The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1885-11-05
He Makes Long and MOurnful State.
Ment, and Dies Slow Death by
StrangulatiOn.


3O-George Miller, the murderer of Mrs. G.
Y. Smell and son, was hanged at l:35 p. III.
to-day. Yesterday afternoon he received
the sacrament and refused to receive Wis
itors He went to bed at IL o'clock and
slept till 3, when he was awakened by the
wind, but went to sleep again. Friday
dawned cheerless and cloudy The winds
howled mournfully about the Jail as the con-
demned awoke from his last sleep on earth,
which was at 7:30 His last breakfast, con-
ssting of beefsteak, potatoes, toast and
coffee, he ate of heartily. After breakfast
he had conversation with reporter,
and said that he had passed a 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 a light dinner. He did not
wish to see spiritual advisers until on the
scaffold. He said to the reporter that he had
received the kindest 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
scatfold was built At :23 Miller, attended
by Sheriff jerks, ReverendS Doran, Davis,
Smell and Gu rie, entered the room. He
walked firmly and alone up the steps and
standing behind him The sheriff told him
if 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 Miler's statement was the same
as he has previously made-that Rutherford
did the deed while he was harnessing the
horses for escape. He went into the house
and saw the woman and child were dead;
got the money, took 81 15 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 I have told you
is true; and as dear as that family was to me
never could have consented to murder them. !
was used there as then son: / was always
treated we'll They thought the world of me.
and of them, but by another mans deeds am
to be hanged. am going to my grave. and am
thankful can trust in God and feel my sins
have been pardoned. feel that the other party
shall receive the same punishment that / have
1t 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 go 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-
tentlary am better satisfied to 60 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, want You all to remenl-
ber 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 q
handkerchief and wiped his eyes, but shed
no tears HIS seemed choked with emotion
at times, and toward the close his voice
almost failed. Rutherford never took his
eyes off Millers face, but the color came and
went, and his facial muscles twitched nerv-
ously He asked to make statement but
was refused by the district attorney
THE EXECUTION
Sheriff jerks then pinioned Miller's hands,
knees and ankles, ana drew black cap over
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 "this 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,
md for few seconds remained motio4z
less, then drew up his feet, stretched his
legs quickly, shrugged his shoulders few
times, and drew up his feet at intervals for
the first eight minutes The part of his face
that was seen under the black cap grew
q CHASTITY brown, and he swayed to and
fro for twenty three and one-half minutes
when he was pronounced dead by the phys
ician and delivered into the hands of Cor
ohsr RopnseyelL Nothing occurred 70 mar
the work of the execution, and IL al pro.
nounced by many to be the neatest 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
o long way to counteract 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 scaffold
"a circumstances develop in the case there
is reason to belle9s that rutherford knew
more than he has told; but Unless he ohIdses
to tell, it will forever remain n 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. 1t was
committed on Jan %. 1885, and was one
of the Most horrihle known outside of the
brutal Indian massacres Ia the Northwest
The family of Rev. c. Y. Smell lived near
Inkster, Grand Forks county, about thirty
five miles northwest Of Grand Forks Mr.
Smell was away from home, holding revival
meetings Three children were attending
school at Grand Forks. and the farm was left
in charge of George Miller. Mrs Smell and
Y son ten years old remained at home On
the night Of the Gath Miller entered the lad
chamber of Mrs Smell ana with the back Of
life was extinct, leaving the bodies upon the
bed in horribly mangled condition. The
crime was discovered on Friday, the 3Oth,
by neighbors, who believed something was
erong and broke into the house, finding
ss ss' s1s: sHa:' ssa ssiea left ths ssss gs5s ere
criminal had fed-had not been seen since
the night of the Oath, and his flight was
traced from the scene of the murder to
Grand Forks, where he arrived Sunday
and purchased some clothing. He
was next heard of at Anoka. Mimi where
HE WAS CAPTURED
BY T. J. Hartley 6f 1srainerd ON Feb. 4.
While being brought to Grand Forks lie
made confession to Sheriff jerks, saving
that he alone did the murder in drunken
rage, and when becoming sober the horror
Of the crime drove him frantic. He took the |
money in the house and made his escape
He several times told the same story On
Sept. court convened in Grand Forks, and
Miller was indicted. About this time he
made another confession duplicating Henry
tho killing. aud that shs Object Was the 5000 /
which was supposed to be in Mrx Sneips !
possession. When Miller was arra,gned he /
pleaded guilty, and his attorney objected to
further proceedings, as the law under which /
ne court acted was ex post facto as regarded
were overruled and evidence taken which
proved that the murder was one of the most
horrible in the annsls of crime. Judge Nc.
connell, on Sept IA sentenced Miller 60 be
hanged on FRIDAY, Dot 40 Ths case wa6
appealed and the Judgment affirmed BY ti1S
lupreme court Of Dakota. A special term Of
,ourt was held on Oct "a and Miller in
Ormed Of the action Of the supreme court
For the first time In court he implicated
but was informed that ns there
Fas no corroborating EVIDENCE hts statement
would not affect his alleged accompiicc. and
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