Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-02-07
sickentng fold scenes,


for shs murder of Apdrew Miller, the husband
of the latter, on the 18th Of March last. Smith
first dubbed him to death and then hanged
him by the neck in barn. The sc,nes at the
gallIwJ are thus described in the New York
Herald of Friday:
"At ii O'Clock the prison doors wsre closed
to al persons on the outside, aud FIVE minutes
after ssrd the cuDrits were oo the way to the
ecafoid. Mrs. Miller tee .me extremely ner-
vous when informed that hcr hour had come,
and III .nifested a d, ded aversoo to submitting
to tho impending ordeal, Along the upper
corridor she moaned pitltully and fr, qdeotly
called on God to save her. Dowo The flight of
stairs and along the cold and drearY path to
the scsffold she excited great sy npsthy by ber
plaiutivs cries for msroy. She was dressed 10
l)Dg back gown, the sombre appearance of
wilton was relieved by white necklie and two
silk BOWS. A shawl was thrown over he shoul
ders, but ber head was uncovered. She WIS
supported by two mon, and at t;mss almost
sank 10 the grouod. AS she ascendsd the steps
to the high soaffold ard for moment gFzad Oh
she eDgiae OF death she Was almost paralyz d
With fear. Her b1dy took sudden bscka ard
movement and she uttered pierciog shrek.
Her sLteodants caught her with frner grasp
and bF considerable :e2s srtion landed ber on the
pa.toI N from which she was soon to be drop.
ped into eternity. Two chairs had baen placed
90 the scatfold, and 10 one of them she was
placed, while her sooomplice occupied the 9th.
er. Smith walked to the esli.ws With firm.
Mss, praying vigorously while on the way
The cold was inteuse. and the cu!prits ehivered
like ssDens. Owing to the friaid atmosphere
ths attending ministers concluded to have
very brlst service, but it WAS protIsst.d eucurh
ter the n.o who had gathered sround the scaf.
fold to witness the terrible spectacle. The mju-
listers read tho confessions of the culprits aoad
Whils thus engaged Mrs. Miller uttered frs-
qusnt agon zug cries, calling 90 God pi.eously
10 have m.tcy ca her soul. When the rope
wss placid about her neck her faoe presented
Rhsstiy spectacle aud she groausd loudly, She
ex1eriet I'D choking sensation aud complained
that the rope Was too, tight. /; was loosenrd,
but again drawn closer to prereat any aces dept,
This annoyed her much, and cultural s,ucds
emana,ed fram her throat, The climax Of her
misery seemed to have been rearhed when the
black bag was drawn over her facs. She shui.
dared end uttered d cry tbs. could be heard for
square. She was un.bls to rise from her
ehslt uussssed when tho time bad arrived for
her depar,u a0d her t@o attendants raised
had sprung the trap.
"cmi b met his fate much more heroicslV,
but tot sith any br.v.do, aud passed bis lime
on the scsfold 10 suppl!c,tion. The man had
shackss on his feet snd arms and the woman
Was ooucd with four straps-one about her
ankles, one abUut her dress, near the kuues, 70
keep her gowu IL plroP, snoh.r his h-r up and
tie fourth eocIroied hes hands. TIE drop soon
tell after the had assuued perpendicular DO
sition.
'Ths execution proper wss uDaccom panied
oy any hsrrCWlns scenes not single cOnvul 1--WE
movement Of the bodies being Visible both nsv.
Ing had their heCks brosen. Twenty minutes
after they fell the bodies were cut down and
placed IN caekets, exposed to the view of hun,
drets who crowded about ths i.i;.
"AndreW Miller, the victim IF the crlel crime
for which the guilty pair Thursday pad the
penalty, was killed by Smlsn, at Mrs. M llsr's
mitigation, on the night OF March l8, 1881, st
bis residence near the town of ersey cuors
Miller was si1ty.two ys.rs old His wife. to
whom he was married in 1868 WIGS st that tins
but seventeen. she WAS >verse to the mstch
from the first. but VAS urged to it by her father,
who expected Miller TO axe home for him
They had three dsus shters. but as their married
life passed on the woman grew to hate her hus-
band, to make no secret OF it and to encourage
the attention.. OF other lovers Her fresuent
threats 10 murder the old man lsd to the sus,
pcions of foul play, which soon gained credence
IN the nelghborhood. Millsr's death wss at frs.
thought to have been by his own hand, but i'll
dicauons of Q murderous struggle led to an in
vestigntion, and atlength the many evidences Of
their guilt became so explicit that both of the
culprlts made such confessions that no other
conclusion couli be reached than a verdict Of
wiful murder"