The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-11-18

ttioH s1Io OeSnu nekio8 ok ObflDS DurglefIeS,
Etha like of which had never been heard
4 skore on West street one night, hnd the
next night South. os Canal street would
be visited. q 4 u
Information was conveyed 10 him,
about this time, that large shipping
house on, Front street had received q
heavy remittance of gold coin from the
West Indies. Miller summoned unto
him his confidential friends, John Brown,
Tim Sullivan and Skinner. The latter,
who was what is called, in the slang of
burglars, a "stow-away," secreted him
self in the store during the daytime.
When evening came, Skinner opened the
door to his friends and admitted them
Miller Mt once assumed command. He
had the safe placed upon its back, the
fuse was applied. and the patent lock
flew open. To their surprise, only $185
in silver was found. At this juncture,
Brown fancied he heard an alarm sound
/ ed without He rushed out just in time
to have struggle with the night watch
man, knock him down and escape. Sui
livan aud Skinner followed, but poor
Miller, thanks to his bronchial con-
sumption, was again captured. He offer
ed the officer his gold watch, worth $500,
and $500 in money, to- let him 60. The
bribe was refused and the burglar was
marched to prison.
His friend sullivan mad the impudence
to be preseft at the examination next
morning, aild as he had often been seen
i'll the company of Miller, he, too, was
arrested on suspicion. Both were tried
at the ensuing term of the Court of Oyer
and Terminer, and sentenced to the Sing
Sino Priaop for fba f,Il Torn, yonrs
Miller, through some means or other, ma
naged to get out before tue expiration Of
his sentence. He only remained in the
city short time, just long enough to
raise IL little money to pay his expenses
out West. For some days after his re-
turn from tho State Prison, ho loafcd
around q well known bunk in Grcenwic
street, and kept an eye on oil that was
going on.
One day he saw lady dressed in deep
mourning descend from carriage which
was we'll loaded with trunks. Our hero
instantly made up his MUD that the
lady was going on long journey, and
came to replenish her purse. He fol-
lowed into the bank. Miller was not
mistaken, for the lady informed the
cashier of the bank that she was going
to Europe. and presented check for ten
thousand dollars. The money was count
ed out to her and she left. When she
reached the carriage, gentleman, with
pen behind his ear. accosted her and
said that ho was q clerk in the bank, that
some mistake had been made in counting
the money, and that she must give it 10
him to be re-counted. The lady, not
suspecting anything, complied with the
bank clerks request, and handed him the
package of bills. adding that she had not
touched it since she received it. The
bank clerk left. The lady wai4ed, and
she still waits. The bank clerk was, of
course, no other than our friend Miller,
who went in one door and ont another,
ten thousand dollars in pocket.
That night lie decamped and began u
tour of tho Western cities. The presence
of Mr.. Miller at any place was always
attended with heavy burglary. Some
times Miller was caught and lodged in
Jail, but next morning, when the jailer
camo around to give his prisoner break
fast, the bird was flown. Only twice did
he return to the scene of his former
| triumphs.
The first time he came to answer to n
summons from his old friend Chaunsey
johnson, who contemplated raid on n
Broadway bank, and needed his indis-
pensable services. Miller inspected the
premises, and when NIL the arrangements
were completed, the vault of the bank
was broken into and the snug little sum
of $4,000 abstracted therefrom. With
n generosity really marvellous, they sur
rendered the money for reward of $:25,- :
900, being assured by tho police that they
would not be prosecuted. This was
Miller's last appearance but one in New
York.
Ho shortly after left, aud after wan
dering around for some time, breaking
into stores and banks, and breaking out
OF all the jails, he finally settled down in
Philadelphia. He refrained from busi-
ness for awhile, but having gambled
away all his money, and being reduced
to want, he again took up the jimmy.
Ho was successful two or three times,
but he was no longer the same dashing,
skillful burglar of his youth. He soon
came to grief, and found himself secure
in Moyamensing Prison. He was turned
loose once more two weeks ago. The
rough handling he received in Philadel-
phia disgustcd him with the Quaker
City, and he made his way to this, tho
city of thieves.