Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1872-06-06

was Killed by an assassin. The deed wa
perpetrated in Miller's own house at
place called Greenfield, not far from De
trolt. BY the testimony of the murdered
mans wife the facts were as follows: Mrs
Miller heard cat bowling in the dining
room little after midnight; she ros,
from her husbands side and went to le
the cat out of the front door. When sh.
opened the door for that purpose maj
rushed past her from without, and on int
the chamber. She heard quick seuffie
a cry and a heavy fall, and then the in
truder disappeared, she knew not whittier
Mrs. Miller found her husband on the
floor,
wELTERING IN HIS BLOOD.
He was stabbed through the heart, and
he never spoke afterward, The alarm
was given, and every effort was subse.
quently made to trace the murderer. He
was not found, however, despite the most
vigliant search and protracted enquiry,
and after a time the case was set down as
one of those destined to battle human de.
lection. The affair was a nine days'
wonder, much talked OF by the press and
in society but not the faintest clue was
ever hit upon. and finally the subject ap.
peared to die out and be forgotten.
Two or three weeks ago. however.
events fell out that excited the suspicion
of tine sheriff of the County as to the iden-
tity OF the murderer. Fresh study of the
case revealed corroborative evidence of
the truth of this suspicion, and at last the
sheriff has been able to lay his hand on
| the shoulders of the secret midnight hom-
icide, and to say
THOU ART THE NAN
The case is one of the most singular in
the annals of crime, and its history power
fully exemplifes the fact that the most
Ingenious and cold blooded devices of
which men are.capable do not always suf-
fee to Shield them from the Consequences
of wickedness.
1t now transpires that the assassin of
Miller has never left the scene of the mur-
der; that he is well known to the neigh
borhood, including Miller's family, and
that he has continued on intimate rela-
tons with that family ever since the fatal
night of the stabbing, His name is VIM.
Smith, and, strange to say, he Is 1920.
DC Iloil EE@1N Of A1f
The cunning and deliberaticn with
which he prepared to commit his bloody
deed, ard which he sought to cover his
tracks subsequently. are almost incredible.
lie had for some time been working with
a ncighbor of Miller named Maple. He
slept in Naples house, sharing a bed
with his employers son. Some days be.
fore the murder Smith bought in Detroit
a small quantity of chloroform. This was
to narcotize young Maple with before
Smith should set out on bis baleful er-
rand-part of the scheme that was
SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT.
After dark, but before going to bed,
Smith placed a ladder against an adjoin-
ing roof in such way that he could pass
from the window of his room to the lad ier
and so make his way to the ground. The
house being locked up and others sleep
ing in it who might be disturbed a
person going through the entries within,
the motive for this precaution becomes
obvious. On the night of the .assassina-
tion Smith waited until young Maple was
fast asleep, and then dragged bin with the
chloroform. He then descended by the
ladder, and passed swiftly through the
fields, 4 - =
UNDER COVER OF A STAINLESS SKY,
until be reached the house of his intended
victim. Finding no ready way to get
into the house, Smith either initiated the
cry of the cat, or happened to be at the
front door by chance at the moment Mrs.
Miller opened the door.
He then rushed by her AMI stabbed Miller |
ms described-the whole scene passing In |
complete 'darkness-and made bis way |
home again. Here he went up the ladder,
lowered it gently with line, SO that 1t
lay by the side of the building as usual,
drew up his line, returned to his room
bye the window, shut it. and went comfor-
tably to bed. Never was a crime more
adroitly planned and coolly carried out
Nor was this all. The fatal act was
COMMITTED WITH DAGGER,
md the young homicide feared to hide It,
ireading a discovery. He therefore
Dribed certain itinerant peddler to tax G
he weapon. to let it be seen by several
persons. and then to sell it to him (Smlthl
.ome days after. Even this bold and
hazardous scheme was put into effect the
,eddler went his way from that part OF the
,ountrv, and had Smith remained quiet
It this point he might have been safe to
his day.
But the singular temptation came up
m HMM fact, induced by previous
no doubt-to go to place
allied Dearborn and
THROW THE TRAIN OF CARS OFF THE
TRACK.
In this attempt, when on the,very point
f success, he was providentlaiiy caught
nd his capture suggested to the sheriff,
he train of research that led to the identl-
cation of Smith as Miller's assassin. When
sked what his motives were IN seeking
he destruction, of hundreds VINO mao
ever harmed him, the young scoundrei
almly made answer that he ONLY wantsd
. see the cars plunge in 70 the river
he cool diabolism of this reply led the
her,Hr by a natural, association OF ideas,
. nonder over the motiveless cruelty OF
he killing of Miller, and thus led to
he final result.
It appears that Smith has ''infiuentia;
-;a,ds and that he was released on paii
e. 900 for his attempt on the pas
snoar train but on the very same nignt,
r;Sentlv resolved to console himself tor
ii, unreasonable interruption oi ms
leasures, he went on 10 neie"oo"s {
,wn called Ecorse, and
p1.AYrULLy sErA BARN ON FIRE. /,
- .r1 th;s time | .