Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-02-03
THIRD EDITION.
THURSDAY EVENING, FEB. 8, 1881
THE DEATH PEN NALTY.
DOUBLE HANGING IN WILLIAMSPORT.
The Illicit Eove of 4 Man and Woman in
LycominG County That Led to
the Murder of the Lat
ter'sl husband.
The History OF Il Terrible Crime.

The History OF Il Terrible Crime.
WILLIAMsPORT, Pa, Feb. 3.-GeOrge
Smith and Catherine Miller were executed
this morning at half-past eleven o'clock.
They died without struggle.
These people were hanged for the mur-
der of Mrs. Millcr's husband, who stood
in the way of their Illicit love for each
other. Before the execution both made
confessions, each trying to put the princi-
pal part Of the responsibility on the other
To Mr. Seely, editor of the Jersey Shore
Ntuld, Smith made the following state
mcnt:
Smiths Confession.
became acquainted with Mrs. Miller
while l worked at David Clark's above
town, about ten years ago: have only
been intimate with her during the past
two years; first became intimate with
her when they moved iIto Magg's house
below town she ran after me wherever
! would be 1T work; she made the
first proposition to put Miller out of
the road g; this was when they lived at
Browns place st Safe IIarbor; she either
wanted me to takca gun and 80 up along
the narrows and shoot him, or take 4 club
and knock him over the narTOws did
not see her after that time until she moved
to Capt. Browns place then she asked
.ue il would not put him out OF the road.
| told her | would not do it, Then she
kept running after me and begged for
me to do it she told nc if would not do
it that ] should get her some poison l
told her woul,! do that, so cot some ar
seric for her at Joseph Dingler's livery
stable, where l was driving teams 1T that
time :; | took ;l!c poison out and gave it to
her and she sail lit would be all right
now - this was about one month
before Christmas l then went to 10y
alsOck and did not see her till the
last OF February on my return l first
met her at the Lutheran church and walk
ell part Of the way home with her she
then wanted inc to put him out of the road.
| told her would not t!,, it three differ
ent times she asked me to put him
Out of the road she said no one would
find it out tEcn she told me that Mrs.
had q little gun that she would lend to her
and sic would set in the barn and should
go there and make noise and she would
listen and send Miller out then | should
shoot him this WAS two days before the
thing happened. Ias!;cd her if she knew
What would become OF us If Wo would do
it she said il would never be found out,
because her and Mrs. - talked about it.
went out there on Thursday afternoon
and she commenced talking about it again;
| told her she haa better stop talking about
it; she said there was q rope on the end of
the clothes iiuc that would do to hang him
with. We met ut :iomler's Oh Thursday
evening, she went there first | came an
hour after i.cr; she stayed until half-past
D O'clock; when she went out thought
she had gene i.or,e when went out she
was sitting alongside tic fence, waitin.
for me she took hold of ne and asked me
to go alon. Up; did rnt want to 60; she
said. yes yen must 60: we talked on the
way up about putting him out of the road
she SAID Il want it done this night, and
will tell you how you can do it-take a
club, and make a noise at the barn and
will listen and when hear You will call
li.n.' I made a noise III the barn and she
:amc tothc window and she told me in !,
ow voice to go and she would go back and
send him out; he came out OF
he front door and walked around the
house by the well, and walked along
he fence - the barn; when he
,amc to the barn strucl, him with the
,lub | did not knock him down, he turn |
ii around and ran toward the house fol
owed him and whenncar the house struck |
lin agait. !; he fell and picked him up and
'aGGicd him to the barn; | did this alone q;
struck him once after laid him down in |
he barn: ! then went to the house and she |
of T
y the barn and hung him up; done this |
.yscli; ;!:cn went back to the house: she |
yet al apron and gave it to me and told me |
" go down i'll the barn and wipe the blood
If tie tloor and then throw the apron un- !
ler the barn; ] did this and went back to
lie house: she said ''you need not run o fl |
OF it will never DC found out -: / stayed
here until three clock i'll the mornin.
va, worried so did not know what to
10 ii.cn went down to Magg's, arrived
here aho1!; for O'Clock; was there until
rrestcd. John Brown had nothing to do
With it, | did it all myself. Mrs. Miller
nee spoke OF throwing hiia down the
veil she did not aid in killing him, but
he urged me OH and planned the thing.
John Brown talked about Andy Miller
ii the Thompson street swinging bridge
/: Jersey Shore. the fall before the killing
f him lie said, they are going to put
Andrew Miller out of the road-did you
&C .llc other party"' I said wanted to
:" to the postoG;co; stopped and asked
lin what party it was he said "you will |
ind out soon enough what party" l
hen walked away from him; this was all !
ever talked with hir, about it this IS all |
rue. | hung him mp myself; lie was not |
Iuitc dead and stood On his feet placed |
ny left arm around his body ard threw
he rope over the beam; lifted him up
With ,.!y left ann and pulled the rope over
he beam with my right hand.
Mrs. IL:lIcr's Statement.
The m:Ir!ercss, whose last request
vas to be buried aside the husband she
.ad helped to kill told the following story
# the crime
"On Saturday, prior to the murder OF
ny husband, was joined by George after
cavinS church. lie spoke to me about
putting Miller ont OF the way. Hc said
lc wanted me. / told him that he
lad better go away. Ia said No.
hat he had a spite against Miller
md I.c would have it out Of him. I begged
lin not to do il. This was his first
hrcat. After We moved to Browns house
nc commenced to talk to nc again about
him. Mr.. Miller cut his foot
n the woods ard George brought me
poison to poison him with. When he gave
t to me said. No. George: before l do
hat will take it myself George said.
No, Kate, | don't want you 30 take it,
told him I would destroy il. put it in
he cooking stove. After Miiicr's foot got
)n the day my husband was killed
George came to our house in the
and staid until :our o'clock. In
he evening | went to see Mr.. HOm!er's
sick son : was there about half an hour
IL