Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-07-15
Unidentified Man Stays Edward
L. Mills.

While an eighteen-year- farmland
watched in terror. an unidentified man
shot to death Edward L. Mills, a prosperous
farmer and dairyman near Hunting Hill,
at dawn on Thursday morning Of last week,
with small-calibered revolver. within
stones throw of his home. Mills is be-
lieved to have died instantly, one bullet
piercing his heart. two more his head, one
his wrist and another in the breast
Satisfied that his victim was dead, the
man than stopped over the body and PIN
ned on Mr.. Mills coat lengthy typewrit-
ten document, which suggested that he
deserved to be shot,"
Rockville police are holding this as the
outstanding clue to the identity of the
slayer.
Dated June, 1927, this document, evil
IDENTIFY intended as a confession for Mr..
Mills signature. would have caused the
dead man to admit that he had been
guilty ofindiscretions with the slayers wife.
Clarence Miles. who had only been en-
ployed as farm hand at the Mills farm
for three days. gave the police a descrip-
ton of the killer. but declared he had
never seen him before.
1T was quarter of O'Clock Thursday
morning" young Miles declared in giving
his eyewitness account of the shooting.
81 was at the barn at the bottom of the
hill getting the horses Mr.. Mills was up
on the side of the hill.
Suddenly saw strange man come
out of the woods and walk over to Mr.
Mills. heard them exchange a few re-
marks. Then saw Mr.. Mills raise his hand
in self-defense and say: "Oh. don't do
that
'As heard that remark saw the man
whip out revolver and as he fred his
first shot at Mr.. Mills ran to the house
for help. When we returned the man had
disappeared into the woods that he came
out Of"
More than half dozen of the county
police force and scores of neiehbors search
ed the woods for trace of the murderer.
The county authorities sent to Baltimore
for detective to aid them in their search.
Miles said the man sought had a thin
mustache. black felt hat. black shirt with
white buttons and black trousers He said
that he was a medium man of average
height.
While the police cling to the confession "
as the only logical motive for the killing,
the victims widow says she had perfect
faith in him and declares that the placing
of the confession" on her husbands coat
was for the purpose of putting the authori-
ties "off the trail"
The confession. crudely written and
extremely ungramatical. contained guam
tity of unprintable matter. The fact, how
ever. that it was dated June, 1927. and
was carefully typewriter caused the
authorities to believe the slayer had made
prior attempts to cause Mills to sign it
and had selected dawn Thursday morning
as the time for the final demand.
The confession" states that the slayer's
wife had been assaulted while she was on
buggy ride.
Mr.. Mills. who has lived all of his life
in the Hunting Hill neiehborhood, has
always been held in high esteem by his
neighbors.
The slain man is survived by his widow
and three children. Paul Mills. 10 years
old: Sidney Mills. IS years old. and Doro-
thy Mills, is years old.
States Attorney Robert Peter. Jr.. and
Chief of Police Alva A. Moxley are in
charge Of the investie atiOn, aided by Lieut..
James Manning. veteran Baltimore detec-
tive.
$1,000 reward was offered by the
County Commissioners for information
that will lead to the arrest of Mills slayer,