Harry ‘Two Guns’ Miller

Few criminals in American history have led lives as bizarre and enigmatic as Harry "Two Guns" Miller. A charismatic con artist, a cold-blooded murderer, and a self-proclaimed prophet, Miller’s life was a dark tapestry of violence, deception, and delusional grandeur. His story spanning fraud, prison breaks, and apocalyptic prophecies reads like a twisted blend of crime thriller and psychological drama.

The Making of a Criminal

Born in the early 1900s, Harry Francis Miller (sometimes referred to as Harold) grew up in an era of Prohibition and economic turmoil, which shaped his criminal inclinations. He exhibited a talent for deception from a young age, initially engaging in minor frauds before progressing to more serious offences. His nickname "Two Guns" came from his habit of carrying two pistols, a menacing trademark that underscored his readiness for violence.

By the 1930s, Miller had built a reputation as a bootlegger, armed robber, and fraudster. However, in 1934, he committed the act that would define his legacy, murder, and his criminal career took a darker turn. John Miller's Death as a Murderer In California, a man named John Miller (no relation) was shot and killed by Harry Miller in a case of mistaken identity or perhaps pure brutality (accounts vary). The crime was vicious multiple gunshots at close range and left little doubt about his guilt. Arrested, convicted, and sentenced to life in San Quentin State Prison, Miller seemed destined to fade into obscurity behind bars.

But neither his growing delusions nor his notoriety could be contained by prison walls. The Prison Prophet: Delusions of Divine Destiny

During his incarceration, Harry Miller underwent a strange transformation. He began claiming he had received divine revelations, insisting that God had chosen him as a prophet to warn humanity of impending doom. Apocalyptic admonitions and obscure prophecies filled his lengthy, rambling letters to newspapers, politicians, and even religious figures. Some of his predictions were eerily timed—he allegedly foretold natural disasters and global conflicts, which occasionally coincided with real-world events. This fueled a small but fervent following among fellow inmates and even some outsiders who believed he possessed supernatural insight.

Miller’s delusions grew more elaborate. He claimed his imprisonment was part of a divine plan, that he was a modern-day John the Baptist preparing the world for a great reckoning. Authorities dismissed him as mentally unstable, but his writings continued to circulate, adding to his mystique.

The Great Escape and Manhunt

In 1941, Miller made a daring escape from San Quentin, exploiting a flaw in prison security. For months, he evaded capture, moving between hideouts while continuing to send out his prophetic missives. Newspapers sensationalized his flight, dubbing him the "Prison Prophet" and turning him into a folk antihero.

His freedom was short-lived. In 1942, after a nationwide manhunt, law enforcement tracked him down in Oregon. Miller was eventually captured and taken back to prison, this time under much tighter security, after a dramatic shootout. Final Years: The Fading of a Self-Made Messiah

Back in San Quentin, Miller’s mental state deteriorated further. His prophecies grew more disjointed, blending religious fanaticism with paranoid rants. Prison psychiatrists likely would have diagnosed him with schizophrenia or another severe mental illness today, but in the mid-20th century, he was simply labelled a dangerous criminal with delusions.

He spent his remaining years in obscurity, dying in prison in 1959. Yet, his legend lived on.

Legacy: Madman or Manipulative Genius?

Harry "Two Guns" Miller remains a subject of fascination for true crime enthusiasts and psychologists alike. Was he a cunning manipulator who used religious fervor to gain attention, or was he genuinely convinced of his divine mission? The line between calculated fraud and sincere madness in his case is blurry.

His story has inspired books, documentaries, and even references in studies of criminal psychology. Some view him as a tragic figure—a man whose mind broke under the weight of his grandiose fantasies. He is viewed by others as a brutal murderer who hides behind the guise of prophecy. Conclusion: A Dark Chapter in Crime History

Harry Miller’s life was a chaotic mix of violence, deception, and self-deception. From small-time cons to murder, from prison breaks to delusional prophecies, his journey forces us to question where criminality ends and insanity begins.

In the end, in "Two Guns" Miller was neither a hero nor a mastermind—just a deeply flawed man whose life became a cautionary tale of crime, punishment, and the dangerous power of belief. His story remains one of the most peculiar and unsettling in the annals of American true crime.