The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-06-03
A DESPERATE CRIMINAL
MILLER GETS FIVE YEARS IN
THE PEN
The MEANEST MAN EVER IN JAIL HERE
Clever Work Of Posiofice Inspector Gregory
in Tracking The Criminal and ri.
nalIy Bringing Him 10
Justice
Justice.

Yesterday in the Federal court,
Charles \. Miller was tried for rob
berry of the postofiice and blowing
The postoflce safe at Murfreesboro, on
the night of April I, 1898. Messrs.
Bernard and Spears developed a very
strong crcunStantal case for the gov
elnment, while the defendant was skill
fully defended by Mr.. Douglass.
The trial consumed the entlre day, the
jury retiring at $3.50 p. M, and al
though they were out an hour, it was as
certained that eleven had agreed on the
verdict Immediately. but were detained
a short while by the twelfth juror. i
few minutes after the verdict OF guilty
was returned by the jury Judge Pur-
nell pronounced the maximum punish
ment upon Miller, OF five years impris-
omment at hard labor which. considered
with his imprisonment of thirteen
months and one week in Jail, makes ais
real punishment six years, one month
and one week.
AS soon as the jury had withdrawn
from the court room, Miller broke out in
Il TRADE Of abuse Of government Wit
nesses, making reckless threats against
them. The officials in charge Of the
county Jail pronounce Miller the nearest
prisoner they have ever had in their
custody, he was continually cursing ana
abusing those about him.
He is an ideal burglar in appearance,
has a repulsive criminal face, with II
very violent and vicious temper. His
eyes are especially striking, small,
black and piercing like those of Il
snake. Ills jaws are likewise character
istic-square and heavy SET. lie has an
ugly cut scar above his left eye and on
the left side Of his head. evidently the re-
suit of some desperate encounter.
brought on by his violent temper. From
his manner and behavior, he might
readily be pictured as a cut-throat. who
could assassinate anyone i'll the dark
without a moments hesitation. itegard-
less Of his desperate appearance and
ferocious manner. he is coward when
brought face to face with supposed dan
ger. rs he has manifested on different
occasions. and merely gives himself airs
because he knows the officers in charge
of him Will not give him the sound
thrashing lie 50 often GcstTveS.
Miller came very near escaping pun
ishment and it was only by prompt ac-
he was not turned loose last Decem-
Der for another career of safe-blowing,
burglary and other crimes. The Cir
clmstances being as follows:
On the morning of April 4. 1898. Mil
Ter in company with Joseph Il. Reid
alias Tip Thomas and Harry Wright
were seen approaching Winton by c. w.
Parker. whose suspicion was aroused
by their tough appearance and the
securely wrapped parcels each carried
in their hip pockets He followed them
through the town, watched their move
Ilents and later, with 5. Il. Taylor. com
stable. and several citizens, traced them
to their campfire iii n rayne some
distance down the Chowan river and
required them to proceed forthwith to
the town of Winton and appear before
DR.. s. s. Daniel. the mayor. They
then made the usual false statements
that are made by men of their class
when taken into custody, although Mil
Ter chewed up card in his possession.
Reid destroyed letter in his possession
and the parcels We're not found on
their PERSONS. yet some very damaging
evidence was found upon them. On Reid
in a memorandum book was an inventory
of postage stamps by denominations to
the amount of %353.40 and currency to
the amount of S264 all of which was
divided by three: also pocket map OF
North Carolina with pencil-tnaced routes
through Eastern portion OF the State.
On Wright was found a certain two dol
lar note.
In response to n. request from DIR. ). ;.
Daniel. postoffice Inspector Gregory
visited Winton, pronounced Relds mem
orandum book an inventory OF stamps
stolen from the postoiiice ut Aberdeen.
which office was robbed anG safe blown
on the night of April /. 1898. and the
two dollar bill taken from Wright as
one that was in n registered letter,
stolen from the postoffice at Aberdeen
on the night of the robbery. Inspector
Gregory had all three men held FOR the
Aberdeen robbery. but in tracing them
in the vicinity of Aberdeen ut the time
of The rohl cry. he failed t. frny Identify
Miller as one Of The turrlarr, hut as
certained while thev were IN jail, thu
they had been in Mrrfrc "Sbc'n - ~"
hight of April 1. 1898. when the posi-
office was robbed.
When the case for the robbery Of the
Aberdeen postoftce came up for trial.
December 16 1898 Reid and Wright
agreed to plead guilty to the charge
if Il mol pros" was entered as to Mil
Ter, who they claimed was not with them
in the Aberdeen robbery Their terms
were agreed to and they received sen
fences Of five years ut hard labor. Mil
Ter was discharged, hut as he reached
the street he was immediately arrested
by Deputy Marshal Hammock. on a
warrant charging robbery or the post
office nj Murfraesboro on April {. 1898
which postoftice Inspector H. Il. Greg
DRY had sworn out but a few minutes.
before Miller's release. Hence had In
spector Gregory delayed action half an
hour, Miller would have been out of
reach.
Am immediate investigation by AIR
Gregory developed quite II good case
against Miller. which ON being fully de
.,to,,o1 raSrltod i'm tha Stronp cirrun,