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

Our city has again been the scene Of ter
rible and most heart rending murder, which,
next TO the massacre of the bearing family,
exceeds in atrocity and cold hloodedneas any
tragedy of similar character enacted in
Philsdelphia for years. The 6endiah 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 throat cut
in horrible manner, three wounds on her
head, penetrating the. skull, and marks Of
strangulation about her neck and breast, and
surrounded with pool OF blood.
| the murder of Mrs. Watts, at Germantown,
last January, but exceeds it in atrocity, for
the diabolical deed committed yesterday, took
place in one Of the most populous portions OF
the city. Buttonwood street, between Ninth
and Tenth, and at q time when everybody
was stirring and also when it appears TO be
almost q miracle that the murderer could es-
cape from the premises unobserved 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 q short time after the
discovery Of the same:
Mr. Milo Miller, by trade millwright, re-
sides al 942 Battonwood street The only
} occupants of the house, which is . comforta
bic two-story brick dwelling, we're Mr.. Mill
err. his wife and sister Mrs. Miller, the
: murdered woman, whose full name is Elizs
N. Miller, was sixty three years of age, and
has resided with her husband and sister in tht
house mentioned for thirty years past. The
deceased, as we'll Is the rest Of the family
: were noted as being very quiet, respectable
and exemplary people. The entire fsmil,
were on the best Of terms with everybody il
/ the neighborhood, and it is not known tina
. the deceased had an enemy in the world
D her entire time being devoted to housshois
e affairs.
5 Yesterday morning, between SIX and seve,
/ O. clock, Mr.. Miller, who works for Mr.. +. K
3 Gift, No. 400 North Twelfth street, and hi
sister, Hettie Owens, WHO'S employed at ban
e box making at Second and Pine, left HON
It for the purpose of attending to their daily Ia
!. Dor Mrs. Miller, the deceased, as usual
b prepared breakfast for the family, and afte
= the departure of her husband and sister 10
! law, proceeded with her usual avocations
. 1t was customary for Mrs Miller 10 be alon
the entire day, and she seldom left the hous
| except for the purpose Of visiting the neigh
! boring stores to make necessary purchases
: and pay a short visit to some of her neigh
bors. About half past three clock yester
day afternoon, = young girl named Salli'
/ Wood, who resides next door TO Mr.. Miller
being DESTROYS of seeing Mrs. Miller, pro
eeeded Do the alley-wsy that separates tn,
two houses. and entered the dining room b,
means of the door that leads into the yard
il No sooner had she entersd than sigh
: met her gaze that caused thrill of horror tt
/ run through her Nearly in the center 0
the room she discovered the PROSTATE form 0
!, Mrs. Miller, lying on her back, with boil
: arms stretched out, and her throat cut nearl,
from ear to ear The door was covered will
!, blood, and beside the woman. and near hel
right hand, lay an opened razor and a small
iron poker. Miss Wood rushed from tn.
house and gave the alarm, whsn some Of th.
! neighbors came in. The news soon spseat
!. through the neighborhood, and Lieut.. White
/, of the Police District, was early on tn.
I ground, and with posse Of police took pos
session of the premises
n Before minute examination was made, j
was generally taken for granted that Mrs
Miller had committed suicide. Everything
gave coloring to this suppostion, rs nothing
4 was disturbed. Not chair was out of plaza
the carpets we're unrutiled, and everything
about the room was in perfect order. TIL,
fact Of horrible murder having been com
mitted was soon made apparent. however, fo
on removing . cap worn by the deceased
three terrible wounds were discovered on he
{ head. undoubtedly the result of heavy blows
Il One Of these wounds was on the forehead
and the other two, which were of frightfu
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 a
FIRST attempted to strangle her, but failing u
do so, cut her throat, and then inflicted thu
blows on her head.
II A confusion was discovered on her left ell
bow, caused probably BY striking il agsins
something during the struggle with her de
moniac assassin. Singular to say, nothing
was disturbed in any part Of the house, al.
though Mr.. Miller had sum Of money In I
drawer up stairs. He 10 thoroughly saving
; man, and kept his money at his residence
} The razor used by the murderer was taken
from the drawer Of a work table, which stood
against the north wall Of the room, within
two feet Of where Mrs. Miller's body wa,
found lying. A number of articles were in
this drawer, but nothing else appeared 4
, 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 . II
bic in the room, and on u were spots o
blood. Biood-narks were discovered on thu
table, and also on the wall close by the table
The deceased was dressedin . dark coloret
calico working dress. white stockings, and al
old pair Of gaitsr shoes, usually worn u
work about the house in.