The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-02-04
Abduction and kidnapping Of q Wife by
her Husband.

ago Charles +. Miller, OF this city, married Miss
Blackwell, then about II years of age, young lady
then residing with Mr.. Lemue Wells, at Yonkers,
who married her aunt, gentleman of great wealth
and responsibility, by consent OF all parties interest
ed. The first one or two years after their marriage
Charles and his lady resided in this city with his ia
Their, John A. Miller, highly respectable mahoga-
ny dealer. and then resided at Little Falls, in New
Jersey, the greater portion Of the time keeping house
and living apparently happy together until the 18th
day of February last when Mrs Miller left her resi-
dence, at Little Falls in company with an uncle TO
( attend the funeral of Mr.. Lemuel Wells at Yonk-
| ers: by mutual arrangement, her husband follow
ca IN separate conveyance Immediately after them.
The funeral solemnites were attended on the 18th,
and the husband left for the city with an under
standing that he would return for his wife in about
week AT the appointed time, Mr. Miller return
ed to Yonkers for his wife, but was informed byhe
family that Mrs Miller, for certain reasons set forth
| in her affidavit subsequently made, Ga portion OF
which was published in the Herald of yesterday
| had come to conclusion never to live with him
| again. Miller then went to Sing Sing and prayed
out three writs Of habeas corpus, from Albert Lock
wood, Esq, Superior Court Commssioner-one
against E. H. Wells, widow Of Lemuel Wells, de:
ceased1one against E. J: Blackwell, the mother Of
an jingle OF Mrs. Miller. who then composed the IA
my at Yonkers, to bring them up with Mrs Miller,
to show cause why they detained his wife from him.
So these wrlts the respondents made return oath
that Mrs. Miller was under no restraint by them,
but was at liberty to go when and where she pleas
ed, and Mrs Miller sent up her deposition, dated
Feb % 1872 as published yesterday. On these re-
| turns Commissioner Lockwood issued attach.
ments commanding them all to appear in person be-
fore him, at Sing Sing On the first day of March
the parties appeared at Sing Sing, viz Charles F.
Blackwell, Mr.. Blackwell, and Martha E. Miller, the
| wife of Charles F., respondents. An investiga-
ton then takes place before Commissioner Lock
wood. Mrs. Miller is examined to the causes
| had ed hart tn 1ya
husband, and after the hearing the Commissioner
| decided she was at liberty to go when and where
she pleased with her husband or with her friends
She finally decided that she could no longer live
with her husband in consequence of his iii treat
ment towards her and his threats that he would do
herpersonal violence should she expose the forgery
alluded to in her affidavit. Miller then requested to
have private interview with her. This was vrtu-
ally had, and after some fifteen minutes private con-
versation, Mrs Miller declared the interview at an
end. and that she could never think Of living with
him again, as she was afraid she would not be safe
under his ntrol. Miller then seized her and at
tempted to take her away by force, and by the aid
of carriage previously provided at the door; Mrs.
| Miller screamed for assistance and tainted away;
White Plains, who had been assisting the repon-
dents in their defence, aided in rescuing her from
Miller; in the mee, Miller gave Mills several severe
bowsfor which he was arrested and held to bail to
answer tor breach OF the peace, and Mrs Miller was
taken to Yonkers by her friends. Reports were
his wife away from Yonkers by force, which
violence from Miller, and so constant was their
alarm from reported threats and other indications of
violence, that Mrs. Miller proposed to leave her
friends and seek some other residence and accord
ingy, about the lst of July last she took board in
the family ofa Mrs. Hoyt, in Stamford, Connect-
cut, about four hours ride from Yonkers. There
she resided, quietly and publicly as Mrs. Miller, at
and riding out for her health occasionally by advice
of her medical attendant; her health having been
impaired from the treatment che received from her
husband at Sing Sing, until about the first Of Sep
| room with Mrs. Hoyt, and her two daughters, the
and approached her with an extended hand, saying,
with you" Mrs. Miller screamed, and attempted
| to flee from the room. Miller caught her about her
waist with his arm, and forced her towards sofa,
lap. Her shrieks and the alarm of the family at.
| tracted to the house persons passing along the
street. On the entrance of two three individuals,
and enquirlng into the cause OF the alarm, Miner
pointing it at them threatened to blow out the
brains Of the first who should dare to approach
him On the presentation OF the pistol Mrs. Miller
swooned and fell upon the floor; and those who had
come in retreated, and gave the alarm that
| that man was in the house, armed with pistol.
This report through the streets of Stamford with
the rapldty OF locomotives and in a moment the
The pistol of Miller was then taken away from him,
and Mrs. Miller removed from the room in state
Of insensibility.
scous and it was several days before she far re-
| covered as move about the room. Her physician
| decided her case to be one Of congestion OF the
brain, from excessive fright, testified to by Mr.
was Immediately arrested on grand jury's COM
plant, for breach Of the peace and held in custo-
dy by Deputy Sheriff Smith until the next day, when
he was brought before Justice Haight, the facts in
L inf in he cur 1ofnu b,,u
dred dollars to appear and answer to the charges in
said complaint, at the next County Court for Fair
field county. He continued on his patrol of honor
/ to the Sheriff for two days, when he succeeded in
procuring bail and was discharged.
| The next we hear miller was about the middle
| of October, when he went up to Stamford, with
coach and four, accompanied by four or five as
| sociates. But before entering the village, he
sent one or two OF his comrades ahead to as
certain the probability OF falling in with his
| wife. He returned and reported Mrs: Miller to
| Miller mounts upon the box Of the COACH and with
four in hand, dashes through the main street of the
village, and takes field read upon which it had
been ascertained Mrs. Miller rode but among the
meanderings Of the public routes of that pleasant
village, he lost all tract of the cavacade and by
| crcutous route returned to the village. In the
mean time. Mr.. Seely,. who keeps stage house
and livery stable in Stamford, but who at that time
was unacquainted with Mrs. Miller, was requested
to go and meet her, and give her information of the
danger che was in of being carried ofby Mr.. Miller
| Mr. Seely accordingly took one of his heetes
horses and started in pursuit. About five miles east
Of Stamford he fell in with Mrs. Miller on her re-
turn, she having rode out to Norwalk-gives the in.
formation, and at Mrs Millers request, as testified
by Mr.. Seely yesterday, he took her to friend of
his in New Canaan, about seven miles from STAN
ford Miller not succeeding in his intentions, he
with his companions, returnedto this city; Mrs.
/ Miller remained at New Canaan week, when Mr.
Seey brought her to the stage house, where she re.
sided in private until Miller laid under bonds at
White Plains as will be seen in the sequel On the
Sd of December, and subsequent to that up to the
| time of her abduction, on the 18th of January,
she boarded with Mr. Seely publicly, taking
her meals generally at the public table,
White Plains before the Court of Oyer and Term.
ner, Judge Rugges presiding, to take his trial for
| the alleged breach of the peace committed upon
as above mentioned. This trial lasted from Monday
until Friday, brought into consideration the relative
/ oht nj nd nd ,piEa- fba -