James Brown Miller, also known as Deacon Jim or Killin' Jim or Killer Miller, was born in 1861 in Arkansas. As a child, he was accused of murdering his grandparents but was never convicted. He later killed his brother-in-law and was charged but the conviction was overturned. Over the years, Miller gained a reputation as a violent outlaw, working as a deputy sheriff, city marshal, and hired assassin. He was involved in numerous killings, often using a shotgun as his weapon of choice, and managed to evade conviction multiple times due to his charming demeanor and skillful defense lawyers.
In 1909, Miller was arrested and charged with the murder of a cattle rancher in Oklahoma. Fearing he would be acquitted again, a mob of 30-40 people broke into the jail, dragged Miller and three other men to an abandoned livery stable, and lynched them. Miller's reign of terror, which spanned around 40 years, finally came to an end. Not a single person was ever questioned, tried, or convicted for these murders. A photograph of the lynching was later sold in tourist shops in Ada, Oklahoma for years afterwards.
