The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-26
DEATH NET WITH DEFIANCE
A Negro Who Had Killed Five Men
Hanged al Macon.

He Denied the Murder for Which He
Was Hanged, but Boosted That He
Was Guilty of Four Others-The KILL
ing of John Braswell the Crime for
Which He Was Hanged-His Neck
Broken by the Fall.
Macon, Ga May 25.-Henry Miller, the
murderer of John Braswell, a well-to-dc
and highly respectable farmer, living
about eight miles from Macon, in the
Warrior district, was hanged to-day in
the Bibb county Jail at 1919 o'clock.
Miller was brought from his cell at 1874
O'Clock, and placed on the scaffold only
few feet away
He said he would die innocent Of the
crime with which he was charged, but
that he was present and went through
Mr.. Brasswelps pockets afterhe had peen
killed He said he did not see him
killed, but saw man with the gun with
which he was killed few minutes after
the killing.
Here he paused as If he had said all he
intended to say, but Rev Garner,
colored preacher, and the only preacher
he would let see him, asked him who had
the gun. He replied George Troutman.
TRoUNIAN DISCHARGED.
George IrOutman was arrested for the
crime al the same time with Miller. but
afterward acquitted, there being no evil
dence against him except Miller's testi-
mony, which was to the effect that a sack
of hour covered with blood, and few
other articles belonging to Mr. Braswell,
found IN Miller's possession had been
given him by George Troutman. He pos
itively refused to make any further state
ment, and after saying that Jailer Bird
song had been kind 10 him he ex-
pressed himself as ready, and Sheriff
Westcott sprung the trap at l2:l9 o'clock.
In three and three-fourths minutes
Miller's pulse ceased, and in exactly five
minutes he was pronounced dead by three
physicians His neck was broken by the
fall Of six feet two inches. About fifty
people saw the execution, and all decided
that 1t was more neatly executed than
any they had ever seen.
THE DEAD MURDERER.
Miller was % years old. He lived in
the Warrior district, seven miles from Ma
con, ana near where John Braswell was
murdered on the night of Sept. 49, 1893.
The murder was the most horrible that
has occurred in Bibb county since the
/ Voolfolk murder, Mr.. Braswell having
| been shot in the head with a load of slugs
and buckshot and his throat cut from ear
to ear while on his way from Macon.
His mules carried his dead body home,
where 1t was found in an upright position
| in the wagon by his family the next morn
/ ing
FIVE NEGROES ARRESTED.
! Five negroes, Henry Miller, George
and Edmond Iroutman, Nero Bird and
Wash Boston were arrested on the fol-
| lowing day for the murder, but all have
been released except Miller and Boston,
Miller having first been sentenced at the
November term of court 20 hang on Dec.
15 and Boston sentenced to life imprison-
ment Miller's case was appealed to the
supreme court, which affirmed the judg-
ment of the court below. He was re-
sentenced to hang to-day.
MLLER's CLAIM.
The night of Miller's arrest he told
that he received the goods found In his
possession from George Troutman and
has stuck to it ever since, although all
kinds of inducements have been offered
him to make clean breast Of the affair.
He has been su4len and morose since his
incarceration and refused TO talk with
any one, even his mother being unable to
get him TO listen to her. Yesterday he
said he could live in hell as long as any
body, and asked Sheriff Westcott to
throw his body in the river.
Just before the hanging to-day he told
negro preacher, the only person to
whom he would talk, that he was inno-
cent of killing Mr. Braswell, but he
robbed his pockets after some one else
had killed him.
CONFESSED FOUR OTHER MURDERS.
He also said he had committed enough
crimes TO justify his hanging and adj
mitted TO having murdered and robbed
| Pink Ryan night watchman for the
| Metropolitan Street Railroad Company,
little over year ago. This murder has
always been mystery heretofore. He
| also said he had killed three men at
various points on the Ocmulgee river He
was defiant TO the last, and never showed
| any signs of weakness.