Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-10-17

children. Prisoner stated to witness that he united
himself with the church ut North Stamford auin-
Der of years past but that he experienced true
religion until last March, lat this period -Four Days
Meetings commenced in our vicinity said he then
became convinced that some the doctrines of his
church could not be substantiatcd from Scripture,
stated his religious belief on the point with
which no differed from tho church, and cited texts
ofScripturc in worry rational manner, and appli-
cable IL prove his position. He made his views ON
tho subject known 10 his BRETHREN and from that
time he discovered in them GOODNESS towards him.
Not long afterwards, prisoner said Mr. Wilcox pron-
chcd at North Stamcrd-Chs was at Il -Four DAYS
Mccting)-thought he preached very well, but could
not relish his doctrnc--told his brethren wherein
hc differed with the church, which OF the sub
cct OF christian perfection, in which prisoner hclicv
cd-hs difference with them soon bocanc u matter
OF public conversation, & prisoner discovered their
GOODNESS towards him increascdQn Sunday previous
To the fatal Sh prisoner attended church at North
Stamford, when Mr.. Fuller preached reflection,
the doc.rinai point at issue between them, and pr
soner thought the sermon particularly pointed at
him On Monday morning he told his wife that his
Clergyman and his brethren had become mis- enc
mics, and said he must live closer TO God; to that
end he commenced fasting, AID afterwards took
little or no food, and spent most of his ti:,e in
reading and prayer. On Thursday the Sth he said
Il person came to his house and took him By one
hand u his wiie by the ctcr that 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 angel from heaven
his wife called him bcrrar but she had no f. Il In
and was bind-tho man put Il slip OF paper in pri
soncr's hand, and prisoner retired another room
~ read il; il purpored that the bsarcr had fallen
mong pirates and been robbed of all he possessed,
and was soliciting the assistance of the cha ritablo
prisoner fell upon his knees and in PRAYER ask
| the Lord what he should do, when voice from
heaven directed him to render such assistance as
was in his power; he returned and gave tho angel
his pocket book and contonts-I tit was subsequently
ascertained that the pocket book contained S.. l.
That night the prisoner and family retired TO bed
at the usual houF-in the night Ito heard a noise
Ike chario's rolling with great speed over pave
mcnts, and he had no doubt they were tho same
AS described in Rcyclations-aftcr hearing these
chnriots he fell asleep; his wife, however, soon
| awokc him, and said it Numbered very heavy; he
told her 1t was not thunder but the last Trump of
God; that the Judgment Day had come, and the
earth was abcnt TO melt with fcrvent heat.
Prisoner left the bed and kncclcd down by its side
to pray, his wife, likewise to prepare themselves
for the change-whilc at prayers three devils en-
tered the room one big and two small oncs--prsoncr
anew they wcro devils from the intolerahlc smell
they brought with them, the largest of which he
describes being something like woman with large
horns-this devil attacked his wife; he attempted
TO rescue her from his clutches, they had y great
Tight but the deyi overpowered him and carried
his wife off. In the meantime, n dragon came
from under the bed, and seized hold of one of his
children, and pounded it So that the poor child
screamed terribly risoncr prayed for renewed
strength and then attacked the 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-apother 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 defend his
children together; and in his descent from the cham
Der window, he said, sheet let down from
hpD nInh ,t,pr
fully down. that he received no injury in
here he had another severe engagement with the
dragons, who had now transformed themselves in
to has chidren-he caught them by the heels and
after beating them against the wall, threw one
INTO the cellar and the other anon pst the weeds
Prisoner related the circumstance Of his neigh
pors coming to his house that night. and mentioned
some of their names-said they told him he had
Killed his children, and that Inc was now in prison
to he tried for that offence; but he said they had
faith; that through the eye of faith he could see
his children, who were not dead but under the
power of the devil, which would continue 1--WE
months from that time, when they would return to
HIM. The prisoner during his recital of the affair
gave no evidence OF any compunciion of con-
| science for what he had done, but exhibited feel
IEgs Of commisscraton for the condition his; farn
ly must continue in until the expiration of the five
months On all other subj ccts he reasoned we'll an
Peafed perfectly rational and pure-mndsd, 81 with
readiness would turn to texts OF Scripture in Bible
lie had to prove the doctrine he had advocated
Other witnesses stated, that immediately after
the fatal deed, they found Miller sitting at the win
dow Of the cellar in which the body of the eldest
child was found, having in his hand a stick on the
end OF which an old hoe attached and swing
ing it to and fro-he was very raving, and crylng
out 80, God! O, Christ! help! blood fcr blood. blood
for bood!" &c: would occasionally smite his club
against the cellar window, and strike with his
hands, which were much iaceratcd and bloody
against thc glass-he had nc clothing on cxcept his
shrS, which was wet, torn, and bIoody-he handed
his club TO ofthe witnesses & desired he would
assist IN fighting the devils i'll the ccar-he called
witnesses by their proper names, and after little
conversation became more quiet-convcrsed ration.
ally on any subject but what related to the death
of his children.
The case was submitted TO the Jury with very lit
Tie comment, and they returned q verdict of not
gM'tfy, on the ground Of insanity. The prisoners
friends have taken such measures as will protect
society from him.