The Winslow mail., 1926-03-05
''CRAZY THUNDER MILLER KILLS ELMER
CUNDIFF AT CANYON LODGE; CORONER'S
JURY SAYS "JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE"

A feud of long standing at Can
yon Lodge reached elimination
about 1870 Wednesday afternoon
when Harry (Indian) Miller shot
and killed Elmer Cundiff in the
kitchen of Miller's home after a
struggle which is alleged to have
taken place over Miller's gun.
y Immediately following the shoot
ing Miller telephoned the Sheriff's
office in Flagstaff and announced
that he had killed Cundiff. Sheriff
John Parsons Of Coconino county
made the trip to Canyon Lodge
accompanied by the coroner and
District Attorney Frank Harrison.
Following inquest the coroner's
jury returned a verdict Of justifi-
able homicide, stating that evidence
tended to show that Miller killed
Cundiff in self defense, according to
a report received from the sherlff's
office in Flagstaff, here yesterday.
Various witnesses have stated
that Cundiff was of violent and
guarrelsome disposition, and by his
own boast, "1rouble was his middle
name. That he has been confined
in an insane asylum is alleged also,
and it is further reported that he
had many clashes with tourists
and others over minor matters
arising at the canyon re. ort.
At the time of his death Cundiff
was involved in a civil suit, in
which it is alleged that Cundiff's
wife attacked and seriously injured
the wife Of another man at tie in
stigatiol of Cundiff.
In view of these facts it is
generally understood chat no COM
plaint will be made against Miller,
and he is not in custody now, ac-
cording to the Flagstaff sneriff's
office.
Miller, an Apache chieftain,
whose indian name is Crazy
Thunder" has for some time operat-
ed various tourists attractions at
Canyon Lodge in partnership with
Joe "Chief Yellowfoot" Secakuku,
and is well known not only in
Northern Arizona but all over the
country, as well, as he is an artist
OF considerable note.
Wednesdays tragedy is the after
math of long series of personal
arguments between Miller and Gun
diff, according to Secakuku, who
states that Cundiff has not only
threatened to kill Miller but has
also threatened to elbow up the
THhole Canyon. 1t is also reported
shat Cundiff recently assisted
Miller's wife in getaway" last
week with some 100000 belonging
to herself and Miller as community
property. In this case, later devel-
opments tended to show that fear
of Cundiff lay at the bottom
Mrs. Miller's flight.
Following the disappearance last
week of Miller's wife, the chief
came to Winslow in an effort to
locate her, and while here discover
ed, he said that Cundiff had left
Canyon Lodge with his wife. 1t
was suspected that, inasmuch as
trace of Miller's wife had not been
found since she left Canyon Lodge
that there was a possibility OF
murder in connection with the
ssisappearance and officers have
been working on the case ever
since, with no solution of the
problem.
In his testimony to the coroner's
iury Secakuku described the COM
bat as an unprovoked attack on
Miller by Cundiff, in which Miller,
defending himself, came off victor.
According to Secakuku, Cundiff
paid a visit to Miller's house, and
left for his own home, apparently
in a good humor. Instead of going
to his house he is alleged to have
hidden himself near the Canyon
and to have crept into Miller's
kitchen, where he secured the
Indians gun. Later Miller re-
entered the house, it is stated that
Cundiff fired on him without warn
ing, the bullet grazing Miller's
coat. Miller grappled with his
assailant, Secakuku said, and in the
struggle the gun was discharged,
the bullet striking Cundiff in the
abdomen but failing to have any
effect, and the struggle continuing,
the gun was discharged a third
time, the bullet taking effect in
Cundiff's neck, according to testi-
mony. 1t is this shot which IS
alleged to have killed Cundiff,
although physicians stated that the
other wound would have proved
fatal.
4Dboapiv. E$iva roiIec Of 10 mile