b'Killer continued from page 17tore into the front of the Deacons black coat. Frazersdidnt convince the jury of Frazers guilt and the jury hung.The next town in line to get the Deacons servicessecond shot tore into Millers right arm. The Deacon drewA retrial was scheduled. was Memphis, Texas. There Miller convinced a manleft-handed and returned Frazers fire. The slugs went wild.named Joe Earp to swear that an innocent man had Frazer emptied his revolver, each slug hitting the middle ofIn the meantime, old John Selman killed Hardin in Elcommitted a killing just to earn a $10,000 reward. Earp that black coat, right where Millers heart was. When MillerPasos Acme Saloon. Selmans son, John Jr. was an El Pasotold the law of the scheme and Miller was arrested and finally went down, there were three holes neatly patternedpoliceman. Hardin had threatened publicly to kill him.convicted. His conviction was then reversed and he went in that black coat that would have fit in the top of a canningThe senior Selman, a constable in El Paso, was a hardenedfree. Those who knew the Deacon also knew that Joe Earp jar. When Frazer turned and walked away, witnesses noticedgunfighter of the past. Hardin was shooting dice at the bar.had sealed his fate by turning states evidence against Miller. Miller was still alive and panting heavily. Selman Jr. moved up behind him and fired a slug into theThree weeks later, Earp was shot and killed in an ambush. back of his head. Hardin turned with blood oozing fromA few weeks after Earp was murdered, the district attorney BODY ARMOUR an exit wound above his eye. Hardin reached for his six- who had prosecuted Miller was in Memphis on business.When his coat was opened, everyone was aghast to see ashooter as he slipped to the floor. The elder Selman emptiedHe stayed overnight in a Memphis hotel. Miller had athick metal plate covering the Deacons chest. They thenhis gun into Hardin as he went down and continuedfriend who was a cook at the hotel. The next morning,knew why Miller wore his black broadcloth coat daily,firing at the prone man before him on the floor. Officerthe prosecutor did not wake up. A doctor said his deathregardless of the weather. Bruised and with a wound in hisJohn Selman Jr. rushed in and grabbed his fathers arm,was from arsenic poisoning.right arm, Miller recovered, telling anyone who would listensaying: Dont shoot him anymore. Hes already dead. That that he was going to kill Bud Frazer. Pecos was polarized byshooting kinda ended Millers plans to send Frazer to jail.FORT WORTHthe incident. Churchgoers supported Miller, especially sinceThe ex-sheriff was acquitted at a retrial and returned toFort Worth was Millers kind of pasture in 1900. The his recent conversion at a camp meeting revival. SheriffNew Mexico. In the fall, Frazer traveled to Toyah, Texas,Deacon and his wife opened a rooming house. Miller joined Frazers support was strong but began to dwindle. He lostsome 20 miles from Pecos to visit family. the church. He gambled a little and made some deals in the next election. real estate. All made good fronts for Miller. These were the ANOTHER AMBUSH years of open warfare between sheepmen and cattlemen LEAVES PECOS Frazer was playing cards in a Toyah saloon on Septemberaround Fort Worth. Miller took contracts from ranchers Frazer had enough of Pecos and its politics. He left town13. Miller, who had been told Frazer was in Toyah, had to kill sheepmen for $150 a head. It is said he may have and headed to New Mexico. He came back briefly a fewtaken a room in the hotel across from the saloon. As thekilled a dozen or more sheepmen for that price. When the months later to settle some personal affairs, and one of themcard players hunched around the table and focused on theirsheep battle was over, another bloomed and Miller had was Miller. Frazer was carrying his Winchester when hegame, nobody noticed a double-barreled shotgun barrelthe contracts to profit again from killing. This time it was encountered Miller walking down the street. Miller had hissliding through the saloon door. Both barrels roared atfarmers. They were putting up fences and the cattlemen shotgun. Frazer opened up, hitting Miller twice in the chest,once. Frazers head was blown off his body, which remainedwanted them eliminated. Miller continued working.once in his left leg and once in his right arm. The ex-sheriffseated in his chair. Miller got on his horse and rode out didnt seem to be aware of the steel plate Miller always woreof Toyah for Pecos. Once back in Pecos, he was arrestedLAWYER AMBUSHEDunder his coat. When Miller didnt fall, Frazer beat a hastyfor murder. His trial was set for Eastland, Texas. MillersThe farmers had a lawyer, James Jarrott, who was fast retreat, getting out of range of Deacons shotgun. first trial ended in a hung jury, 11 for conviction and onebecoming a major annoyance to Fort Worth cattlemen. against. A retrial was scheduled. Miller spent the nextHe had won several cases for farmers, and something had Frazer was arrested. He was scheduled for trial in El Paso.three months in Eastland assisting his minister at prayerto be done as the cattlemen saw it. Something was. Five Miller called on murderer- turned-lawyer John Wesleymeetings. Such a public display of devotion turned the tidehundred dollars was channeled to Deacon Jim. In 1940, Hardin in El Paso to represent him. Hardin was a shirt-tailfor Miller. He was acquitted by a second jury of FrazersMiller ambushed Jarrott outside Fort Worth. Deacon had relative of Millers. Hardin was related to Mannen Clemensmurder in January 1899.abandoned his traditional murder weapon, the well-used Sr. who was the late father of Millers wife, Sallie. Hardindouble barrel shotgun loaded with buckshot, for a rifle PRIME RIBFRIDAY & SATURDAY18 March 2023'