Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-10-13
TRIAL OF MILLER

The prisoners counsel (Air. Sherrnan) admitted
that his client had done the deed oil blood, but
of religious frenzy. The gentleman gave the
following statement of What occurred between
him and the pm soo~r ia prison;
Witness called NJ the Jail for the
purpose of converting with Miller:
not as counsel, but a. private
citizen-.found the window Of the
room darkened by a curtain-knock-
ed. the prisoner enquired who was
therc-witness gave him his name,
prisoner then removed the curtain,
and At request Of witness. gave wit
ness his name, the names Of his pa
rents, also Of his master with whom he
served an apprenticeship at the shoe
making business, told Of his marrying.
Of his uniting himself with the church,
and many other incidents Of his life,
as also OF the causes which had trans
pred to bring him into the condition
in which witness then saw him. His
conversation throughout was very con.
nected, tranquil, and reasonable, ex-
cepting that relating to the killing Of
his children. Prisoner stated TO wit
ness that he united himself with the
church ut North Stamford number Of
years past, but that he never expert
cnced true religion until last March,
at this period four days meetings COM
menced in our vicinity said he then
became convinced that some of the
doctrines Of his church could not be
substantiated from Scripture. stated his
own religious belief on the point with
which he differed from the church. and
cited texts Of Scripture in very ra.
tional manner, and applicable TO prove
his position. He made his views on
the subject known TO his brethren, aud
from that time he discovered in them
a GOODNESS toward him. Not long af.
forwards, prisoner said Mr.. Wilcox
preached at North Stamford-Cthis
was at Four Days Meeting Thought
he preached very well. but could not
relish his doctrine-told his brethren
wherein he differed with the church.
which was on the subject Of christian
perfection, in which prisoner believed
his difference with them soon be-
came q matter Of public conversation.
and prisoner discovered their coldness
towards him increased. On SUNDAY
previous to the fatal 9Th, prisoner at
tended church at North Stamford,
when Mr.. Fuller preached on perfec.
fion, the doctrinai point at issue be.
tween them, and prisoner thought the
sermon particularly pointed at him.
On Monday morning he told his wife
that his Clergyman and his brethren
had become his enemies, and said he
must live close 10 God; To that end
he commenced fasting, and after wards
took little or no food, and spent most
al his time in reading and prayer.-
On Thursday the 9th, he said q person
| came to his house and took him by one
hand and his wife by the other, ;ast
his hands felt soft and different from
that Of mems hands in general, and
through the eye of faith he saw the
stranger who had called on him was
al angel from heavcn--his wife called
him beggar, but she had not faith
and was blinded--the man put slip
Of paper in prisoners hand, and pri-
soner retired 10 another room and read
IL: il purported that the bearer had
fallen among pirates and had been
robbed Of all he possessed, and was
soliciting the assistance OF the charita-
ble--Prisoner fell upon his knees, and
in prayer asked the Lord what he
should do, when voice from heaven
directed him tn render such assistance
as was in his power. he returned and
gave tho angel his pocket book and
contents--Iit was subsequently, ascer.
tanned that the pocket boDk contained
IS. That night the prisoner and
family retired 10 bed at the usual hour
lin the night he heard a noise like
chariots rolling with great speed over
payements, and he had no doubt they
were the same as described in Revela.
tions--afler hearing these chariots he
fell asleep, his wife, however, soon a.
woke him, and said il Numbered very
heavy; he told her il was not thunder,
but the last Trump Of God; that the
Judgment Day hal come, and the
earth was about to melt with fervent
heat Prisoner left the bed and kneel.
ed down by iis side to pray, his wife
likewise, to prepare themselves for the
chsnge--while at prayer, three devils
entered the room, one large and two
small ones-prisoner knew they were
devils from the intOlerable smell they
brought with them, the largest Of which
he describes as being something like q
woman with large horna-this devil At.
tackled his wiIej he attempted 10 res
cue her from his clutches, ihey had
great fight, bat the devil ovsrpow
him and carried bis ~ife of. In the
mean time, dragon came from under
che bed, seized hold of one Of his clnl
dren, and pounded IL SO, that the poor
child screamed terribly prisoner pray.