The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-09
ALMOST DmECAPIqA1BD..
A Tombs Murderer Cheats the
Death Chair.

TyEw York, Aug. o. ls9L.-Charlss Miller.
tho murderer of August Loetiler, cut his
throat in q cell of the Totnbs prison this
morning and died shortly afterwards. He
had with vigorous strokes Of a razor almost
decapstated himself. Miller was confined in
Murderers' Row as the cellmate of George
Dougherty, who is awaiting trial for the
murder of Edward Meyer, the race track
tout, on Avenue A, New York, on the night
of July g..
The lead man was discovered this morn
ing by Keeper Henry v. Lane when he made
the rounds of the cells in the north end OF
the old prison. Keeper Lane unlocked the
door of 81, in which Miller and D~ougherty
were confined. Dougherty walked out and
went around the corner to the Mushroom.
Miller did not come out of the cell. and
Keeper Lane vent to No. 10, which he un-
locked, and then went back to see why
Miller did not come out to wash. lie was
surprised to see a newspaper fastened across
the grating of the cell, and pulling open the
door saw Miller lying on the cot on his right
elbow, facing the wall.
Blood was spattered all over the wall, and
Keeper lane sprang toward Miller Just as
the desperate man raised again the bloody
razor and again dug it deep into his neck
The keeper seized the razor and supported
the suicides head, trying yalnly to stanch
the flow of blood. Seeing it was useless, he.
called Tor help. Keeper Edward Donnelly
responded, and sent out a hurry call for an
ambulance. One arrived soon from Bellies
vue, and, after the wound was dressed, Mlls
Ter was taken to the hospital He was not
able to speak a word after committing the
act, and died in great agony at 1925 this
morning.
HAD BEEN MELANCHOLY.
T--a-J..Aol- 80. %br dnof h TlanT1fU
Warden McMahon closely Intercepted
George Dougherty who occupied the cell with
Miller, but Dougherty said that he did not
know anything about the affair
Since Miller and Dougherty have been cell
mates in the Tombs they rave been exem-
plory prisoners, according to Deputy war
den Mcmahon. Miller at times has acted in
a melancholy manner and is said toshave ex-
pressed the conviction that he would never
leave the prison alive.
VISITED BY
The only visitors who have been TO see
Miller of late were two women, Annie
Grimm, who said she was the landlady OF
the house, No. 624 East Thirteenth street,
where Miller boarded, and Mary Hoffman,,
a boarder in the same house.
The two women came TO see Miller on
Tuesday last. They were thoroughly searched
before being admitted to his cell.
Miller's crime for which he was awaiting
trial was most remarkable in its character.
He had quarreled with his victim. Loefher,
who was night Waterman in Heide's candy
factory where Miller also worked, and as a
result. had been discharged for the trouble
he caused.
The next morning the poor Waterman was
found in the factory terribly beaten about
the head and his skull and ribs crushed in.
lie lived only a few minutes after being
discovered,
Miller was arrested on suspicion. and
when in prison confessed that Loeffler had
caught him in the act OF prying open the
timekeeper's desk.
a fight ensued and Miller struck the watch
man with a stick, and, when he ~felluncon-
scious to the ground, struck him several more
blows.
Then he dropped a jute bag over the mans
face, inc taking $25 from the desk, ran
home.
The dead murderer is twenty-six years of
age and a native of Germany.