Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1855-12-29
Miller the Murderer.

tuna,e man has been laborlng under The
fatal delusion since his conviction tha! me
Governor would interpose in his beaa.t oy
granting reprieye or commnIauo1 OF
sentence. His mind has recently been
disabused Of that delusion, and since he
exhibits much dependency.
In addition 10 the writing of his life. he
prepared a leuer 10 The Governor setting
forth his claims for reprleye. When
told that his fate was irrevocabIy fixed and
that the Governor would not lnterpose TO
save him from the penalty of the law, he
flew into a furious ebuiliHon of passion,
abusing every body in general, and the
Governor in particular, upon whom he cal
led down some pretty heavy maIedlcllOns.
Since our last Issue he has made still
further statements, in which he endeavors
to break the force Of the testimony against
him and throw doubt upon the fact OF hls
being the perpelrator of those horrible
crimes for which he has had fair trial be-
lore a jury of his countYmen and been
convicted.
His statement runs as follows: He says
that on Sunday, the l4th day OF October,
| the day upon which the double murder
was committed, he had made up his mind
to 60 to Wheeling, and started, travelling
The old road that after he had got as far
as the cuIvert where the body OF DR.. Ha,
del was discovered he stopped to recon
slider whether he would continue his Journ-
ev or return. Whilst he stood consider
| ing this proposition he looked down and
saw the blood in the road. He finally
made up his mind and returned 10 town,
and about II clock went into DR.. la'
Idel's office. He saw his overcoat hang
inc against the wall. and thinking it would
be of some essenua. service TO him he took
lit. lie then made up his mind that he
would 90 West, and Immediately started
on his Journey over the same road. When
he got TO the Old house, standing near the
paae where the Cumberland Company 5
railroad crosses the old road, and where
the witness saw him, lie concluded that be
would stop. lie went inIo the house and
whilst there ne saw ghost, and the ghost
said 10 him that she was a bad man, that
he must 90 back and return the coat TO lis
righlfui owner" He did not feel at llber.
ry to disobey this injunction Of the ghost,
and again began t. retraCe his steps 10
town. When he got to the culvert, at
" hich the body Of young Graeff was sub
sequendy found, he sat down upon the
wall TO smoke his pipe, and having leaned
his gun against bush, it slipped down
the bank. After he had finished smoking
he went down to get his gun, and discov-
cred bundle lying upon the ground. He
picked it up, opened il and found inside
pair of pants. shirt, &C., and cap with
blood on it. lie says he determined TO
take it along with him, as he thought ii
was beuer than to suffer it to remain there
and rot. He carried it with him and left
It at SleeI's house on his return to town
wherei was found on Monday evening.
lie thus accounts for his appearance on
the road so often on The l4lh Of October,
the day upon which the fatal deeds were
perpeuated. He also COnlesses the TOb-
bing of DR.. Hadels Office on the following
night.
When interrogated as 10 whether he
was not afraid that the Doctor would re-
turn and detect him in The act os robbing
him, he replied, yes, he hac thought OF
that, but then lie concluded that if he was
caught he would only be sent TO the peni-
lenuary few years and that was not much.
Stealing his neIghbors goods ne does not
consider much Of an offence.
A circumstance came 10 light few days
aimee which confirms the belief that he
not only murdered DR.. HadeI, out with
his own hand had actually severed the
head from the BODY Of the unfortunate VIC
tim. A knife Of German manufacture vas
found amongst his effects with blood up
on it. He acknowledges this knife TO be
his property, and resorts 10 the following
expedient TO account for the appearance OF
blood upon it. He says that on his re-
turn from Cumberland, whilst he boarded
al Knapp. house he found hog III ihe
woods which some one had just shot he |
told Knapp Of ii and his children dragged
it in, and whilst they were cutting 1t up
the knife slipped from his hand into the
blood. He washed il off he SAYS, but
thinks now that some Of the blood mus!
have adhered TO it.
The biography is now complete, and
will in due time be given TO The public.
Miller is represented as being man Of
fine German education, and possesses tai /
ents of no insignificant character. He
speaks very huently, and possesses large
fund Of general information. lie writes
with ease and grace, and his biography is |
said 10 be written in lhe pnresl German dI-
i L t..N