[1] Miller was referred to by some by the alias "Deacon Jim" because he regularly attended the Methodist Church, and he did not smoke or drink.

He was lynched in Ada, Oklahoma, in 1909 along with three other men, by a mob of residents angry that he had assassinated a former deputy U.S. marshal.

Miller was born in Van Buren, Arkansas, but his parents migrated to Franklin, Texas when he was one year old, and he grew up there.

Just a few years after the move, Miller's father died, so his mother took the family to Evant, Texas to live with her parents.

[1] His sister, Georgia, and her husband, John Thomas Coop, accepted the boy onto their farm at Plum Creek near Gatesville.

[1] The 1880 census records him as being nineteen years old, living in Coryell County, Texas, with his siblings and widowed mother.

[1] After leaving the Coop farm, Miller became a hired hand on the ranch of Emanuel "Mannen" Clements, a cousin of outlaw John Wesley Hardin, in McCulloch County.

Clements was killed by Ballinger City Marshal Joe Townsend on March 29, 1887, during the period when Miller worked at the ranch.

Townsend was later ambushed by an assailant wielding a shotgun, which became known as Miller's signature style, and was severely wounded in one arm.

[citation needed] Over the next couple of years, Miller traveled the Texas–Mexico border region and operated a saloon in San Saba County.

While Frazer was on a trip to El Paso, he was informed that Miller had allowed criminals to gain greater control over Pecos.

[1] On April 12, 1894, in Pecos, Miller was confronted by Frazer about his involvement in the murder of cattleman Con Gibson.

[2] While Miller was attempting to fire, he discharged his gun with his left hand, hitting bystander Joe Krans.

[2] Frazer lost his bid for reelection as sheriff and left town for Eddy, New Mexico (now Carlsbad).

[2] To secure an alibi, Miller spent the night riding his horse on a grueling 100 mi (160 km) journey.

The prosecuting district attorney, Judge Stanley, later died of food poisoning in Memphis, Texas.

Miller moved his family to Fort Worth in 1900, where his wife Sallie opened a boarding house, aided by their older children.

On March 10, Miller followed his target to the Westbrook hotel, even as Fore was accompanied by three other lawmen: Dee Harkey, Jinx Clark, and Tom Coggins.

[2] On February 28, 1908, Pat Garrett, ex-lawman and killer of Billy The Kid, was killed near Las Cruces, New Mexico, ostensibly because of a land dispute.

Bobbitt tumbled out of the lead wagon, and Miller left the scene on his way to Fort Worth, passing by Ferguson.

Ada residents knew that the evidence against the four suspects was not considered strong, leaving open the chance for acquittal.