkness and then he
fired the gun.
Takes Mother Away
Despite the protests of his mother
the boy took his fathers automobile
out of the garage and with her, drove
to the Coverdale home, a half-mile
away. There he left his mother, and
drove to Milford Fire House, where
he told Donald HOlzmueller, a fireman
that his father had been shot. Holz-
mueller Immediately notified State
! Detective Donoway, who informed the
State Highway Police and Deputy
Sheriff Coy. The three men drove
back to the farmhouse with the boy
and inspected the bedroom. Suspect
ing that the story of the boy wa
false, the officers began to grill him
After fifteen minutes of questioning
the boy broke into tears and confess
ed. He told, according to the officers
a tale of woe, of how he had stole
$40 from his father last. week. Mill
man discovered the theft and CAV
the boy a severe beating. LawrenC
said his father had beaten him ever
day since the theft.
Planned Murder
Friday morning the boy decided /
could no longer endure his fathe
All day he planned the murder, ar
before bedtime had made up his mir
as to the best method Before he r.
tired, he took his fathers shotgun,
peculiar type which had a magaziI
for two shots. He hid this gun und,
his bed and waited until his faith,
had fallen asleep.
At about 9 o'clock, Lawrence aros
lit a candle, so that he could ST
where his father lay. He then pro
ped himself on the edge Of his be
took careful aim, so that he wou
not injure his mother, and shot. Wi
this, he jumped up and yelled, "Fath
is shot!"
The police, upon investigation, foul
the top of the farmers head had be,
shot off. After placing the boy
Jail, they barred the house, leavii
the dead man where he lay, awaitii
the investigation of the Coroner.
When told that her son had ;
ready confessed, Mrs. Millman becar
hysterical and refused to stay wi
the boy. She admitted that the bo!
mentality was poor and feared that
might also shoot her.