Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-01-23
TRIAL OF MRS. LENA MILLER,
CHARGED WITH
Poisoning her Husband, Xavier Miller.
ry rHE COURT OF OYER AND TERMISER OF
CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
Before His Honor, Judge Linn.

On Tuesday, Jan. 18th, 1867, Mrs. Lena
Miller was arraigned in the Court of Oyer
and Terminer of Clearfeld county, charged
with the murder Of her husband, Xavier
Miller, of Frenchville, in the month of July,
1866. VIM NJ. Mccullough, District At
tornev, and FL. B. Swoope, Esq, appeared
for the Commonwealth, and j. Is. nj Email
iv, VIM. A. Wallace, Thos. ]. NJ 'Cullough,
and VIM. D. Bigler, Esquires, for the priso-
ner The panel having been exhausted,
the Court directed the Sheriff to close the
doors and select names from the crowd of
spectators. Finally, the following Jurors
were chosen and sworn:
David NJ Crackin, VIM T. Thompson,
James Cook, Nelson Young,
David Ream5, Joseph p. Jordan,
James Weaver, 0thello Smead,
Geo. J. Weaver, James Riddle,
Thomas Long, John w. Wri ight.
The prisoner is over medium size, has
dark hazel eyes, somewhat sunken, aquiline
nose, forehead slightly receding, rather high
cheek bones, thin lips, and appeared either
not to realize, or was Indifferent to her stu
alton and the magnitude of the crime with
which she was accused.
After clear and concise opening of the
case by District Attorney NJ Cullough,
ALEX. CONWAY was called and swsrn: |
knew Xavier Miller He was the husband
of the prisoner at the bar. They lived in
Covington township, Clearfield county. On
Saturday the 30th of June last Xavier Mil
Ter and myself came together from the
Horse Shoe, near Karthaus. | came with
him to his house. 1t was about noon. He
appeared to be well-in good health | was,
shout yplaE otter fnr noofnr |
When came from the field where / was
p!owing my father sent me for Dr. Litz.
Cross examined. Horseshoe in a
bout or miles from Xavier Miller house.
We came in wagon. Left early in the
morning. They were eating dinner when
got home. Xavier Miller eat breakfast with
me that morning We had been working
en- timber at the Horse Shoe. Miller got
wet, as the balance Of us, when a shower
came up. He laid out one night. He bit
an Indian turnip in two, but spit it out
might have swallowed some juice 1t bit
his mouth. Tom Lowry and | were down
cutting road out, when Tom told me those
were Indian turilips, but said did not be-
lieve they We're So when Joe (Miller) came
up to u.s. / asked him if they were turnips
He said he belived they were, for he had
pulled many one along the River. He then
pulled one up, and took two small bites off
the same. Miller was at the Horse Shoe
five nights. Slept in same shanty, had bed
clothing. 1t rained nearly every day, shan
ty leaked at some places, the clothing we
wore got wet. 1 live less than half mile
from Millers. My father told me Mr. Mil
ler's wife had been down and wanted some
one Of US to go for the Doctor that Joe was
sck. The Doctor sent some medicine with
me, don t know what it was. Xavier Mil
Ter didn't complain to me of being unwell
the day we came home. Dom recollect that
| told DR.. Litz anything about what allied
him. Might have told him what some of
the rest told me-
vent to the same place where | got the
hrst turnip, and got another, which [ gave
to you Mr: Swoopel and you handed it to
Doctor tWllson). 1t is the same kind Of
ther Lowry nor [ got sick. Miller was pret-
ty good chunk of man. He was healthy,
didn't complain of being sick down there.
9R. l; j, LITz, sworn..I was sent to go
and see Xavier Miller on the 9th day of Ju-
L. Went on the morning of the 10th.
Found him with what thought was inham-
nation of the stomach suffering from
pain In the region of the stomach. In Mrs.
Miller's presence, Mr.. Miller told me he
had vomited everything out of his stomach
Found him suffering from thirst, his tongue
snd mouth were red and inhamed, his eyes
we're sutfused, red and watery. he had a wi
ry pulse-a thread like pulse. [ sent with
Gonway's son 10 grains of calomel. When
went over myself | left him solution of
morphia-don't think | left him any other
medicine had the solution one grain sui
phate Of morphia to one ounce of water
one tea-spoenful every two hours. Saw him
next on the 18th of July. He was much
worse. Symptoms same as before, but
more aggravated. His eyes were blood
shet, his eountenance wore pinched ex-
presslon-it was anxious. His mouth and
tongue much more infamed, ulcers and bis
ters on same. TO use his own expression,
ne said he felt as Il he had red-hot iron in
his stomach. Had extreme thirst, had fre-
quent calls to go out, insisted upon going
ont himself, and objected to using a cham
Der He appeared like very strong man
would get up and go for water, whilst under
'he influence of these symptoms. He had
aa unusually strong constitution. l was led
20 remark to some one present that he ap-
peared very strong. [ lett him solution of
sqlphate of morphia and citrate of petassa,
4Iadlng sweet spirits of nitre. Left him a
lovers l powder to give him at bed time, as
ne had complained of want of rest. did
not direct any medicine containing arsenic
% be, administered at any time / asked
MN about eating the Indian turnip He
SAD sal ne had only taken couple of bites, but
sad he had spit them out. He was suffer |
ing under acute gastritis. Placed blister |
over the abdomen 1t was in the forenoon
o, the 18th. / was there between IL and II |
U clock. His face was very rod on 6rSf vic
IT. had the appearances of a man taking the |
measles Ao