Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-04-07
The Murder Case.


She shook her mead and Thompson said
that means, you killed your husband
''Oh, my Gott, didn't do dat" was
her reply.
She was taken TO Mercer jail Monday
by Sheriff Dodds, and will probably re-
main there until trial
Mr.. Miller was buried in the South
Cemetery, Butler, Friday afternoon
Mrs Miller was arrested on oath OF the
County Detective that morning, and 90
was not at the funeral
The evidence given at the Coroners
Inquest was about as follows:
John C. Neff-Saw Miller in cellar;
he was living; went for Louis Herald,
John Albert and James Fleming; we
carried him to bed: no one about house
but Mr.. and Mrs. Miller
Philip Neff-Went to the house at
once. saw Miller in cellar on steps, his
hand on bruised side Of head. Wanted
to take him up stairs. Mrs. Miller said
to leave him be as he wouldn't live long.
Miller asked for pillow; she got him
an loyercoat Wanted TO go for doctor;
she said mo use Miller called to me
three times, Philip stay here | ask
ed him who had beaten him 50 and he
pointed at his wife and said, Philip
she throwed me down the stairs. She
h. Of hi
talked to him on Tuesday and he was
rational and in his right mind. Mrs
Miller told me she was coming upstairs
when her husband fell; said he fell on a
stone; said she could not get him up
stairs; do not think one could possibly
fall down the stairs; would have to go
down on hands and knees; do not see
how back Of his hand and arm would
be 80 badly bruised if he had fallen.
John Albert-At the house about ten
o'clock; Miller was on floor; we put him
to bed; was unconscious then; Mrs. Mil
Ter was bathing wounds and said she
had wi ped the blood of theft
Freddy Neff-Rapped at door; didn't
hear anything and tried the door; it was
locked; he raped again anG Mrs. Miller
opened the door and said John had fal-
len down the stairs; saw no one about
the house but Mr. and Mrs. Miller; she
said she was by the stove when he fell:
Mr.. Miller called Fritz" a couple Of
times: Neff was scared and went TO not
ify his brother and Mr.. Fleming; hey
at the door 2 couple of minutes before
he got in: had come to do some hauling
for Mr.. Miller and did not go into house
till the afternoon when Mr.. Miller was
dead; he was at the door about 8:15;
heard dishes rattling before the door
was opened.
Geo Mangold. who owns an adjoin-
ing farm, was notified by Mr.. Fleming
at II O'Clock that Mr. Miller had fallen
down the stairs and was killed. He
examined the cellar but didn't find any
thing but stone that Miller could have
got cut on. Mrs. Miller said she had
pulled him over to the post after he fell
and thought there were no bones brok-
en-. Three stones were found in the eel
lar covered with blood and hair. One
small sharp one had blood on both sides
and looked as if it cut the big cash in
the back of the head. Mrs. Miller did
not seem to be lameuting much over the
death Of her husband. Mangold didn't
see any blood ON her or on the kitchen
floor
Mrs Miller-had got things for break
fast and had the cellar door open; John
was weak and nervous and fell down
stairs. was a little after seven o'clock;
she had fed the horse and cleaned the
stable and had come back and wakened
her husband; was at the table when he
fell; he took fainting spell; she went
down the cellar TO help him up, then
went ont to see neighbors but could not
see anyone, 70 she started TO eat break
fast; only heard Neff rap once and she
opened the door; stones found in cellar
were sauer kraut stone; Il will just tell
you the truth now" he said she done it
and she asked him what made him lie;
said he was ALWAYS blaming her for
something; did not go to cellar again;
had put in the hardest winter she eyer
did. had great deal of trouble with
him. he called her ugly names and then
scolded her; she was not tired of him;
the door wasn't locked; did not know
that Neff was coming; am willing to
swear that door was not locked; would
not tell lie for the whole world; she
washed some blood Of the floor; she re-
iterated that she was telling the truth
and said he had threatened to kill her
with razor, gun and knives, and was
afraid Of him; when she saw him sharp
ening his razor she thought ne was go
ing 10 cut her throat, told him TO kill
himself; she picked up the poker several
times to defend herself but he did not
attack her; he didn't try TO get up when
he fell: was 80 stunned he couldn I
move; was on his back; didn't try to
help him: insists the door was not lock
ed; said she had bad luck with her hus
band; she is 60 years Of age and having
NO much trouble cannot remem Der
everything; does not want ITO be ques
toned three or four times about it, she
said she must fight for herself as her
husband was dead and none Of her step
children were here
ALI the patrons of the Chicora Z. o.
who are electors, will have vote on
Postmaster next Saturday from / to
D M. at the usual voting place. The
candidates are Messrs Frankie, Craw
ford, Evans and Kaylor
james T. Marshall, Of Penn twp,
il cultivating potato which is said tc
be the earliest and best yet raised here
abouts. 1t is known as the Early Har-
vest and will likely take the place Of al
other varieties. Samples Of it may b.
seen at the Reiber grocery store Of thii
place.
"A paper which reads as follows cai
be signed by any young man at Captain
McJunkin's Office in the Armory' build
ing: We the undersigned citizens
Of the state Of Pennsylvania, betweer
the ages Of 21 and 40 years. promise Il
enlist in Co. f., 18th Regt. ". G- p, il
oau. az tyar tat,u.1,, A. Ir.:4l CIT.