Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-09-29
C1APTDR OF HORIZONS.
From the Stamford { Con. J Sentinel.
INFANTICIDE..

iNA Nv
Horrible Effects Of Religious Phren.
cy.-Thc following melancholy occur
renee froui fanaticism, which has re-
Gently taken place in an adjoining town,
has been related to US by person Who
learnt the particulars from the wife Of
the unfortunate man, and from persons
residing in the vicinity Of the bloody
scene.
A Mr.. Stephen J. Miller, Of New
Canaan, for many years past very re-
spectacle member of the Congrega.
tional church, in North Stamford, un-
der the pastoral charge Of the Rev.
Mr.. Fuller, on Thursday night last,
killed his two children, aud nearly kill.
ed his wife, while in a state of ALBERTA
ton Of mind. The circumstances are
as ows:-Not Ion. since the church
at North Stamford held "four days
meeting" Dir. NJ. was constant in
his attendance, and was apparently
much exercised in his mind with the
religious services of the meeting. On
Friday, the Cd inst. he attended siml-
lar meeting at New Canaan, conduct
ed by the methodist persuasion OH his
return home he told his wife lac shoald
do no more work, and that he should
leave all his temporal concerns to Pro.
violence, and prepare hiinself for death.
From that NOME mt he commenced fast
ing, declaring he should In future live
upon iaith--hc then occupied most Of
his time in reading the Scriptures OF
Prayer. On Tuesday morning last he
told his wife she must not cook any
victuals, but she and her children mus 81
also fast; with this request Mrs. VI.
complied, suspec ting his mine was no,
altogether rational. Tho neish5ors
during this time had not discovered
any thing in the conduct Of Mr.. NJ. Ia
excite suspicious of his INSANITY. On
Thursday night he retired TO bed at
his usual hour with his family. con
,lstIDg Of his wife and two children.
one three aud the other one year oi
age. About mid night thunder show
er rose, and the MUSE of the thunder
awoke them from sleep-Mrs. NJ. Oh
served 10 her husband that the shower
was very heavy, to which he replied.
"yes, the day Of Judgment is at hand,
and We must get up aud prepare for
it," lie Immediately left his bed, took
his eldest child aud commenced beat.
ing II in a terrible manner, to keen,
ias he remarked at the lime,) The
Devils or" Mrs. Miller sprung out
Ot bed and inicrfered--Mi!.cr let &c
Of Tie child, and aeiled her b, lhe hair
OF the head, ard eilre she could ~
triCate herself irom lis grasp, he t0rt
all her night cloihe. oil. and bfuizcd
bit aud scratched her llcsh most shock
Iingly OF making her escape she ilsd
beloS stairs, aud be follow cd Close
after-in her attempt 10 pass the QUITE
door hc caught her by the ANGLE, sb,
tell outside. the door az tie same tim,
closing against hcr leg; ~ this con
ditioD she lay NEARLY AB hour, naked
and the rain pouring dOwn in torrents
he. during the time. holding hes by "a,
ANGLE inside tie door. Tie finally aut
OF his own accord, Let 60 hi- hold. ant
she He'd 10 the nearest nciglbOr, aluiOs
iifsless. The neiglibOrs being slarmrd,
fcpaIfcd 60 M,!ler's house and found
him ranging about ~ tie window
~ere mostly broken TO pieees-th,
younger child was found lying ia th'
weeds. about i~o t0ds from the house
swluily wounded ~ several pats o.
tie holy by blow apparently infiote,
upon u With a hUe--it fingered fcv
houfs and died. Tie other child va