Evening journal., 1898-07-25
A VETERAN MURDERED
JOSHUA MILLER, OF NoRTHEA~T,
THE VICTIM OF THUGS.

ROBBED AMID LEFT FOR DEAD IN
HIS BED WITH A HArcTET
WOUND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF
HIS HEAD.
Elkton, July 25.-The brutal murder
Of Joshua Miller, an aged man and
veteran Of the late war, which was
committed on Wednesday night last,
while he was asleep in his home. about
three and half miles north of North
East, ON the line OF the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad, by some unknown as
sassin, has created no little excitement
among the residents Of the Fifth dis
trict.
Miller, who was a bachelor, lived
alone in a noe-story frame dwelling.
which he had recently built for him
self from his earnings. He was 10
years Of age and worked ait chopplng
wood and coaling for a livelihood. He
was last seen alive on Wednesday last.
when he visited North East and made
some purchases and returned home. It
was known that he always carried
money about his person. No one no
ticed his absence as his home is come
distance from the nearest dwelling.
When, on Friday night last, two boys.
Thomas Phillips and Howard Atluin-
son, who were passing his house on
their way home after picking berries,
were attracted by a strong and strange
odor coming from the house, they at
once notified Benjamin Atkinson, and
an investigation was made. As the
men entered the house they saw the
old man lying ON the bed ais II asleep,
but, upon reaching the bed, they were
surprisd to find that he had been mur-
dered. He law on his side, with his
hand resting under his head while en-
the right side OF the head. near the
temple was a large, gaping wound.
from which the blood was still slowly
oozing. Close by, lying on the bureau,
was a hatchet. which showed evidence
or being the weapon used by the mid
night assassin. The motive for the
crime was soon found. as a rihed trunk
and the absence OF pocket, which had
been cut from the aged mans clothes
plainly indicated that robbery had
been the object OF the brutal crime
The murderer, who must have been ac-
quainted with the old man and his af-
fairs, entered a rear window while he
law asleep and, slowly creeping up to
the side Of the bed, had dealt him the
fatal blow.
The North East authorities, being
notified, had the remains removed to
the town OF North East. DR.. P. b.
Housekeeper made an examination OF
the wound. and stated that in his
opinion, death was instantaneous, and
that the weapon used was the hatchet.
Magistrate Isaiah Biddle, Of North
East, summoned a jury OF inquest
with Robert Mearns as foreman, which,
after hearing the testimony OF the boys
who found the dead body, and that OF
DR.. Housekeeper, who made the post
mortem examination, rendered a YER
dict OF death at the hands Of unknown
persons, the same being caused by a
blunt instrument.
George P. Hargraves, OF near North
East, was arrested and brought to jail
Friday evening by Sheriff J. Ross Con-
ly, charged with the murder. Har-
graves Is reported to have been using
money freely since the murder, was
known to the old man and at times
worked for him. Hargraves denies the
charge. The prisoner does not bear
good reputation, having been only re-
Gently released from Maryland Peni-
tentiary after serving out a term Of
three years for burglary. He is about
S5 years Of age.