The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-11-18
mLER,s MSERH.


~ N>@+ENN = - 49,
Last night about haltpast Eve o'clock the
telephone In the police central ONCE rang
sharply and word came from Superintendent
MalOnsy, Of the City WorkhOuse, that Steele
Miller, an old offender, had committed sui
eide by hanging himself Those present i'm
medlately started for the house on the hill,
and the report spread rapidly through the
streets and furnished choice mosel ior the
corner lopngeFs TO discuss.
At the Workhouse the following facts were
ascertained: Steele was sent up on the 18th
day OF October for the same old ottepse-
drunkenness IN Otfense that he has been ar
rested for, no one can say how many times;
he has been known In the police courts al
most continually since the war. At the time
he was sent up the Judge ordered release
written out, which should become good so
soon Us he should procure job. On his ar
rival Of the prison he was detailed 70 clean
the City Building every morning, which work
he performed well.
Yesterday morning he performed his work
as usual, and started To 90 back TO the prison,
He must have begged some money from
some one aud with It purchased liquor, for
when he arrived at the w0rkhouse he was
drunk, He ate his dinner, and was then
ordered by 0yerseer Radford into the quarry
to work OF the liquor, but Miller fatty re.
fused, aud swore and cursed in loud man
ner, in fact became so obstreperous that Rad
ford locked him up in the dark cell This was
about o'clock. About supt Maloney
went to the cell TO give Miller his supper, He
unlocked the wicket and attempted TO open
1t, but found that something was hanging to
It Procuring light he was Mortified to see
that Miller had hung himself with his silk
necktie, having loosely tied It around his
neck and then to the hasp Of the door then
letting his feet slide out In front OF him he
strangled himself when he might have easily
stood on his feet. The body was cut down
and laid out on the main floor, where 1t was
gazed at by the prisoners rs they came In
from the quarries, and then they gathered OF
the far end OF tine room to discuss the de-
Ceased's life.
Squire Arkle was notified and at $ o'clock
coroners jury was formed, beingromposed
Of the following; David Greer, Charles Klein
John Bristol, g, W, RiPey, n. Q. Hamilton,
ford, Geo, A. Hervey, viii Nelson, Al
Shones and Charles y, Hamilton, the latter
being foreman. Superintendent Maloney,
0verseer Radford and several other inmates
OF the building were examined. II was
brought out that for several years Steele has
threatened to kill himself, often In his
drunken moments trying to procure knife
or revolver, The verdict was suicide by hang
ing.
Miller was man about 80 years old, and
was born in East Wheeling, his father being
George Miller, former well.known cooper,
Steele was the youngest Of . family Of ten,
only two OF whom are now living, Michael
Steele, q BROTHER Is now living In East
Wheeling and is coal miner. Mrs
Sarah Hicks, o sister, lives on Alley @
only few steps from the Work
house. Steele enlisted at the outbreaking
OF the war in the First West Virginia
Cavalry, being in Captain Roane's company
He served three years and reenlisted In the
volunteer corps and was honorably discharged
at Washington. Coming home he fell into
tliSsolute habits at times braCing up, working
industriously at his trade (blacksmithing
and then going back 10 drink, That was biz
only fault; lie was a generOuS.hearted quiet
person, and always ready TO share his las
cent or mouthful. Mrs. Hicks informed .
reporter last night that he often told her he
would kill himself II 1t was not for her, and
that often when drunk he has tried 10 carry
his threat out She Is very respectable lady
and wasvery much grieyed over her brotheri
sad ending, ..
Superintendent Maloney was badly cut W
over the affair, but no blame whatever can b
attached TO him.