The age-herald., 1901-05-17
FRANK M|LLER'S
 LATEST EXPLOIT
Set Fire to His Bed in County
 Jail
CAUSED GREAT EXCITEMENT I
Matter of Conjecture as to Why He Did It-He May Have Hoped To Escape-Makes
 Statement.

hang June 2S has created another sensa- tion in the county Jail. Late Wednesday night he sprinkled his bed with kero- sone and set 1t ahre Whether he intend ed to himself, hoped to escape in the confusion or did it because he was mad at having been put into a new cell that night is a matter of conjecture. Miller himself says he did it to get rid of bed bugs.
 The precautions taken by Sheriff Bur gin to prevent fire in the jail enabled Night Warden Ball to promptly put 1t out.
 Between and : o'clock Wednesday night Miller was placed into a new cell adjoining the one he had been occupying. This new cell was prepared for his re- ception and a new pair of blankets given him. He was also made to strip and dress in other clothes and everything in his former cell including his large box of letters, was thoroughly searched for knives. saws, poison or any article which he was forbidden to have. Nothing, how ever, was found and he was transferred to the new cell, together with his effects,
  which contained about a half pint of kerosene When he had gotten into the new suit of clothes his old clothes and shoes were searched for saws or other instruments that might aid him to es- cape. This search was made by Night Warden Bali, Mir. Berry, the day warden, and Guard Morgan Kerr. Millers corre- spondence showed nothing that he had planned any attempt to escape, or was preparing to destroy himself
 Shortly after he had been moved into the new cell Miller sent word to Warden Berry that he wanted a drink of whisky. The physician attending Miller has deem ed it proper to allow him a daily portion of whisky and his request was therefore compiled with. Warden Berry sent him in small tin cup half full of whisky, which he drank.
 Wanted a Lunch.
 About half past eleven Miller sent out for a lunch. This was obtained and brought into him. Lunches are not fur nished prisoners at this hour but Miller has some money which he received through his endless chain and can afford to indulge in a little delicacy like this. He also sent for another drink of whisky to Night Warden w. H. Ball. This was also given to him. being the usual amount allowed to him at time.
 Not long after this flames and smoke were discovered in his cell by Night Guard McDaniel who calling on Night Warden Ball for assistance soon had out the hose and ut out the fire. Everything in the cell was saturated with water, including Miller himself.
 Miller aside from having his hair singed was not injured.
 Miller in an inveterate cigarette smoker. Usually he lights his cigarettes from his kerosene lamp. At the time of the fire for some unknown reason his lamp was not burning. As the night guard went by Miller approached the railing of his cage.
 Give me a match to Night a cigratette," he said to the watchman. The watchman gave him one. Miller struck it but 1t went out
 "Give me another, please" he said po- litely.
 While Night Watchman McDaniel was searching for another 1t Is said that Miller had the night lamp upside down in his hand and that he was pouring the kerosene over his bed The blankets be- came saturated with the oil, and when the second match was handed him 1t Is said he struck it and set fire to the blan- kets. McDaniel rushed to the office and gave the alarm while Miller took ref uge in one corner of his cell were he nearly choked with smoke. The fire was soon extinguished, greatly to his relief, and that of the other prisoners who be- came wildly excticed at the cries of fire.
 MiIIer's Statement.
 .T was trying to sleep last night" said Miller yesterday to an Age-Herald report CT, "and the lice and Mgs kept crawl ing over me so that I could not. I got up and poured some kerosene on the bed to run them off, and got back on the bed to try and sleep. In some way in striking a match to light a cigarette the bed caught on fire. That's all there is to it.
 Say" he continued, some of the pa- pers say I have been cursing. That ain't true. I never have cursed and the people here know it."
 By the way would you like to know how we got those saws and the pistol that time we attempted to escape. We'll, don't mind telling you. It was - - gave them to us," he continued, mention ing the name of a white man who has been confined in the jail at one time and was treated as ''trusty."
 In spite of Miller's long Imprisonment he looks fairly well. His splendid phy- sique enables him to stand the strain. He seems reasonably cheerful, and Is by no means Respondent. He has hopes of a communication of his sentence. and con- stantly receives letters from some char itable ladies in New York who are try ing to raise funds for him and who write him letters full of sympathy, and assur- ing him that he is remembered in their prayers.
 Miller's lamp since his escapade has been taken away from him, and he spent last night in darkness.