Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-08-26
"saoH BOX MILLHR


1 PrrrsBunsH. Aug. s5-The Dbpsscl
deyotes twenty columns TO . story In vindi
cation Of James ". Miller, more widely
known - .Shoe Box Miller"
Miller. accompanied BY . Dispstch fe.
porter and d elective John AeTshs Of shs
Pit sbuFgh force, has been gathering thu
/ proofs from four staxss Of his Innocence Of
the robbery for Which, ten years ago, he
vas sentenced and Afterwards served seven
years in the Western peniientisRy.
The Dispasch's account says Miller 10 the
American "Jean Valjesn," though unlike
Victor Huso's famous character. be 10 not
guilty, yet there ID . wonderful similarity
in their lives. II says that though innocent
Of the crime which ostrscised him from
society he bore without murmur the burden
thrus. upon him that be might save from
lhame one Of the most iliusnious names Of
America. His case, - be makes it out. 10
. remarkable commentary upon the dan gers
Of circumstantial evidence.
The real perpetrators Of the robbery for
which he was sentenced, Miller clsims Was
Archie Hamilton, alias Archie Montage,
George Foster, Yank Sullivan alias Adams,
and fourth person, whose name is believed
to be Kresinser. With reference to his
experience and its effect upon him, Miller
Gays:
"Of the terrible torture, shame and dis
grace Of that imprisonment 1t is needless to
speAk. One thought alone WAS uppefmost
in my mind du,ing all those bitter years,
and that vas if God spared my life, on my
release l would devote the rect Of it, il
necessary, to gathering fscts which would
enable me to establish my innocence.
OF course the public will see in the light
Of recent events and Miller's relations with
Miss Mosby, the daughter Of Gen. Mosby,
that womAn's love and . womAn's faith
found the incentive which led this man on
in bis long. continued efforts to prove his
innocence. The story 10 covered by sffi-
daviis that overlap and dovetail into each
other in . remarkable manner
These proofs are made up Of the sworn
deposition Of nearly all The actors io the
sffsir. They are from the people from all
walks and classes Of life, including men
who stood ia the halls Of congress, promi-
nent police officials and others whose names
are well known, both in the business world
and At the bar. Every one Of them seemed
to know Miller, and yet around him c'us-
tered = dozen Of mythical persoDs, who.
when traced down, all proved totally differ
ent persons.
In speaking Of his imprisonment in the
Western penitentiary on the banks Of the
Ohio, he said; II spent months chatting in
the narrow limits of one Of these dungeons,
and had ample time for contemplation and
reflection.
1.-THE big fl, ,od of 1884 found me con-
fined. ard as the water rose higher, fl ,od-
ing the whole lower portion of the prison,
heard the waves lap against the floor
unde roesth my feet.
when asked the keeper what they
would do In case it still continued to rise
and invaded the dungeon, he told me with
sneer that he would quietly lock the door
and lesye me there. To be confinsd in a
space six six feet long, four feet wide and
eight feet high, with knowledge that the
door was locked ard barred, and that you
might be drowned like rat would preven.
you enjoying sleep during the period when
that great food went sxirling the Ohio
valley.
"After Miller vas released he obtained
work in Pittsburgh lumber yard at % q
wet k. Sc Of which he spent for b board. and
81 SO 3 week for the use of typewriter.
which he manipulated at night with hope
that he would be able to increase his in C )me
He spent hfty Gently u week fox car fare
and fifty cents for laundry. He adds
II will never forget with what sickness
Of heart used to gsze at the 40 cents that
was left each week after the bills were all
psi / and think Of the years gone by when
tpelt that many dollars in day."
In this connection he observes: 1.-The
general public are not always aware how
hard it is for man to climb . steep hill
leading from the prison gates to the plateau
of respectabiliiy
An important link in the chain Of evil
del cs going to prove Millei's innocence sre
by two Of the leaders in the
robbery for which he served, one by Mon
tsgue aud one BY Harop.