The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-03-26
MURDER IN LYCOMlN6 COUNTY.

Early last Saturday morning, Audrew
Miller, supposed to be between fitty-iye aud
sixty years Of sea, and living with hi. wife
on the Pine creek road. about half mile
west Of Jersey Shore was found ,usl ended
by the neck in the arn. \, first it was
thought that he had committed suicide but
a closer examination of the body revealed
the startling aud appalling fact that be had
evidently been murdered and placed in tha,
position to dissrm suspicion. The back OF
hi. head was found to have been crushed in
by some heavy instrument, and there was a
deep cut under his jaw s. ifinhic:ed with a
knife. There were other injuries about the
body which showed very clearly that he
had been toully dealt with.
Mrs. Miller wife of the murdered man,
and man named George Smith were ar
rested on suspicion of being the guilty par
ties, and are now in the Jail a. Williamsport
The wife, who i. said to be young woman
between p and 80 years OF age, i alleged
to have been intimate with Smith, hence
the supposi,ion that the two entered into a
conspiracy to put the "oli man out Of the
way"
At the corouer's irquest, Mrs Miller and
her daughter both sNore that Smith was moi
at their house on Friday night that Miller
went to bed 3; niue o'clock and they did moi
miss him until the next morning, and then
on searching found him hanging in the
barn.
Since then the daughter has made S
confession in which she says they me; Smith
the night before on their way home from
neighbors. He was talking all the way tC
Der mother, but in such a low tone of voice
that she could not hear what was said. Saith
lef: them in the orchard.
When they reached the house her fa,hei
was sitting in the chair. Herself and moth
er then took off their shoes, warmed ,heil
feet and went to bed. soon afterwards bel
father went out and locked the .han,y door.
when he csme up stairs, pulled of his pant,
and stockings and went .L bed, remarkiug
that he believed it would snow. Tnese were
the last words she heard him speak. a. she
soon afterwards went TO sleep, and oil not
hear anything until Smith cane up the
stsirs sometime during the night aud "a i
Miller is hanging 10 the barn Upon iu.
quiry being made a tn who pu: him lhere,re
piled. /; was done sui Immediately wen
down stairs. She also says ,ha: Sn!,h va,
there Thursday morning, bu: does not know
how long he remained. a she was playing
in the ki'cuen when he was there.
lae mother was yi,itsd a, the Jail by re-
porter, and on being told that her child had
confessed, she said she would tel. the Who'll,
story.
The substance OF her confession is !ha
Smith told her tina: night. when they werJ
their way home from Holmer'>, tina; he
was going to pu, Miller out OF the way. aud
she told him he had better po:. He lher
left her and proceeded scro.s the field. IT,
warts the villsS4. About one O'Clock in
the morning he entered her room, awakened
her. ani said Miller was hanging in th,
barn.
She had not missed her husband; arose
land lighted the lsnp, and asked him VII,
had done it, wnersupon Smith said he has
put him out Of the way The little gin.
saw Smith there, sud heard hlm ,a.Ging o
the crime, sud he cautioned them 70 $!
nothing aoou: it. Sae stated that Sm.t,
STAYED there until abou. four o'clock, whel
she wea, iovl stairs with him and he wen
swSy. Then she went back 10 bed and il
the morning cent the little girl. 10 look 70
their murdered father. Sae denied s..
knowledge Of how the deed was done, bl
confessed tha, Smith had frequently told he
he Vas going TO 30 it, and furnished the poi
son las, winter for her 10 give him. Sn
tod him ,ho would rather take i, herself
and after couple OF day. destroyed it, \
the conclusion Of her story. she said: We'll
my heart fees lighter now