Talbot County GaArchives News.....Killing of Miller in Talbot County March 16, 1898 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meredith Clapper http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002801 March 18, 2026, 3:35 pm The Columbus Enquirer-Sun P 2 March 16, 1898 KILLING OF MILLER IN TALBOT COUNTY: It is One of the Most Sensational Murders of Recent Years. BROWN IS AN OLD SOLDIER: He Was Once Very Prominent in the County and Held a Position of Trust and Honor. Of Late Years He has Not Done so Well. Talbotton, March 15.(Special.)A deplorable homicide was committed in this county last Saturday night, in which Capt. W. S. BROWN, an ex-Confederate soldier, killed a young man by the name of John Henry MILLER. The killing occurred upon the plantation of Capt. BROWN, who lives at the foot of the mountain on the road leading from Talbotton to Chalybeate Springs, about ten miles from Talbotton and about two miles from Chalybeate Springs. The circumstances of the killing as related by the witnesses before the coroners inquest, which was held last Sunday, were about as follows: MILLER's father was a tenant of Capt. BROWN and lived between BROWN's house and the foot of the mountain. About half past ten o'clock Saturday night MILLER started over to Mr. CUNNINGHAM's, going down the road which ran by Capt. BROWN's house, singing and in a happy and jovial manner. Capt. BROWN had retired, and, hearing the singing, got up, slipped on his shoes, and went out and met him in the road, and said, What in the [h]ell are you going up and down this road making so much noise. This was about the statement of the fourteen year old brother of the deceased, but who said he was standing about 10 yards from where the killing occurred. Capt. BROWN shot MILLER in the breast with a double-barrel shot-gun. There was no eye-witness to the killing. The statement given out by Capt. BROWN's attorneys, is that he was apprehensive of some one riding his stock and got up to go to his lot, which was up the road from where MILLER came and saw him there and when MILLER met him and approached him in a threatening manner, and cursed him and threatened him, Capt.BROWN shot him. So far BROWN has made no statement except to his attorneys. Sunday morning Capt. BROWN came to Talbotton and went to the residence of Dr. W. H. PHILPOT and sent for Col. J. J. BULL, he getting his statement sent for the sheriff and Capt. BROWN surrendered. Yesterday evening he was formally committed to jail by an order from Judge BUTT. Capt. BROWN is an old man and in very feeble health; was at one time tax receiver of Talbot county and a very popular man. The deceased was a young man of 17 years old but well grown for his age. It is rumored on the streets that Capt. BROWN is a dipsomania [sic-dipsomaniac] and has been for five years past, so much so that it made him furious for any one to pass his house or pass him in the road singing or whistling; that all of the neighborhood was his enemies and all seeking to do him personal injury. Col. C. J. THORNTON, of Columbus, is associated in the case for the defense. The superior court convened here last Monday with Judge W. B. BUTT presiding. The grand jury was organized by electing J. T. PARKER foreman. Messrs. Robert O. McCORD, H. J. LAWRENCE and E. S. BALDWIN applied for license to plead and practise[sic] law. The Columbus (GA) Enquirer-Sun Wednesday, 16 MAR 1898, p. 2. ANOTHER STORY. Talbotton, Ga., March 15.The killing of Henry HILLER by W. S. BROWN twelve miles north of here, in the upper end of the county Saturday night, is the all- absorbing topic of conversation. BROWN is here in jail. He came down Sunday morning early and gave himself up to the sheriff. He is about 65 years of age, while MILLER was only a lad of 17. I had a talk with several well posted citizens, among whom was a member of the coroner's jury, and the facts are as follows: Young MILLER was passing BROWN's house about 8:30 o'clock Saturday night on his way to the home of Mr. B. F. CUNNINGHAM, to sit up with a sick man. MILLER was accompanied by his brother to within a few rods of BROWN's house, when he turned off on another road leading to his house, leaving the younger MILLER to go on his way to Mr. CUNNINGHAM's. BROWN came out with a double-barrel shot gun and as MILLER was coming down the road he fired both barrels, one taking effect in the region of the heart, and the other going mostly into the muscle of the left arm. MILLER staggered and ran back to where his brother was and fell at his feet, saying Mr. BROWN had shot him. He lived about two and one-half hours and told the entire story to those about him. Dr. HILL, of Chalybeate Springs, was summoned, but could do no good. After the shooting BROWN went into his house, re-loaded his gun and sat in the window for some time. BROWN's nephew, a young man who lives him, said he tried to prevent his uncle from going out. He had heard MILLER coming down the road singing gleefully, and begged his uncle not to molest him, but to no avail. The first news of the tragedy reached here Sunday morning, when BROWN came down and gave himself up to the sheriff. There seems to be little or no cause assigned for the deed. Rumor has it that MILLER was a witness in some court proceedings which BROWN was instituting against a man named BAKER, and it is said that BROWN told MILLER's mother some two weeks ago that her son would never live to appear as a witness against him. Coroner W. S. LAWRENCE empaneled a jury and held an inquest over the dead boy. The jury found a verdict of murder and BROWN will be held without bail to await the action of the grand jury. BROWN is one of the best known men in Talbot county. He is an old school teacher and was for some years tax receiver, but of late years he has had considerable trouble. He has been in court for several offences and there are three true bills pending against him now. His chances in this case look gloomy indeed. Talbot superior court convened yesterday morning with Judge BUTT on the bench. The civil docket was taken up and will be continued this week. No cases of much importance are on this docket. The criminal docket will be taken up next Monday. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/talbot/newspapers/killingo522nnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 6.6 Kb