, 1891-02-28

MILLER.

10 the last issue of the Rock Springs
Miag We find the following editorial para
graph which Is Of considerable local in
tercst:
Charles Miller. the boy murderer, will
he hanged IN CHEYENNE one month from
Feb. 20, 1891. unless the supreme court
or executive clemency interposes to save
bis neck. The history Of this boy from
his infancy up to the time when he com
mIttsd the double murder on the train
and his conduct since his incarceration
can be used as strong arguments for ex
ecu'ive clemenry. A wali on the world,
ignorant Of the difference between night
and wrong. and wholly obliviOus OF his
present solemn POSITION, he Il mUratty and
physically irresponsible. and to hang him
under these circumstances. would not be
bumane. He Is entitled TO mercy. and It
Is to be hoped the same will be granted.
There can be no doubt that the forego-
ing pretty nearly represents what at one
time was the condition OF public seutl-
ment in Cheyenne Such disconnected
portions OF his early history as reached
the public ear previous to the trial very
naturally predisposed sentiment in his
favor. As a child he had before him the
example OF a drunken father, who finally
closed his career by taking a dose Of Paris
green while suffering from an attack OF
delirium tremens. Placed at a tender
age in an orphan asylum and subsequent
ly bound out to what were represented to
be unbearably hard masters he appeared
in the eyes of the p1blic to be one Of
those unfortunate little wret:hes for
whose wrongdoing society itself and cir
cumstances we're much more to blame
than any inherent predisposition toward
evil IN the youth himself.
1t is but Just to say. however, that the
testimony elected at the trial served to
modify, if not totally obliterate whatever
feeling Of sympathy bad been originally
aroused. At no time, either before or
during the trial or since, has Miller mani
tested the slightest degree Of sorrow for
the great crime which he committed. OF
the suffering which he caused the two
young men whom he wautonlY murdered,
Of the agony inflicted upon their parents,
he is as totally Indifferent a. a little
savage. He has no conception OF moral
responsibility and so far as can be Judged
by thoe who have most closely watched
him his conscience has never vet pricked
him for his crime.
At the close Of the trial Mr.. and Mrs.
Emerson, father and mother OF one ofthe
murdered boys. sought an interview with
Miller to satisfy themselves On some
point with relation to the murder. The
interview took place IN the sheriff ofice.
When he was confronted by this man
and woman who were bereaved bv his
deliberate act Miller was Just as muib at
ease as though he were quietly chatting
to his cell mate. There was never a
tremor in hrs voice when in answer TO
a question be detailed some atrocious
feature of the murder. He spoke with
the Indifference OF some third person de-
falling a trivial event of everyday
occurrence. The startled air OF Mrs.
Emerson aud the growing signs of
adherence 10 her counlenance were en-
tirely lost on him IN his glib but horrible
recital and when the interview was ended
he held out his hand, stained with the
blood of their offspring and the same
hand which a few months before had
added robbery to the crime of murder, to
the bcreaved father aud mother, coolly and
indiFerently as though to casual ac-
quaintances.
What to do with Miller is a question
now being considered by the governor.
who is a-ked to respite him for a year.
Il is no doubt right, as ex Sheriff Martin
suggested in a conversation yesterday,
that he should be given every opportuni-
ty for stay of sentence which the law al.
lows him. If his attorney has'u ut sufficient
tune to avail himself of these opportuni-
ties, then 1t might be proper to grant a
respite OF reasonable length to permit the
attorney to take advantage of the friend
ly features Of the law but when all is done
it must not be forgotten that Justice, in
the light Of all surrounding circumstances,
demands that a punishment commensu-
rate with the crime be meted out.