letters dated Becember 1, 1976 and December 11, 1976, from Mrs, Letoy
Bogidy 906 Fifth Street, Las Animas, Colorado 8105)
letters dated December 1, 1976 and December 11, 1976, from Mrs. LeRoy!
Bogid, 906 Fifth Street, Las Animas, Colorado 8105)
letters dated Becember 1, 1976 and December 11, 1976, fron Mrs. LeSoy|
Boyid, 906 Fifth Street, Las Animas, Colorado 81054
Nop 0b Fit Shot, Lan Anat, Celerede Hay’ **> Ye
MILLER, James
Miller, a mulatto soldier in the U. S. Army was stationed at Fort
lyon, near the "Old Town!" part of Las Animas, Colorado, He was a
patron of a saloon-dance hall in "Old Town" which featured dances
on a segregated basis - one night for whites only and one night
for blacks only. On the night of August 26, 1876, there was no
dance and two white men, James Greer and James Sutherland were
Standing at the bar talking when Miller entered. He went to the
bar and Greer, who was drunk, drew a pistol from Sutherland's belt
and said "You black Son-of-a-bitch, what are you doing in here?!"
Miller left and Sutherland remonstrated with Greer, taking his pis-
tol from the drunk man and putting it back into its holster, Miller
got another black Soldier, Benjamin Smith, and they returned to the
saloon three or four minutes later and fired inside from the door.
Sutherland was mortally wounded by the first shot, fired by Miller,
Both Miller and Smith were tried, convicted and sentenced to die,
but when witnesses positivbly stated that Miller ak had fired the
fatal shot, Smith's sentence was commuted to life imprisonment,
Prior to his execution, Miller was allowed to marry a black woman
who was living at the Fort, He was publicay hanged in 4as Animas
on February 2, 1877, before a large crowd containing many women,
MILLER, James
Miller, a mulatto soldier in the U, S. Army was stationed at Fort
lyon, near the "Old Town" part of Las Animas, Colerado. He was a
patron of a saloon-dance hall in "Old Town" which featured dances
on @ segregated basis - one night for whites only and one night
for blacks only. On the night of August 26, 1876, there was no
dance and two white men, James Greer and James Sutherland were
Standing at the bar talking when Miller entered, He went to the
bar and Greer, who was drunk, drew a pistol from Sutherland's belt
and said "You black Son-of-a-bitch, what are you doing in here?"
Miller left and Sutherland remonstrated with Greer, taking his pis-
tol from the drunk man and putting it back into its holster, Miller
got another black soldier, Benjamin Smith, and they returned to the
saloon three or four mimtes later and fired inside from the door,
Sutherland was mortally wounded by the first shot, fired by Miller,
Both Miller and Smith were tried, convicted and sentenced to die 2
but when witnesses positively stated that Miller ak had fired the
fatal shot, Smith's sentence was commited to life imprisonment.
Prior to his execution, Miller was allowed to marry a black woman
who was living at the Fort, He was publicax hanged in Las Animas
on February 2, 1877, before a large crowd containing many women,
MILIER, Janes
Miller, a mulatto soldier in the U. S&S.
lyon, near the "Old Town" part of Las
patron of a saloon-dance hall in
» what are you doing in here?"
Miller left and Sutherland remonstrated with Greer,
tol from the drunk man and putting it back into ite
SILER, Janes
