The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-06-23
A NEW LEASE OF LIFE
Granted George Mcmillan By Gov.
Foster.
R. s. Shields, Esq, Arrives With the
Official Document
lust Three Hours Before MoMiIIan's Time
Was Up.
How Mcmillan Received the Glad TIdIngs
Review of His Two Con-
6essIons.


Yesterday was the day fixed for the
execution Of George McMillen, under
sentence of death for the murder of his
wife. Sheriff Altekruse had everything
in readiness, and it was the topic of gen
eral talk.
1t was known that a respite had been
applied for, and the Sheriff anXiOusly
awaited the return of r. s. Shields EBq.,
from Columbus, who was one of the at
tOrneys of the condemned man. No tel
egram will do in such a case, as the doc
nment itself from the Governor must be
received by the Sheriff, to authorize that
officer to delay the death order of the
court.
Ats O'Clock in the morning Mr.. Shields
arrived, placing in the hands of Sheriff
Altekruse the following
RESPITE:
In the name and by the authority of the
State of Ohio, Charles Foster, Cover
nor of said state, to all whom these
presents shall come, greeting:
To THE SHERIFF OF STARK COUNTY,
GREETING:
WHEREAS, At the January term. 1888,
of the Court of Common Pleas of the
county of Stark, one George McMilleH
was convicted of the crime of murder IN
the first degree, and sentenced by said
court to the punishment of death, OIL
the 22d day Of June, 1888; and,
WHEREAS, For satisfactory reasons /
have determined that said sentence
ought not to be executed at the time
fixed by the court:
THEREFORE,, BY virtue of the author
ity vested in the Governor by the Con
stitutiOn and statutes Of the state, dc
hereby direct that the execution of the
sentence aforesaid be suspended until
the goth day Of July, 1888, on which day
between the hours of IL o'clock q. m.,
and o'clock p. m, you will proceed to
execute the sentence of the court, in
the manner prescribed by law, unless
otherwise ordered.
And of your reception and execution
OF this warrant you will make due re-
turn to the Executive Department with
! out delay.
In TESTIMONY WHEREOF, l have
hereuntO subscribed my name,
and caused the great seal of the
State of Ohio to be affixed, at Co
lumbus, the 21st day Of June, In
SEAL 1.-THE year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three,
and in the one hundred and sew
enth year of the independence OF
the United States of America.
CHARLES FOSTER.
BY the Governor:
JAMES w. NEWMAN, Secretary Of State
OF fcourse the news spread rapidly that
there was to be no hanging that day,
and it was communicated to the con
demned by his lawyer. Mcmillan re-
ceived the news in meditatiye manner
and quietly asked what hope the Cover
| nor held out. Mr.. Shields replied, he
grants you an unconditional respite OF
30 days. Mcmillan then expressed his
gratitude to Governor Foster and fer
Vently thanked Mr.. Shields for his un-
tiring efforts in his behalf. Sheriff
Altekruse willingly received the news
The detachment of Ohio National Guards
from Beach City were discharged until
July goth. Notwithstanding the fact
| that the respite was the topic of uni
versal comment, quite crowd of peO-
pie, principally strangers, gathered
about the Jail at eleven o'clock. They
dispersed upon learning of Governor
Fosters action.
The following statements did much to
secure McMillan's respite. 1t was grant
ed by the Governor in order to inVesti-
gate the case and see whether or not the
circumstances would warrant him in
committing the death sentence. Mean
while the gallOws and other parrapher-
MALTA will be left standing.
THE FIRST CONFESSION.
The first confession was made We'd
nesday, June 18th. 1t is startling
story, in which three murders, two of
them hitherto unknown, are involved.
His story of his wife's murder was to
the effect that Fan KILN, a dissOlute
woman who made his home her rendez-
vOus, entered his bedroom, and, after
shooting his wife, had fred a revolver at
him and fled. The woman KILN dis
appeared Immediately after the murder,
and has not been heard of since.
Ever since the murder 1t has been
known that Mcmillan had q story to tel.
and he frequently evinced a desire t.
make a clean breast of it. He was de
TERED from doing this by the advice OF
friends. As his time on earth became
less and less he finally concluded t.
tell all he knew.
Mcmillan was coal miner, and IL
January, 1882, was working in Oberlin,
coal bank six miles north of Canton. IL
| was his custom to remain at work al
week, and only come here SATURDAY.
evenings to spend Sunday with his fam
| lily. His story Is that he arrived home
one Saturday evening in January an
found his wife strangely affected. ii
questioned her as to the cause of her
agitation, but at first could elicit No
explanation. Pressing the point shn
finally said: 81 have something to IT,
you, but will you promise not to tell it,"
He agreed, and at her request crossed
his breast, and she then related hOTTi-
| BILE crime that was committed in their
house on the Friday night previous.
She said Fan KILN came to their house
that night accompanied by a man, and
asked to remain over night, for whicb
| she was to be paid. She consented, and
Fan told her that the mans name was
Murphy, and that he was a detective
| from Cleveland During the evening
Murphy wanted something to dTinz,
and went to the nearest saloon and
bought bottle of liquor. While he was
absent Fan told her that Murphy had
money, and that she was going to drug
him and get it. The wife objected, bus