This is an original, mounted, period photograph of the lynching of the infamous hired killer, "Deacon" Jim Miller and three others in Ada, Oklahoma in 1909. Miller is on far left wearing his hat. Miller's gun was for hire and he was involved in several murders for money. He was one of the first such killers in the West. He shot Gus Bobbit, a former Deputy U.S. Marshal and rancher from ambush with a double barreled shotgun. The hung man in the middle is Joe Allen, the next man , in the back, is Berry B. Burell (misidentified as Burwell), and the man on far right is Jesse West. These three men were involved in hiring Jim Miller to carry out the murder. They were all arrested and put in jail. The towns people, fearing that the men may beat the wrap in court, broke in, took all four men and lynched them in the barn. Miller is reported to have said, "Let her rip!" and stepped off the box by himself after requesting his diamond ring be sent to his wife Sally and he be allowed to wear his hat. Both requests were granted.
