The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-07-08
HANGED FOR HIS CRIME.
Murderer Miller Escapes she More Hor-
rible Fate of Burning.

11uf0GF0f NhtiIer EbChpee thc HAOt0 AAOk~
rible Fate of Burning.
BARpwELL. KY, July 7.-Ssay ]. Miller.
the negro charged with the outrage and
murder of Mary and Ruby Ray, aged lG
and II wears, was hanged At 1927 this after
noon and the body burned after being hor-
ribly mutilated. The negro made speech
proclaiming his innocence, but it is said he
afterward made partial confession. The
steamer Three States, with several hundred
men from Cairo on board, met the special
train from Sikeston at Birds Point. The
prisoner was put on sae boat and taken to
Wichliffe. Frank Gordon, the fisherman
who ferried the murderer across the Mis-
sissippi river "Wednesday night idensl-
fed ,s Mile. s.,sd tho ,.nn.sso. sa%s mani .na
John Raw. father Of the murdered girls.
counselled patience. The mob brought the
prisoner to this oity, arriving At 1l:3O
O olock. There we're not less shan Quo
men at the depot and the rain was crowded.
Previous TO this an agreement waa made by
the people TO allow the father OF the chill
| dren to prescribe the punishment Sheriff
Hudson, the prisoner and the guards
mounted a scafold which had been eEeeted
and John Ray. father of Abe muFdered
girls, made talk. In which he said: This
IL the man who killed my children. but let
| us keep quiet now and at the proper time
burn him." The negro was called uton
and responded promptly and with wonder
| full nerve considering the circumstances
under which he was placed. His voice Was
clear and he seemed oblivious to his
surroundings. His exact words were:
my name is Seay J. Miller. and am
from Springfield. Ill. l Am here among
you A n al, anger and looked on by you as
the most brutal man that ever stood on
Gods green earth. am standing here an
innocent man among excited men who do
| lok ~ ln- Auk n
| committed NO O. lime 10 be deprived OF my
liberty or life. ] am not guilty.: Az snis
| time he was disturbed by several questions
and many called on him to go on, but
sheriff Hudson begged to be permitted to
put him in jail and aes some fes' iof HIN
self which he needed badly.
II was finally agreed TO execute Miller ~
three o'clock and the negro was placed IN
Jail 10 await she time when 10 would 20
called forth. Al 3:20 o olook he was brought
from the Jail to the principal street. A
chain was around his neck and many men
were pulling NJ IL. Tho crowd were Wild
and no ono could guess NJ tho fate OF the
negro. He was almost sutocased whom she
north end of the depot was reached ana she
father Of the girls relentsd to some extent
and suggested That ne be hanged fasnes
than burned. At 1927 the body swunR to .
telegraph pole NJ the depot and
az he was drawn mp his slothes
were torn from his body By the
maddened mob. He was heard 10 say 1uas
as thev drew him up: Il am an innoccns
man." He was drawn up and when his
feet were two or three feet from the ground
some one shot him from in front. the ball
passing entirely through his body. In a
few minutes life was extinct. The body
was left hanging until 4:25 during which
time some OF the toes and nngefs we're GU,
off. The body was finally taken down and tbs
ears ous of. nearly all the .emaining sos'
and fingers severed and the body 9snstwsss ~
mutilased. The body WAS then placed pc
tween two kegs aud kindling piled upon 4
aud then enough wood TO complets ths 1ot
! of buj ming. The owd remained orderly
10 the last. but very determined. The nsr
who did the hanging arc from kentaeky
Tennessee. Illinois aud Missouri. pus MI
} work was done In such q manner ana shs
throna 30 great that no man can name 81
. individual who participated.
The report. which 10 believed 10 be an
> thentic. shat Miller made partial confss-
sion as the mob took him from jail. says
that he implicated partner. but noshiul
positive ean bs learned.