page_title: Jim Miller (outlaw)
section_title: Pecos lawman
hierarchical_section_title: Jim Miller (outlaw) / Pecos lawman
caption_attribution_description: English: James Brown (Jim) Miller, his wife Sarah Francis “Sallie” (Clements) Miller, and child, probably son Claude C. Miller; circa 1890s.
context_page_description: James Brown Miller, also known as "Killin' Jim", "Killer Miller" and "Deacon Jim", was an American outlaw and professional killer of the American Old West, said to have killed 12 people during gunfights – perhaps the most known homicides by one man of his era. Miller was referred to by the alias "Deacon Jim" by some because he regularly attended the Methodist Church, and he did not smoke or drink. He was lynched in Ada, Oklahoma, in 1909 along with three other men, by a mob of residents angry that he had assassinated a former deputy U.S. marshal.
  Miller was married to a daughter of a cousin of John Wesley Hardin, another notable Old West outlaw.
context_section_description: Over the next couple of years, Miller traveled the Texas–Mexico border region and operated a saloon in San Saba County. In Reeves County, Miller became a deputy sheriff and later town marshal in Pecos. During this time, he gained a reputation for killing Mexicans, claiming that they had been attempting to escape.
  In 1891 Miller married Sallie Clements, daughter of Mannen Clements.  Assuming the appearance of a devout Methodist, he would earn the nickname Deacon Jim.  He was well liked by the townspeople because he was polite and an avid member of the church. Regardless of the weather, he was known to wear a long, black frock coat.
  Miller became involved in a feud with Pecos Sheriff George A. "Bud" Frazer. While Frazer was on a trip to El Paso, he was informed that Miller had allowed criminals to gain greater control over Pecos. Frazer enlisted the help of Texas Ranger John R. Hughes to secure Pecos.  After returning to Pecos, Frazer immediately jailed Miller on a charge of murder. A jury acquitted him of this charge.  Frazer believed that Miller had stolen mules and had him arrested for theft.
  On April 12, 1894, in Pecos, Miller was confronted by Frazer about his involvement in the murder of cattleman Con Gibson. Frazer did not wait for Miller to go for his shotgun, and shot and wounded him in the right arm.  While Miller was attempting to fire his gun with his left hand, hitting bystander Joe Krans, Frazer fired again, hitting Miller in the groin, which finally put him down. Frazer emptied his six-shooter into Miller's chest.  After Miller's friends had rushed him to a doctor, his frock coat was removed to reveal a large steel plate that Miller wore under it as a kind of bulletproof vest; it saved his life. Miller recovered.
  On December 26, 1894, Miller was standing outside of a blacksmith's shop when Frazer began to fire at him.  Frazer hit Miller in the arm and leg. Rushing in to finish him off, Frazer tried to shoot Miller in the chest, but the metal plate in Miller's coat saved him again.  Frazer, demoralized, quickly retreated.  Miller had Frazer charged with attempted murder.  The case was heard in El Paso, and ended in a hung jury.
  Frazer lost his bid for reelection as sheriff and left town for Eddy, New Mexico (now Carlsbad). A few months later, he returned to the Pecos area to visit his mother and sister. Miller learned Frazer was in the area.  On September 13, 1896, Frazer was at a gambling table in Toyah, Texas.  Miller opened the saloon's swinging doors, levelling his shotgun on one of them. He shot Frazer, who was dealing, removing most of his head. Frazer's sister confronted Miller, who threatened to kill her as well. A jury acquitted Miller.
  Miller muttered threats toward Joe Earp, a witness who testified against him. Three weeks after Miller's trial, Earp was killed by a shotgun blast. To secure an alibi, Miller spent the night riding his horse on a grueling 100 mi (160 km) journey.  The prosecuting district attorney, Judge Stanley, later died of food poisoning in Memphis, Texas.
caption: Miller and his family, c. 1890s.
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