The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-09-26

Our city mas again peen the scene Vi ter
rible and most heart rending murder, which,
next TO the massacre of the Dearing family,
exceeds in atrocity and cold bloodednessany
tragedy of similar character enacted in
Phsladelphia for years. The 6epdish deed
was committed yesterday morning, but was
not discovered until late in the afternoon.
The victim was an elderly lady, who WAS
found in her own house With her throst cut
in horrible manner, three wounds on her
head, penetrating the skull, and marks OF
stranguation about her neck and breast, and
surrounded with pool Of blood
The case 10 parallel, in many respects, with
the murder Of Mrs. Watts, at Germantown,
last January, but exceeds it in strocity, for
the diabolical deed committed yesterday, took
place in one Of The most populous portions Of
the city, cottonwood street, between Ninth
and Tenth, and at time when everybody
was stirring and also when it appears to be
almost a miracle that the murderer could es-
cape from the premises anobserved by some
Of the neighbors.
| The following is q comprehensive account
OF everything connected with the fearful muir
der that could be obtained by our reporter,
who visited the scene short time after the
discovery of the same:
Mr.. Milo Miller, by trade . milxright, re-
sides at 942 Buttonwood street. The only
occupants Of The house. which is q comforta
BILE two-story brick dwelling, were Mr.. Mill
err his wife and sister. Mrs. Miller, the
murdered woman, whose full name 10 Eliza
NJ Miller, was sixty three years of age, and
has resided with her husband and sister in the
house mentioned for thirty years past. The
deceased, as we'll rs the rest of the family
we're noted as being very quiet, respectable,
and exemplary people. The entire family
were on the best of terms with everybody in
the neighborhood, and it is not known That
the deceased had an enemy in the world,
her entire time being devoted TO household
affairs.
Yesterday morning, between six and seven
o'clock, Mr.. Miller, who works for Mr.. L. X.
Gift, No. 400 North Twelfth street, and his
sister, Hettle Ovens, WHO'S employed 1t band
box making at Second and Pine, left home
for the purpose of attending to their daily la
Dor Mrs. Miller, the deceased, as usual,
prepared breakfast for the family, and after
the departure Of her husband and sister-in.
law, proceeded with her usual svocations.
II was customary for Mrs. Miller to be alone
1.-THE entire day, and she seldom left the house
except for the purpose OF visiting the neigh
boring stores to make necessary purchases,
and pay . short visit to some of her neigh
bors. About half pas, three o'clock yester-
day afternoon, 6 young girl named Saliie
Wood, who resides next door to Mr.. Miller,
being DESTROYS of seeing Mrs. Miller, pro-
ceeded up the slley-way that separates the
two houses. and entered the dining room BY
means of the door tina, leads into the yard.
No sooner had she entered than Q sight
met her gaze that caused thrill of horror TO
run through her. Nearly in the center of
the room she discovered the PROSTATE form Of
Mrs. Miller, lying on her back, with both
arms stretched out and her throat cut nearly
from ear 70 ear. The door was covered With
blood, and beside the woman, and near her
right hand, lay an opened razor and q small
iron poker. Miss Wood rushed from the
housesAd gave the alarm, when some of the
neighbors came in. The news soon spread
through the neighborhood, and Lieut. White,
Of the Police District, was early on the
ground. and with posse Of police took pos
session Of the premises.
Before minute examination was made, it
was generally taken for granted that Mrs
Miller had committed suicide. Everything
gave coloriDg to this superstition, rs nothing
was disturbed. Not chair was out of place,
the carpets were unruffled, and everything
about the room was in perfect order. The
fact of . horrible murder having been com
mitted was soon made apparent. however. for
on removing cap worn by the deceased,
three terrible wounds were discovered on her
head, undoubtedly the result of heavy blows
One of these wounds was on the forehead,
and the other two, which were Of frightfui
character, we're on the back part Of the head.
Her neck, below WHICH the throat was cut,
showed marks Of dislocation, and her breast,
likewise, indicating that the murderer had IT
first attempted to strangle her, but failing to
do SO, cut her throat, and then inflicted the
blows on her head.
A confusion was discovered on hcflen elsl
bow, caused probably BY striking it against
something during the struggle with her de. |
moniae assassin. Singular TO say, nothing
was disturbed In any part Of the house, al. |
though Mr.. Miller had sum Of money in 81
drawer up stairs. He is thoroughly saving |
man, and kept his money at his residence |
The razor used by the murderer was taken |
from the drawer Of = work table, which stood |
against the north wall of the room, within
two feet Of where Mrs. Miller's body was
found lying. A number of articles we're inj
this drawer, but nothing else appeared TO
have been taken from it with the exception |
Of the razor. which the murderer placed by |
Mrs. MiIler's right hand after using it.
A colored hood. or working bonnet, which |
belonged to the deceased, was found on IA |
Bile in the room, and on il were spots of
table, ard also on tbs vail close by the table. |
The deceased was dressed in dark -colored
calico working dress. white stockings, and IN |
old pair Of garter shoes, usually worn 70
work about the house in.