The Portland daily press., 1871-02-04
TIE MILLER DIVORCE SUIr.
SECOND DAY.

The court room at the coming in of the court
at ten o'clock yesterday morning, was crowded
to excess, (as the news Of the trial had spread,)
so great is the rush of the public to feed on the
scandalous. The counsel for the libellant
called the first witness,
Miss Phebe Peters, whose examination was
coptinued-I recollect one afternoon in July,
1870 just before we came away, Mrs. Miller
and ny self were sitting in her chamber, Mr..
Miller came home very much intoxicated, and
as usual raving. He came into our room and
used very abusive language to Mrs. Miller and
talked against her father very severely, and
after which got down on his knees beside the
bed and made very blasphemous and infa-
nous prayer / would not be willing to state
all the prayer. The first part OF the prayer he
made my father the subject of as tollows so
God! will you look down on that id Charles
Peters and forgive him. Oh God! my father
said on his dying bed, Jones, be kind to Pc
ters. because he can't help himself; because be
was born fool " That is all am willing to
epeat The remainder Of the prayer was both
obscene and profane. recollect Mr. Miller
shaking his fist constantly in his wife's face. l
remember one evening especially; she was 80
frightened that she could not move; thought
she was dying; she was perfectly immoyable-
the color of her face perfectly white; it was a
long time before l could bring her to and get
her dressed SO that she could go out of the
house. All the time Mr.. Miller was following
Qof aIOuuU Tie 0OuS6 VIII IL his uSt, uSluS dUu-
sive language, the same Kind of language !
mentioned yesterday l recollect Mr.. Miller
coming home one evening about IL o'clock,
when Mrs. Miller and L were sitting up for
him. and saying he had been arrested on Wash
ington street and taken to the lookup; he
SAID that his family had put him therei he
said that he went into Washington street on
business; he used very abusive language to-
wards those who put him therei he called his
sisters "both those ID BIS. The SUNDAY
l..4r lxtf Tn tina
at that time Mr.. Miller was entirely sober
The evening before going away Mr.. and Mrs.
Miller, j Judge Shepley and myself were on the
gteps, and Mr.. Miller came home; he hod been
drinking, but don't think he was intoxicated;
be talked to Judge Shepiey Ga9st OF the time.
Cross-ey.-Mr. Miller threw bis boy ON the
floor the summer was visiting at Cape Cot
tage; think it was about years ago when he
was residing in the house corner OF Spring and
Park Sts The affair took place at his house
when was present, having gone there to take
tea. He took hold OF the boy and threw him;
don't know hon he took hold of him when be
threw him but he let 90 his hold of him and
let hin, drop to the floor He didn't let him
down. 1t was about four years ago think
when I was locked ia the house SO couldn't
90 out but am not certain of the date, Can't
say saw Mr.. Miller lock the door and Eoan't
say knOaD Mr.. Miller had the key. The fact
is that we suppose be locked tie door because
he had frequently done such things; am quite
comment MT. MlIlbT uau buS hey. VIC vi TIC
times was locked out of the house was on the
Sab0aah after morning service was over; he
stayed at home usually on Sunday; if III liquor
he was all over the house; when sober on the
sofa i think, in the back parlor. There is
spring lock on the front door that you cannot
open from The outside; not usually fastened.
Very likely when Mrs Miller and the children
were away on the Sabbath the spring lock was
fastened. ! entered by the back way after
ringing several times; remember of finding
1iar, ppa nj tha two n
him asleep on the sofa. This was in the season
OF 1870, both times. Don't remember whether
two successive weeks; think it was. We re-
maiped after the scene of the knife and batch
ct, which was Monday until the frlday attef,
three aud half days; knife exhibtedI; don
know whether this is The knife that he mad.
had never seen it before; it was OF uncommon
size. He came up to me and told me tnat he
was going to kill Sarah. he had the KNIFE up
in threatening manner, openi he appeared
in earnest, although calm; suppose he was
intoxicated. He spoke very distinctly
Sarah was not then present She came to the
door and he saw her and started for her with
the knife Can't tell his expression. 1t was
his usual TALK She did not come in the room
out turned and went down the front stairs. -
When he first saw her she was at the door OF
the toom We were in the chamber. When
she Went down stairs she went to the front
door. followed to the head Of the stairs; be
followed down. ! didn't see what occurred
/ heard her attempt to open the door and
scream. beard her at the knob. ] didn't see
what be did at the moment he took hold oil
her. She told me what he did and / saw the
marks. L next saw them up stairs in her
room. l went back into my own room after
saw them at the door ! heard Mr.. Miller
talking 10 his wife and saw them in her room
Didu't see him doing anything bat threat en-
inc her with his hand He had no knife in hi
hand. He followed her around the roou
with his hand up to her face, threatening to
kill her: his hand part Of the time open ant
part of the time shut. This continued NOR
than q minute CT two l think be next wen
TO his mothers That same Afternoon II
threatened her with the Ratchet. When D
came back from his lautber's he came up INT
the room he had the Ratchet. He asked ~
where the mistress was. don't know my an
swer. He was fiourishiDg the hatchet aroun
me- He next went down stairs; don remem
Der whether stayed in the room or no.,
saw him with Mrs Miller in her room, threat
ening her with the hatchct. He held tn
batchet in one band. He was within a foe
and a halt Of her / think. He did not tone
her with it. He remained in tho room wit
the axe think, fifteen or twenty minutes.
DO not know which left the room first; he 0
she; think this threatening with the axe di
not cease while they renamed in the room
1hpk lie went first, think L remained in th
loom an the tune. Ibid not make any outer
NOT can tor help, nor did Mrs. Miller. No on
At the mouse called raised tbs windows t
CAL. he said nothing about killing to be
Wpie ioiowlhg; 1t was TO me. just at thu
moment Of swinging the Ratchet | don't thin
he said anything about killing her; / was
frightened don remember the talk but
think a dozen times that afternoon he spol
about killing her with the knife.