The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-12
CONFESSED THE CRIME
PROF. j. VI. MILLER THE MURDERER
OF MISS CARRIE VI. JENNETT.
Forced to Tell the story of the
Shocking Tragedy After n Siege
in the Police sweat Box"

DETROIT, April 11.-After twenty-four
hours spent in the Grand River-avenue
police station undergoing the sweating"
process, Prof. Joseph NJ. Miller broke down
to-day and confessed that he murdered
Miss Carrie NJ. Jennett, one of his former
pupils, last Wednesday night, with the
small Ratchet which was found in his
kitchen last night with blood stains upon
il. This afternoon "A warrant was issued
for him in the Police Court. and he was
arraigned at 4 o'clock. He waived an eX-
animation and was committed to jail with
out bail Tomorrow he will be brought
into the recorders court and asked 10
plead guilty. If he does so, the self-con-
fessed murderer will be on his way to the
Jackson penitentiary by Saturday noon, to
spend the rest of his life.
Assistant Prosecutor Merriam, three Off
GERS and the official stenographer were
present when the confession was made.
Miller said he had illicit relations with
the girl and was responsible for her
condition. He said he offered to send Miss
Jennett to a 1ying-in hospital, but she re-
fused to go insisting that he leave his fam
lily and go to some other city with her.
when he started from home for the lodge
meeting he had engagement with the
girl and intended to kill her. He took the
hatchet that was found by the officers yes
terday in his kitchen with him. He Sc
creted this on Seventh street on his way to
the meeting. When he left the lodge
rooms he secured the Ratchet and pro-
ceeded to the corner of Fourteenth and
N4h no mot 1iCG InV
nett. They walked over TO Thirteenth
street and out to where the killing was
done.
Miller says they sat down on the side
walk and talked for awhile, the girl urging
him to abandon his family and leave the
city with her. He then whipped out the
hatchet and struck her in the head. When
asked why he mutilated her so, Miller said
he had no recollection of anything after
the first Blow until he found himself wiping
blood on his Ratchet the grass in the
vacant lot This, in brief, in the story of
the murder. \ stenOgraphic record of the
questions and answers was made.
Throughout the narrowing recital Miller
was remarkably calm, betraying no emo
tiOn and but comparatively slight nervous
ness. AT first Miller denied any knowledge
of the murder, and later was inclined to be
defiant. telling the officers that they I'M
dOubtedly thought themselves clever and
he would therefore leave il to them to
prove that he was guilty. But he began to
weaken when he had been questioned about
twenty minutes. 1t was then, when he was
being closely Intercepted by Mr.. Hunt as
to when he had last seen Miss Jennett, that
he turned suddenly and sorely upon Capt.
Baker, who sat where he could look the
prisoner full in the face.
Look at that man." cried the murderer,
dropping his eyes before the steady gaze
of the police captain. His eyes pierce me
through and through" shudder passed
over him and he hung his head for a sec
Ond. Then, raising it with cOnsiderabl eff
fort, he glanced at Baker again and added
Il guess that man has it about right; ask
him
when did you make up your mind to kill
the girl? Miller was asked.
Last Wednesday afternoon" he an
swered. Il was thinking of what could be
done and of my being married and with
family, when my eye fell on Ratchet up
at the house. 1t seemed to tell the way out
of the trouble, and the idea of killing the
girl swept over me with irresistible force.
II felt that L had to do something" he
went on in lower tone. II felt that had
10 get rid of her. She was infatuated with
me. crazy after me and continually chasing
me. If L gave a concert anywhere she
was sure to be in the neighborhood."
Describing what passed between them as
they sat the sidewalk in the lonely spot
on Thirteenth street, Miller said: She
wanted me to go out of town with her and
leave my family. She was stubborn-she
would not agree to anything reasonable.
She said she would consent to but one
thing, and that was that L go away with
her. By this time L was pretty near crazy.
The impulse seized me, and while she was
still talking L reached into my OVercoat
pocket, drew out the Ratchet and struck
her"
How many times did you strike her?"
asked the prosecutor.
IL don't know" answered the prisoner.
1t was impossible to induce him TO go
into details of the butchery. He told of
putting the Ratchet back in his pocket, of
seeing his victim stretched upon the side
walk in her likelihood, and then of his
walking home by the most direct route.
Reaching home, he said, he threw the
Ratchet on the ground in the woodshed,
that he then went in the back door of the
kitchen, washed the blood off his hands,
and then, going into the dining room,
greeted his wife and Ms. Shoemaker. a
visitor, for whom he made tea and pre-
pared lunch. the three afterward eating
and joking together.