The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-10-18

Trump of God that the Judgment Day had
come, and the earth was about to melt with
fervent heat. Prisoner left the bed and
kneeled down by its side to pray, his wife
likewise, to prepare themselves for the change
while at prayer, three devils entered the
room, one large and two small ones--prsoncr
knew they were devils from the ihtolerable
smell they brought with them, the largest OF
which he describes as being something like
woman with large horns--this devil attacked
his wife ; he attempted to rescue her from his
clutches, they had great fight, but the devil
overpowered him and carried his wife off.
In the mean time, dragon came from under
the bed, seized hold of one of his children,
aud pounded it so, that the poor child scream
ed terrlbly--prisoner prayed for renewed
strength, and then attacked tho dragon ;they
fought hard, and he finally got the child from
the dragon and threw 1t out OF the window to
keep it out of the monsters way--another
dragon had seized the other child, and while
attempting TO rescue that, he heard the one
out doors scream, and knew from its cries the
dragon had again attacked it. The Lord in
this crisis, he said, gave him renewed
strength, and enabled him to thrust the other
child out Of the window, and then to plunge
out head foremost himself, that he might de-
from the chamber window, he said, sheet
was let down from heaven, which eniangling
| in his feet let him carefully down, so that he
received no injury in falling,--here he had
another severe engagement with the dragons,
who had now transformed themselves into his
chidren--he caught them by the heels. and
! after beating them against the wall, threw
one into the cellar and the other amongst the
weeds. Prisoner related the circumstance
of his neighbors coming to his house that
night and mentioned some Of their names
said they told him he had killed his children,
and that he was now in prison TO be tried for
that offence !; but he said they had no faith
that through the eye Of faith he could see his
children, who were not dead bu, under the
power Of the devil, which would continue i've
months from that time, when they would re.
turn to him. The prisoner during his recital
Of the affair, gave no evidence of any COM
junction of conscience for what he had done;
but exhibited feelings of commisseration for
the condition his family must continue in un.
til the expiration Of the five months. On all
other subjects he reasoned well, appeared per.
fectly rational and pure minded, and with
readiness would turn to texts of Scripture in
Bible he had to prove the doctrine he ad
vocated
Other witnesses stated, that Immediately
after the fatal deed, they found Miller sitting
at the window Of the cellar in which the body
of the eldest child was found, having in his
hand stick, on the end of which an old hoe
was attached. and swinging it to and fro--he
was very raving, and crying out 20, God o,
Christ help blood for blood blood for
blood" &C.: would occasionally smite his
club against the cellar window, and strike
with his hands, which were much lacerated
and bloody, against the glass--he had no
clothing on, except his shirt, which was wet,
torn, and bloody--he handed his club to one
of the witnesses. and desired he would assist
in fighting the devils in the cellar--he called
witnesses by their proper names, and after a
little conversation became more qulet--con'
versed nationally on any subject but what re-
lated TO the death of his children.
The case was submitted To the Jury with
very little comment, and they returned a YER
dict Of not gully, on tho ground of insanity.
The prisoners friends have taken such meas.
ures as will protect society from him.
The late London Qarterly Review
contains an article founded upon work
by DR.. Ambercrombie of Edinburgh, en-
titled enquiries concerning the Intellect
ual Powers and the Investigation of
Truth" Among other subjects, that of
dreams is introduced, and in the course of
the remarks upon it, there is the following
curious passage: ''Dreams are frequently
produced by loud sounds; and DIR. Aber-
crombie quotes case from manuscript
ofDr. Gregory, when the same sound pro-
duced simultaneously on a man and his
wife a dream of the same general char
acter, viz:that the French had landed
near Edinburgh, an event which at the
time was subject of general anxiety.
The most remarkable, however, of this
kind of dreaming is given by the great
physician in the manuscript referred to,
and the authority of an eye witness.
"The subject oft, says DR.. Abercrom-
bic, ''was an officerin the expedition to
Louisburg, in 1853, who had this pecu-
liarty in so remarkable degree, that his
companions in the transport were in the
constant habit ofamusing themselves at
his expense. They could produce in him
any kind Of dream by whispering into
his ear, especially if this was done by a
friend whose voice he was familiar. At
one time they conducted him thro' the
whole progress of quarrel, which end
ed in duel; and when the parties were
supposed to he met, II pistol was put into
his hand, which he fired, and was awaken
ed Ivy the report. On another occasion
they found him asleep on the top ofa lock-
er or banker in the cabin, when they
made him believe he had fallen over
board and exhorted him to save himself
by swimming. He Immediately initiated
all the motions of swimming. They then
told him that shark was pursuing him,
and entreatcd him to dive for his life.
lie instantly did so with such force, as
| 10 throw himself entirely from the locker