The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-07-13
vENG EANCE.
O. J. Miller. the Murderer OF the Ray Sis.
ters, Hanged.

ters. Hanged.
BARDwELL, KY, July &C. j. Miller,
the mulatto charged with outraging
and numbering Mary Ray and her lit
tie sister, and whom the people of
Bardwell had resolved to burn at the
stake, was saved by the father of the
murdered girls from a death by fire
Friday, only to be hanged by mob
and mutilated and cremated after
death.
Miller was arrested in Missouri and
was brought back to Birds Point by
the mob of Kentuckians who had pur-
sued him. Friday morning he was
taken to Wickliffe, the county seat Of
Carlisle county, for examination.
The evidence against him seemed to
be overwhelming and conclusive,
though he protested his innocence,
and at II o'clock Friday morning he
was brought to Bardwell, the scene of
the crime.
A pile of timber ten feet high had
been built near the station and upon
this it was proposed to burn the un-
happy man to death. AZ soon as the
train came to standstill the crowd be-
gan to shout for the prisoner
''Burn him! burn himH' was the cry.
AS they entered the first car to search
for Miller, Sheriff John Hudson and
his prisoner escaped by the rear car and
hurl ed away. They were seen, and in
a moment tbe mob was yelling at their
heels Into the street poured the howl
ing mob, while a detachment which
had made detour marched down the
street and headed off the officer
and che Negro Seeing that it
was useless to resist, the sheriff
turned back, took Miller to the pile of
timber, upon which Miller was COM
PEELED to Chamber. The sheriff and
guards followed him. Immediately
5000 people surrounded the pile, clam
oring for Miller's life. Up to this time
Miller had exhibited indifference to his
fate, but when standing upon that heap
of timbers facing the mob, and in ex-
form, he wept and silently raised
his shackled hands above his
head as If imploring mercy.
The Negro then addressed the crowd,
saying:
Please be quiet, everybody. My name is Q.
J. Miller. am from Springfield, Ill My wife
lives at No 7l6 North Second street am here
among you to-day looked upon as one Of the
most brutal men before the people. I stand
here surrounded by men who are excited-men
who ere not willing to let tho law take its
course-and, ss Tar as the crime Is con.
cerned, I have committed no crime,
and certainly no crime gross enough to
deprive me Of my life and liberty. 1 had
Z hou01 In IL a
Jewel peddler. paid him A.5o for them. I
left Springfield on the frst day of July and
came TO Alton; from Alton went to East St
Louis, from there to Jefferson barracks, thence
70 De Sofa, thence to Bismarck and thence to
Piedmont thence to Poplar Bluffs thence to
Hoxfs and to Jonesboro, then on freight car
to Aaldon. then to Sikeston On the day was
supposed TO have committed the ofiense was at
Bismarck Well. gentlemen"
Here he was interrupted, the mob
shouting, "Let him talk" but there
was too much noise and he could not
be heard.
''For Gods sake, gentlemen" said
the sheriff, 81 must take this man to
Jail. l am bound by my oath to deliver
this man to Jail"
The mob, which had quieted by this
time, shouted, "Yes, take him to jail
until 8 o'clock, then we want him"
The prisoner descended from the hor.
rible pile of infiammable materials and
was taken to Jail. At 8 o'clock the jail
was surrounded by the mob. Before
Miller was taken from the Jail Mr.. Ray,
who had lingering doubt as to the
guilt of Miller, proposed as com.
promise with the mob that Miller be
hor -
was made for the Jail.
AS Chief of Police Manoney was just
leaving the prison the mob rushed in
and seized the prisoner. He was strip
ped and his shirt was tied around his
legs A chain was placed around his
body, and, followed by mob, he was
led through the streets to the depot and
lifted onto the pile.
There were shouts of ''Set it on fire,
burn him." but they were not needed.
The chain was taken from Miller's
man climbed the telegraph pole, the
chain was passed up to him and he
made it fast to the crossarm. Other
men placed forked stick between
Millers hips, lifted him several feet and
allowed him to drop
It is thought that the first fall broke
his neck, but the operation was re.
peated. Then numerous shots were
fred into his body, and he was left
hanging until they were satisfied he
was dead. While the body was hang.
ing there both ears and nearly all the
toes and fingers were cut from the
corpse. Later the pile was fred and