Webb Miller (February 10, 1891 – May 7, 1940) was an American journalist and war correspondent. He covered the Pancho Villa Expedition, World War I, the Spanish Civil War, the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, the Phoney War, and the Russo-Finnish War of 1939. He was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the execution of the French serial killer Henri Désiré Landru ("Bluebeard") in 1922. His reporting of the Salt Satyagraha raid on the Dharasana Salt Works was credited for helping turn world opinion against British colonial rule of India. Early life Webb Miller was born Cub Webster Miller in Pokagon, Michigan in 1891. His father, Jacob Miller, was a tenant farmer. He attended elementary school in Pokagon and other regional schools. He attended high school in Dowagiac, where he was a track and field runner and football player as well as a reporter for the school paper. Early in life, he became a lifelong vegetarian. While growing up, Miller was a friend of Ring Lardner, who also became a prominent writer. He also began reading the book Walden by Henry David Thoreau, and carried a copy of the work with him for the rest of his life. After graduation from high school, he attempted to find work as a reporter at the South Bend Tribune in South Bend, Indiana, but the paper would not hire him. He worked as a captain on a passenger steamboat (he was fired after wrecking the ship) and as a schoolteacher in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. He visited a brothel, and wrote extensively about his experience there. In 1912, he went to Chicago, Illinois, and began work as a "legman"—reporting on the scene by telephone to journalists in the office who would rewrite his work and get the byline. He primarily covered murders, executions and court cases. During this time, he shortened his name to "Webb Miller" because it made for a better byline. Miller was kidnapped in 1914. Helen Morton, daughter of Morton Salt co-founder Mark Morton, had eloped and married against her father's wishes. Morton tracked his daughter down and challenged the marriage on the grounds that Helen Morton was mentally deranged. A court ruled in his favor, and Helen was committed to an asylum. Miller attempted to interview Helen Morton, but Mark Morton had his employees beat Miller unconscious. Morton then kidnapped Miller and drove off—with the 23-year-old journalist tied