New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-11-04
PORTRAIT OF MILLER.

itors He went to led at IL o'clock and
slept till 8. when he was awakened by the
wind, but went to sleep again Friday
dawned cherries and cloudy. The winds
howled mournfully about the jail as the con-
demned awoke from his last sleep on earth,
which was at 1880 His last breakfast, con-
sisting of beefsteak, potatoes. toast and
coffee, he ate of heartily. After breakfast
he had conversation with reporter.
and said that he had passed good
night, with pleasant dreams Rutherford
visited him, and Miller accused him of taking
part in the crime. which Rutherford denied
He smoked almost necessarily during the
forenoon, and ate light dinner. He did not
wish to see spiritual advisers until on the
scaftold He said to the reporter that he had
received the klndest treatment at the hands
of the sheriff and attendants, and that he
deserved the fate awaiting him At O'Clock
quite number of those invited were assem-
bled in the cage room of the Jail where the
scaffold was built At 1:23 Miller, attended
by Sheriff jerks. Reverends Doran, Davis,
walked firmly aud alone up the steps and
took his place on the scaffold, Sheriff jerks
standing behind him The sheriff told him
II he had anything to say now was the time.
his DYING STATEMENT
Miller began in mournful almost whining
voice to tell of the murder Rutherford
stood within few feet looking him directly
in the eyes Mll1er's statement was the same
as he has previously made-that Rutherford
did The deed while he was Harvesting the
horses for escape. he went into the house
and saw the woman and child were dead:
got the money, took Sis and gave Ruther-
ford 800, and was told by Rutherford to go
to South America He said he was to be ex-
ecuted for murder which he did not COM
NIT, and continued:
Now. gentlemen. everything have told you
is true: and as dear as that family was to me I
never could have consented to murder them I
gSe eel as SON ~
and Of them, but by another mans deeds am
to be hanged. I am going to my grave, and am
thankful can trust in God and feel my sins
have been pardoned I feel that the other party
shall receive the same punishment that I have.
It Is not because am down on him, and not for
malice, but it is just what should be done. As
dear as that family was to me- could not 20 in
and murder them: but thank heaven am will
ing to die. This world would be no pleasure to
me after this, and don't want to go to the peni-
Tertiary: am better satisfied to go to my grave
! am fully satisfied and feel that what has been
done is just. As that family always used me like
son, alWayf good, always dear in every shape
thing. Now, gentlemen. I want you all to remem-
Der that this is the whole truth and nothing else
will not meet you any more in this world face to
face. but hope we can all meet in the world to
come.
During the recital, which lasted about ten
minutes. Miller swayed to and fro, the rope
dangling at his right side. Twice he took a
handkerchief and wiped his eyes, but shed
no tears He seemed choked with emotion
at times, and toward the close his voice
eyes off Miller's face, but the color came and
went, and his facial muscles twitched nerv-
ously. He asked to make a statement, but
was refused By the district attorney.
THE EXECUTION.
Sheriff jerks then pinioned Miller's hands,
his head, during which time Miller thanked
the sheriff for his kind treatment The
sheriff placed the moose around his neck
and as he adjusted the knot under the left
ear Miller said sthis is awful" in low voice
Sheriff jerks quickly stepped from the plat
lever. the trap dropped, and George Miller
was hanged. He dropped about six feet,
and for few seconds renamed motion
less, then drew up his feet. stretched his
legs quickly, shrugged his shoulders few
times, and drew up his feet at intervals for
that was seen under the black cap grew
! q CHASTITY brown. and he swayed to and
fro for twenty three and one-haf minutes,
when he was pronounced dead by the phys
lcian and delivered into the hands of Cor
oner Rounseven- Nothing occurred TO mar
nounced by many to be the neatesi Of the
kind ever seen. Sheriff jerks is given much
credit for the manner in which he performed
his part The punishment of Miller will go
long way to counterfeit the effect of mob
law in the future Miller's statement is be-
ieved By two-thirds of the people here and
nearly all who heard it from the scafToid
As circumstances develop in the case there
is reason to believe that Rutherford knew
more than he has told; but unless he chooses
/ to tell, it will forever remain a secret
| The Crime and the Criminal.
] The readers OF this paper are
already familiar with the particulars of the
crime for which Miller was hanged It was
/. committed on Jan. %. 1855. and was one
| of the most horrible known outside of the
/ brutal Indian massacres in the Northwest.
/ The family of Rev C. Y. Smell lived near
/ inksrer. Grand Forks county. about thirty
/ FIVE miles northwest of Grand Forks Mr.
i Smell was away from home. holding revival
meetings. Three children were attending
/ school at Grand Forks. and the farm was left
1 in charge of George Miller Mrs Smell and
son ten years old remained at home On
the night of the oath Miller entered the bed
chamber of Mrs Smell ana with the back O!
an axe dealt them several fierce bows until
life was extinct leaving the bodies upon the
bed in horribly mangied condition The
crime was discovered on Friday. the 3Oth
wrong and broke into the house, finding
the bodies frozen in their gore
~ s. Miller had left them The
criminal had ed-had not been seen sine,
the night of the 9th, and his fight wa
traced from the scene of the murder K
Grand Forks. where he arrived Sunday
morning and purchased some clothing 81,
| was next heard of at Anoka. MINI, where
he WAS CAPTURED
by TT Hartley OF grainerd on Feb
While being brought to Grand Forks b,
made a confession to Sheriff jerks. sayin.
thar he alone did the murder in drunken
rage. and when becoming sober the horro
of the crime drove him frantic He took th
money in the house and made his escape
He several times told the same story o.
Sept court convened in Grand Forks, ant
Miller was indicted About this time b
made another confession implic ring Henri,
rutherford and alleged chat Rutherford dis
the killing. and that the object was the 500