The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-08
MILLER is CAUGHT.
The Crazy Desperate of Mercer
Slough in Jail.
STORY OF HIS ADVENTURES.
ne escaped by Night From the Asylum,
Hurt His Ankle and Tramped to
Bothell-The Capture.

william Miller. the crazy desperate Of Mercer
s"ush, VINO made his escape from the asylum
az steiiacoom two weeks ago, was captured
yesterday afternoon near Bothell by Deputy
eneriu Jack Mcdonald and is now in Jail. In
escaping from Steilacoom Miller painfully
Wrenched his right ankle and in this condition
ne walked the entire distance from the asylum
towAere he was captured, a distance of about
seventy miles. His ankle is badly swollen and
canses him much pain.
AT l:S0 O'Clock yesterday afternoon F. Smith,
telegraph operator at Bothell, sent dispatch to
snerin Woolery saying that Miller had been
seen In the woods near that town. Deputy Jack
Mcdonald learned that the next train for
Bothell left at o'clock and, fearing that his
man might escape If given so great a start, took
the Madison street cable line for Lake Washing
ton, crossed the lake in a small steamer and
then walked from Kirkland to Juanita. From
there he crossed Juanita bay in a rowboat and
then walked four miles 10 Bothell. Near Botheil
Mrs. John Blyth told him Miller was living with
Matt Barquest, a bachelor who had q cabin ON
the county road about three miles to che south.
west of Bothell. The deputy lost no time in
finding the cabin. When he neared the cabin
ne could see that it was occupied and, fearing
that the insane man might have terrified, Bar
quest into submission and was then keeping
close look out, he crawled on his hands and
knees through the grass and brush until he
reached the door; then he quietly pulled the
latch string and stepped inside
Miller was seated on one side OF a small table
and Bsrquest, looking very much frightened,
was seated on the opposite SIDE Miller recog-
nized the deputy, and as soon as he
could recover his self possession, made a grab
Tor an ugly-looking butcher-knife which was
on the table, The deputy had observed the
weapon as soon as he entered, however, and got
hold oft first At the same time he told Miller
to throw up his hands, which he did with
aacrity. second more and the insane mans
wrists were enclosed in handouts. Then for
the first time he spoke and said:
"Jack, this is hard luck
"Its pretty good luck for me, !" said the deputy;
I've been running my legs OF trying to lay my
hands on you"
Barquest was much relieved when Miller was
taken away. He said the man arrived at his
place Monday morning and, without even the
Formally OF an introduction, proceeded to make
himself at home.
The deputy arrived at Bothell with his
prisoner at o'clock and at 1880 o'clock took the
train for Seattle, arriving here at s:l5
Miller was seen at the county Jail last evening
by PosT-INTELLIGENcER reporter and talked
freely. He remembers wildly all that took
place since he left Steilacoom; but it Is evident
that his mental vision is distorted. He said:
got away at night left my clothes in the
hallway aud when it was dark / tore up my
blankets, made rope and lowered myself from
the third story. When l was about eighteen
broke and in falling / wrenehed my ankle. I
walked until daylight through the woods. At
daylight reached a farm house. An old man
and his wife lived there. l woke them up.
When they saw me with nothing on but my torn
night clothes they took pity on nae and wanted
to know how II happened l told them that
while out hunting fell into q lake: that took
my clothes off and laid them against a tree to
dry and then placed my gun beside them. While
was waiting for them to dry, wildcat sud-
denly sprsng rom tree and lt between me
believed me and gave me pair of pants, q pair
OF shoes, and after breakfast went away. /
got on the wrong road and instead of coming to
Mercer slough ] was going to Portland. got
my bearings finally and started in the right
direction.
was afraid they would try to hunt me and so
walked at night and in the daytime slept n
the woods. Igot something to est at the farm
houses
Pm engaged now. She's awful pretty and
smart. About-well, maybe she's 20 years
old. She lives near sumner on her
fathers farm. She was alone ON the farm when
Invent there. told her who was and that
had just escaped from the asylum. / couldn't
help it. l Just opened up and made clean
breast of it-she was SO pretty. She was little
seared-I could see 1t in her face When told
aeg was me gave me all could eat
knew that she loved me- Before left asked
her If she would marry me when came back,
aud she said she would. When m free man
I'm going back to see her again. Oh, mol
won't tell her name.
/ walked through Renton at night and arrived
at the Newcastle landing on Lake Washington
Monday. remained there all night, putting
up at Mrs. Murphy's Monday morning, having
been six days on the road, / left
for my fathers farm on Mercer slough. saw
the Mcknights and several other farmers as
went along They saw me and looked scared. l
have no use fer them at ALL may ges even
some day for the wrong they have done me- !
heard that Jack Mcdonald was after ne and
went away Wednesday and walked down along
the belt line to Bothell, and have been tramping
won't send me back to the asylum. Iwould
rather go to states prison. Everybody / have
talked with says that he does not think that Pm
crazy, and il I'm sent back this time some one
will have TO pay for it when I'm free.
Miller will probably be returned to steilacoom
today.