Charlie Green Miller
Born in 1898, Charlie Miller was a “good fellow” according to Lee County Sheriff “Buck” Jones. Charlie and his wife, Rosa Lee, owned and lived in a nice house on Avenue B in Opelika, and rented a room to Willie Jones. A goods deliverer, Charlie later found steady employment with the railroad, but the work was dangerous and required long hours and even days at a time. Unfortunately, the Great Depression hit the railroad industry hard—reducing employment by 42%. The impact on Charlie remains unclear.
However on June 29th, 1932, Charlie uncharacteristically went to his brother-in-law—Taylor Mathew’s—house with a single-barreled shotgun. He fired one shot into the tub Taylor and his wife were using to wash clothes. With minor injuries to their hands, the couple ran into the house while Charlie reloaded. Charlie then returned home.
However on June 29th, 1932, Charlie uncharacteristically went to his brother-in-law—Taylor Mathew’s—house with a single-barreled shotgun. He fired one shot into the tub Taylor and his wife were using to wash clothes. With minor injuries to their hands, the couple ran into the house while Charlie reloaded. Charlie then returned home.
An hour later, Charlie heard someone approach the house. As the screen door opened, Charlie flung open the front door and fired his shotgun. Not expecting trouble, Sheriff “Buck” Jones—with his sidearm holstered—received the load to the chest and died. Upon seeing the Sheriff, Charlie exclaimed, “Oh, Mr. Buck. I didn’t know it was you!” Charlie retreated into the house and out the back door.
Two hours later, a “posse” cornered Charlie in a field. With shotgun in hand, Charlie ignored the mob’s calls and walked at a steady pace toward a farmhouse in the distance. Someone in the “posse” fired, striking Charlie. Undeterred, the mob then unloaded on Charlie—tearing his body to “threads about the head and shoulders” with 50 to 150 gunshots. His body was then dragged four miles to the courthouse lawn and displayed.
Back at the Miller’s house, Rosa Lee was found with a slit throat from a day earlier.
Two hours later, a “posse” cornered Charlie in a field. With shotgun in hand, Charlie ignored the mob’s calls and walked at a steady pace toward a farmhouse in the distance. Someone in the “posse” fired, striking Charlie. Undeterred, the mob then unloaded on Charlie—tearing his body to “threads about the head and shoulders” with 50 to 150 gunshots. His body was then dragged four miles to the courthouse lawn and displayed.
Back at the Miller’s house, Rosa Lee was found with a slit throat from a day earlier.