The New York herald., 1871-02-11
ExECUII0N c. JOHN HOWARD
The Mrrdeyer of Captain Henry Miller Pays
the Penalty OF Ills Characterization Of
the Culprit.

The Mrrdeyer of Captain Henry Miller Pays
the Penalty Of Ills Crime Confession Of
the Culprit.
CUMBERLAND. Nd. Feb. 10, 1871.
Shortly after noon to-day John Howard. alias
john Evans, alias sShorty' Evans anas John Lewis,
suffered the extreme penalty Of the law at the Aims
house grounds, near this place, for the murder OF
Captain Henry Miller, OF the canal boat II. Fanes
on the morning OF the 18th OF August last. Tie
crime Vas committed on board Of Captain Miller,s
boat tnen lying near CID Town, Nd, about eleven
miles below Cumberland, and occasioned the widest
excitement In the community, and especially
among the thousands of canal boatnlen con.
gicsated in this vicinity during the busy
montl Of August. Rough and hardened as
these boaimen usually are by their manner
OF life ana surroundings, and toned as they
were TO the scenes Of riot and bloodshed yreauent
among men OF this class In every section or the
country, Yet tine crime OF murder is or compara.
lively rare occurrence aud the guilty parties meet
with the most bitter denuncaiion from their CON-
rades. The murder Of Captain Miller has been re.
garded mere rs cold-bleodej ana dastardly out
rage. The information Of the circumstances OF the
AFFAIR was obtained cnlg from the murderer himself
aud coored man named johnson, they being the
only witnesses Of the bloody deed.
THE MURDER.
Howards first connection with the boat was in the
capacity Of bowsman. Miller Is represented to have
been very bcisterous and abusive toward both How
ard and the coiored man johnson, Howard, who
was man OF very strong passions Was not disposed
to submit TO the continued abuse Of his employer,
and frequently retaliaed In kind resulting IN Bit
ter ennity between the two men, On The night pr1or
to the murder high words nad passed, and an hour
or more before the fatal deed was COM
mitted another quarrel occurred, IN which ir
Is alleged the Captain was extremely abu-
sive although no blows were given. After
the alteration Howard went into the hay house,
near the bow OF the boat where he met the colored
man and declared his determination to no longer
submit to the abuse Of his superior; and, further
endeavored TO persuade Johnson TO join hii In his
plan to murder the Captain. Thedreadul details OF
the conversation or these men, sitting there In the
dense darkness both realizing In all its bitterness
the continual ill.rcatmenJ to which they were sub
jected and cherishing that strong spirit OF resent
ment which forms part Of the nature or us ell,
WIN never be known In full. Is only known that
Howard represented TO the negro that
they could easily secure their revenge as
the Captain was without assistance, and
could then effect ihcir escape However. IL
appears that tho courage OF the negro was UNEQUAL
TO the occasion, and IN few minutes the plotting
was disturbed by the appearance OF the Captain who
ordered the negro to attend to the muics. Return
Howard, and observing tba. he was Drcparlny to 30
10 sleep, caIied him s--n OF b-h, and told him
ne eqJsd nl no, 70 sleep but to attend to MS
would leave in the morning. Alter some further
harsh language miller turned and walked toward
ment, probably to summon all his cour.
age for the occasion rather than to mediate
upon the fearful CRIME he was about to commit,
towards reyengciul eyes followed the Captains
form through the darkness. Then, STOPPING, he
af pr1d
technically known as a "spreader',, and stealthily
followed Miller, overtakillg bim within few feet
OF the s,eTn he raised nls weapon and, with q
remark u lhe erect that he would break his skull,
struck him
upon tue mead. Miller at once sank to his knees,
ana Howard, suspectlng that he was endeavoring TO
weapon OF de.ence repeated The blow, with IN.
creased force. ihc wounded fell over upon the
deck ana leebly called,
ana tAen became UNCONSCIOUS The negro was
standing within ieT feet OF e parties III the tine,
when Miller san6 to thc deck after The last blows
ana ana, the blood commenced to ncw from the
deep gashes In his head, cilmsonlng tho |
boaris and stealing along ID a little rivuer,
70 me very feet Of the murderer. Howard seems !
NIFTY Of his act. Gazing ior moment upon tie /
distorted face OF his victim he dropped his weapon
W nSGh ,hs ,a n aee AZ" mo attempted to p from the boat
however, and iell into the wafer bat finally strue.
Slea TO the bank and from thence lIed 10 the Gelds
!, -, - taici W UOWiatli He
nria n boluo one appIoaching ana hating the per-
son discovered That II was the nero who |
IN answer to HE inquiries, stated inat he |!
uareu hol stay on the boat, fearing that |
ne would be charged with the crilpe. Howard led |
him To believe that this would be the case, ana con.
vlnce1 nun that the better course would be fcr boIn
OF them % stay teyeLher and deny al knowledge OF
the crime. After wandering for q whlle IN the |
WOODS IN me surrounding county they ventured
into OnnberiSnd, but upon hearing that they were |
suspected. left and went into the adjoining county
A pursnit was organized ana both were captured !
near Ciear Spring anu taken to tie Washington |
county Jan. subsequently they We're removed TO /
the JAN at Cumberland, and were both indicted |
ana their tfiai set Tor The October term Of !
the court Upon the promise that a /
7SollerTos. would be entered In his case Jonpson |
turned Uncd States evidence. Persons In the |
ns!gnooInooI ol t'ie scene 0 thc murder discovered