Minister Murdered

Decatur, Hls., Nov. 24.- Thé Rev. James Miller, pastor of Grace Methodist church at Bloomington, and grand prelate of the Illinois general commandery, Knights Templars, was found murdered at the entrance to an alley on Edwards street, near the Catto residenc.e, at 3 o'clock Tuesday morning. He was shot in the forehead and was found lying on hls back, one pocket emptied of lts contents, and an empty pocketbook and five-shooter 38-caliber revolver lay at the feet of the dead man. No arrests have been made. Mr. Miller came to Decatur to visit nis son, Dr. John Miller. He had written that he would come Monday night or Tuesday. He was about 60 years of age and was one of the ablest preachers in the Illinois conference. Causes Gr'at Kxcitement. The murder has caused the greatest excitement, and every effort is being made to find the person or persons who committed the deed. Rev. Dr. Miller was last seen alive Monday night. At that time he had with him a sum of money, though no one knows how much he carried. He was on his way to his son's house when attacked and probably entered the dark alley to find a short cut. Nobody in the vicinity heard shots during the night, nor was any one aware of any disturbance. The theory of suicide is disproved, not only by the fact that theunfortunate clergyman carried no weapon, but additional found near his body, but additional fact that his pockets were emptied of everything of value. No clew to the murderers has yet been found and they may continue to be at large for some time. Pastor of First Cliurcli, Deeatur. Rev. James Miller was 58 years oíd. He entered the Methodist ministry when a young man and continued in it until a highwayman's bullet put an end to his career. In Deeatur, where he lived with his family a few years ago, he was pastor of the First Methodist church until "time limit forced him to relinquish that charge. In 1S92 he was appointed presiding eider of the Deeatur district of the Illinois conference. He held this office one year and then followed his desiïe to preach to a congregation rather than have charge of a district. What was then the Marshfield Avenue church, now the Ashland Avenue church, Chicago, was successful in its' efforts to have him appointed its pastor as successor to Rev. T. B. Hilton, who went there a year previous from Nebraska. Served in Chicago. For one year he served in Chicago. Then he was returned to the Illinois conference and was appointed pastor of Graee ehureh in Bloomington. He was succeeded in the Marshfield Avenue church by Rev. T. R. Strobridge, and the latter in turn was followed by Rev. W. W. Diehl, who now occupies the pulpit of that charge. A family, consisting of the widow and two children - a son and a daughter - is left by Dr. Miller. His family life was always happy. The son, Dr. John Miller, is a prominent physician of Deeatur. The daughter, Harriet, was married in Bloomington only a few months ago.