| 14. | William Earl Miller was born on 29 Mar 1897 in Rosedale Twp, Jersey Co, Illinois; died on 10 Aug 1952 in Alton, Madison Co, Illinois; was buried on 14 Aug 1952 in Valhalla Memorial Park, Godrey, Madison, Illinois. Notes:
[A Snider-from Julie Goheen.FTW]
Alton Evening Telegraph 11 Aug 1952
Alton Man Is Fatally Shot In Hunting Mishap Tragedy
Results When Victim ls Mistaken For Prey
Shot with a .22 rifle slug through the head at 8:30 a. m. Sunday In brush just north of Alto n Brick Co
plant off Alby road. Earl Miller, 54. died 2 1/2 hours later at Alton Memorial Hospital.
The shot was fired by Miller's son-in-law and stepson, William Irvin, 25, who resides with hi s wife in a house adjoining Miller's at the same address on Anna avenue in Wilkinson additio n a quarter of a mile north of the accident scene.
Confusion In Name
The dead man was a part-time used rar dealer and there was some confusion Sunday among acquai ntances of Earl H. Miller 3515 Coronado drive, also a former used car dealer, as to whether o r
not. it was he who was shot. Earl H. Miller, now operator of Carl's Grill, was not involved.)
Irvin told police and Coroner Ben F. Slalen that he and his father-in-law had been hunting Su nday morning in the wooded area near a gully formed by a creek. Irvin said they were out of s ight of each other and he had sat down to watch for squirrels.
He related that, he heard a noise in the gully and, upon seeing something moving, thought i t was a groundhog. He aimed, pulled the trigger, and walked over to the object to find his fa ther-in-law
wounded and dying, with a shot through his head.
Call Ambulance
Irvin reported he attempted to move Miller unsuccessfully and then ran to his home whence a G ent funeral home ambulance was summoned and, with assistance of the ambulance crew, the wound ed
man was transferred to the ambulance and taken to the hospital.
There, at 9:45 a. m. police received word of the shooting, and interviewed Irvin, and Miller' s wife. After Miller died, Coroner Staten questioned Irvin who was later released without a c harge. An inquest is pending.
Police reported the younger man and older man had resided together for years and the relation ship
had been like father and son.
Miller's body is at Slaten funeral home.
Earl "Curley" Miller was born in Rosedale, HI. He had resided in Alton for the last 25 year s and at. the present address since 1941. He was a dealer in used car parts and used cars.
He married Miss Irene Lankford Jan. 20, 1950. In addition to his widow, he is survived by a d aughter, Mrs. Harry Goheen of Dow; a brother, Lee of Rosedale; daughters, Mrs. Vila Baldwin o f Godfrey, and Loreetta, Violet, and Patsy Slone of his home address; three stepsons, Willia m Irvin, of the home address, Marvin Irvin of Albuquerque, N. M. Davis Slone, of the family h ome address.
Friends may call at the Staten funeral home after 4 p. m. Tuesday.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete pending receipt of word from the brother, Lee Miller, wh o is vacationing in Wyoming.
14 Aug 1952
Earl Miller, Native of Rosedale, Victim of Hunting Accident
Father of Dow Woman Died in Alton Hospital
Alton Resident Was Accidentally Shot By His Son-In-Law, William Irvin, Near Home.
Earl Miller of Alton, native of Rosedale, and father of Mrs. Harry Goheen of Dow, died S unday morning, August 10th, at the Memorial Hospital in Alton where he was taken for medica l treatment after he was accidentally shot through the headight-thirty o'clock by Willia m Irwin, his son-in-law, while on a hunting trip about a quarter of a mile north of the men' s homes. Irvin had made his home with Miller for a number of years, and now he and his wif e reside in a house adjoining Miller's at the same address on Anna Avenue.
Irvin told officers and Coroner Ben F. Slaten that he and his father-in-law had been hun ting Sunday morning in the wooded area near a gully formed by a creek. He told the officer s that they were out of sight of each other and he had san to watch for squirrels. He r elated that upon hearing a noise in the gully and seeing something move which he thought wa s a groundhog he fired. He went to investigate and found Miller critically wounded.
The younger man went for assistance and an ambulance was summoned to move Miller to th e hospital where his death occurred about two and one-half hours after he was hurt.
Mr. Miller was born in Rosedale and at the time of his death he was fifty-four years old . For the past twenty-five years he has resided in Alton and was a dealer in used car part s and used cars.
Surviving Mr. Miller are his wife, Irene; a daughter, Mrs. Harry Goheen of Dow; a brothe r, Lee, of Rosedale,; three step-daughters, Loretta, Violet, and Patsy Slone of his home addr ess; and one step-son, David Slone, of the family home ad.
Funeral services will be held at the Staten Funeral Home Thursday afternoon, August 14 , at two o'clock and interment will be in Valhalla cemetery. Relatives were unable to reac h Lee Miller who is vacationing in Wyoming to inform him of tath of his brother.
Earl is buried in Section 2, Lot #270, Space 1.
William married Ruth Lenora Angel on 8 Nov 1920 in Alton, Madison Co, Illinois, and was divorced after 1922. Ruth (daughter of John Joshua Angel and Katie India Piggott) was born on 6 Dec 1896 in Dow, Jersey, Illinois; died on 29 Jan 1935 in Alton, Madison Co, Illinois; was buried on 31 Jan 1935 in Newburn Cemetery, Newburn, Dow, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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