Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-06-16
The Miller Murdes Case.


tried in tais county since the famous
Mills case.
Messers J. NJ. Thompson and J. d.
Marshall appeared for the defendant
and District Attorney Christley was as
sisted by W \. Forquer
At , o'clock the defendant was
brought into court and defendant :
counsel made a motion declaring her in
sane and asking the Court to enpanel
the jury a. to whether she is insane ornot
before she i asked TO plead and have
that tred before tie murder case, which
was opposed by the Com. attorneys
the Court permitted the order and Geo
Osterling: sworn lives in Butler his
mother in-law, saw her in Mercer
g nee arrested, didn't recognize him at
first talked, laughed, sang. walked the
loor, etc, had not seen her till to-day,
she recognized MIN to-day.
Cross examination; she could not
have feigned this insanity in the mind
of the witness; She is 81 years old, her
health has not been good for years, mar
ried TO Miller about fifteen years; first
noticed anything wrong with her mind
at Mercer
E. Krepps of Grove City sworn, is
brother of deft, visited her in Jail at
Mercer, did not recognize him, he
thought her insane, and mis- testimony
was similar to that of Mr.. Osierling.
Geo. Schenck of Butler sworn saw
her in Jail at Mercer in May did not rec
ognize him, she is his step mother hav-
ing been married 10 his father, tried to
interest her in things about the children
etc, but could not, considered her in
ane, was at home but very little while
she lived with Mr. Schenck, never was
very strong minded.
Dr. Bell sworn, knew deft. about &
years has treated her, her intellect was
of low order, examined her this morn
ing, thinks she is irrational. Cross ex-
animation, Just an observation, could
be shaming, her health is not good,
didn't think it was Mysteries it is either
insanity or feign, has symptoms of in
sanity. In answer to the question, do
you think she comprehends what is go
ing on said he could not say.
Mrs Miller called, did not know what
ste was charged with, or where she
was, in answer TO Marshall; did not ans
wer to question of District attorney,
walked to window and back and sat
down again, didn't know if sick; Il don't
know was her answer to almost every
question, when told to set down beside
Mr.. Thompson she did so, dancing all
the way
Dr. BippUs swoIn. knew M-s Miller
thought her mental condition formerly
about normal. noticed change since she
was in jail, that she was worse this
morning think that under the circum-
stances she is about what would be ex-
pected. thought her acts to-day feigned
DR.. McCandless sworn, was reduced
in flesh; could have resulted from con
fnement aud worry; his opinion is that
her acts are not insanity but for effect,
be saw her the morning Of the murder,
and thought she realized what she had
done, noticed material difference in her
actions since then.
Rev. CTonenwett sworn, knew Mrs.
Miller 81 years, was her minister, saw
her three times since the death Of her
husband, evening OF murder she was
rational; at jail she seemed not to rec
osnize him; she sang ditty etc, he
told her that there was no use for that
between them; that they then sat down
and talked seriously, and she was affect
ei by it; he was convinced that the was
rational; to-day he saw her, she was
nervous but they had Il rational conver
satiOn, she claimed innocence and says
it is the work of enemies, thinks her
actions here feigned. she was affected
which would be natural, wanted her
to make her peace with God
DR.. Hope, of Mercer, who had been
delayed on the r. r. was sworn, he is
jail pnysician saw her about dozen
times; thought her intellect rather dull
did not talk any to him, but did what
he told b er to do.
Sheriff Riddle, of Mercer Co, sworn
says: Her actions were hard to describe,
she acted strange; she had liberty of the
whole ladies department of the Jail,
and she acted so strange that she was
placed in cell by herself; and about
two weeks ago she was let ont on con
dition of her staying in her own cell,
which she did
Deputy Sheriff Riddle, Of Mercer Co.
sworn; said that soon after q visit to her
by her brothers she began to act
strangely, and corroborated the testi-
mony of the proceeding witness.
A. w. Krepps, sworn; is a brother OF
deft. did not suggest to her to act in
sane, considered her insane from her
acts of this morning.
Col Thompson read authorities, and
he and Marshall arg ued why the motion
should be allowed and the District At
torney and Forquer why it should not
The Court announced that it would
consider the matter tell next morning.
This morning the Court decided to
grant the issue Of special trial by jury
as to her INSANITY the jury to be select
ed from the present panel
Col Thompson stated that they were
not ready to proceed to trial now on ac
J count of the absence of material wit
| ness.
| After a consultation of the ATTORNEYS
| aud others interested, Col Thompson
made a motion for a continuance of the
trial and stated that if the motion wa.
not granted he would ask the Court TO ab
solve him from further connection will
the case. This motion was opposed by
the Dist Atty in an able manner.
Marshall made an affidavit stating
DR. Graham was sick and unable to ut.
tend and that he was material wit
ness
The motion was granted and the cas-
continued to September Term.
The prisoner was ordered back t.
Jail at Mercer.
The District Attorney stated to tn
court that the friends of the murdered
man did not think that plea of man