Jim 'Killer' Miller: An Old West Legend

Jim “Killer” Miller: An Old West Legend

James Brown Miller, more popularly known as Jim “Killer” Miller and “Deacon Jim”, was an outlaw in the era known as the American Old West. Miller was born in Van Buren, Arkansas on October 25th, 1861. He is infamously recognized for perhaps killing the most people during gunfights in his era. It is estimated Miller is responsible for at least a dozen deaths but the exact number is unclear. Notably, he is also the cousin of John Wesley, Hardin, another famous old west outlaw. Shortly after Miller moved with his parents to Texas, his father died. Subsequently, him and his mother moved to a different location in Texas to live with his grandparents. Unfortunately, when Miller was only eight years old,

“Bud” Frazer. Frazer who had been sheriff for less than a year, was in search for a deputy in the frowner town and asked a few questions of Miller. Askign too many questions was typically considered rude in this era, thus Miller took offense from this, resulting in a fatal mistake for Frazer. Nevertheless, Miller had been hired for the job and quickly began pursuing thieves, although he never actually captured any. The raise of thefts began when Miller became deputy, and Frazer’s brother-in-law suggested Miller should be looked at as a suspect and fired. Miller laughed off the accusation however when confronted by Frazer. When Miller had killed a Mexican prisoner who was again “trying to escape”, Frazer decided to begin investigating. Frazer immediately fired Miller after another allegation of hiding a pair of stolen mules. This began the deadly Frazer-Miller feud, that would extend for the next following years. After a reelection for sheriff, which Frazer had lost, he had moved to Eddy, New Mexico. However, he came back to visit his family and when Miller heard of this, he located him in a saloon, he shot him. Miller also threatened to kill Frazer’s sister when she confronted him. A jury did not convict