Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1856-01-19

man with grea! animation. The ReyeI-
end gentleman informing him that he had
now but iltlr over an hour to live, and he
should direct his thought towards heaven,
and earnestly beseech his God 10 pardon
his sins. He silently kneeled down,
those in Tie cell, including the Rev. Mr..
Ciemm, did likewise, when Mr.. Maer
made solemn and feeling prayer in be-
half of the prisoner. He clasped his
hands together aud turning his face up
ward and with great apparent devotion,
seemed to be appealing 10 the Great Judge
Of III quick and dead. After MIR. Maier
had concluded, the prisoner also offered
up lervent prayer in the German Ian
guage which he spoke with remarkable
Huoucv. lie declared his entire inno-
ccace of the murder Of DR.. Hadcl and
Henry Graef, called oil God to witness
his denial! /; he prayed for blessings npon
he families of the murdered men, asked
for forgiveness for his many sins, and
ptoiessed an entire willingness to die, and
appear before his God. whom he knew
would Judge him rightly. lie expressed
his forgiveness of The Judge, Jury and the
witness, by whom he had fair and I'M
partial trial. During his prayer he snow
ed no feeling.
Al 20 minutes TO IL o'clock he was in
formed by the Sheriff, DR.. Everett, that
the time for proceeding TO the place OF
execution had arrived. lie expressed his
readiness, got up, put on his coat and as
sisted in putting on his shroud, and then
wrapped himself up in a gull! furnished
hIm by the jaiIor.
Just at this time he was told that rcla-
tive of DIR. Hadel was present, when he
spoke in German as follows "iell the
faulty of DR.. IiadeI that they must not
accuse ne as the author of their aflicGon
his blood is not on my head am in
nocent-God will bless and protect them
in this world, and when meet them in
the world TO come they and DR.. IIadel
viii acquit me OF the charge for which |
am about to be executed"
lie then proceeded with firm step
through the jail yard to the gate and there
mounted the wagon in waiting to convey
bun to the galows, and took his seat upon
his coffin with entire composure. The
military, the ContinentaIs, Capt. ]. IL.
fucker, and the Allcgany Guards, Cap:
James Scbev. formed in line around the
wagon. and the solemn procession moved
of slowly through the town towards the
place of execution, followed by al i'm
mense concourse of people.
The gaIlows was erected on the Poor
House property, about one mile north of
the City. As the procession passed on lis
way the streets and windows were literal
Iy flied with persons anxious TO behold
the murderer.
Arriving at the place Of execution. the
military formed in hollow square around
the galIows to keep off the immense
crowd pressing forward TO catch glimpse
of the unfortunate man. Through the
the clear space thus formed Miller pro-
ceeded, and accompanied by his spiritual
advisers, the Sheriff, DIR. John Everett,
his deputy, Mr.. John Callan, ex-Sherlti
Shultz, several reporters of the Baltimore
press, and others, mounted TO the plat
form with a firm step. Throwing aside
the quilt in which lie had wrapped HIM
self, he stood up before the assembled
multitude in his shroud, and cOnversed
cheerfully wilh those about him. De-
clinlng 10 address the crowd'as he at first
contemplated doing, Rev. Mr.. GLENN
made some very forcibIe remarks upon the
text, the "Wages of sin is death" in
which he eloquently besOught those pres
ent not to close their eyes 10 the absolute
and imperious necessity of abstainIng
from evil deeds, and to beware of the first
departure from the strict path of duty, as
the first sinful act almost invariably leads
10 another, until the victim too often was
compelled to expiate his crime upon the
scafluld.
Mr.. Maier then knelt down with Miller
and offered up prayer suitable TO so aw-
ful an occasion, and after he finished his
appeal in behalf of the unfortunate man,
Miller remained upon his knees, and in a
loud voice, without tremOr, offered up one
of the most beautiful prayers, so said by
those unders,an ding the German dialect,
ever heard. He freely acknowledged
himself 10 be black hearted sinner, and
to have lived in total disregard of The laws
of God and man; said that his maker was
righl in bringing him to punishment in that
manner that he deserved death for his
sIus and was willing to atone Tor his trans
gFcsslons by a death upon the galiows, II
by this means God would forgive him and
BRING hls soul into his holy keeping. He
concluded by again asseveraliug his inno-
csnce OF the awful crime for the commits