Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-06-05
JOSEPH. I'LL.
Taken k ] From ! the Penitentiary
10 Plead Before the
Pardon Board
StlOllultly Declared His limo
cense Of Murder Of
Adam Miller
Great e Array IRA Of Legal Talent
Present in Behalf Of
the Convict

jury in Pembina county twelve years
ago this summer and was found guilty.
Of the murder OF his cousin, Adam
Miller, aud sentenced to imprisonment
in the state penitentiary for life, JOS
eph TIL appeared before an official
tribunal yesterday, when the state
board Of pardons considered the appli-
ton for pardon made In his behalf.
Till is now thirty-seven years Of age,
and was convicted when twenty
five, ana eight days after he had ar
rived In Pembina county from Hun
gary. He is a short fellow, not unin-
stelligent, showing the effects Of prison
discipline. who has acquired English
since his incarceration in the peniten-
tiary. He talks rapidly and rather
abruptly and his flow OF language, con-
sidering his opportunities for acquir-
Ing It, is fluent. He declared to the
board yesterday that he was innocent
that Adam Miller was his cousta,
and always a dear friend of his, that
they lived near together in thas old
country and that Miller's father was
his godfather. He denied thatshe had
ever entertained any affection for or
intimacy for Miller's wife, which was
the theory Of Til's reason for the
murder, and he went over the matter
of the circumstances leading to his
arrest and conviction with the mem.
bers Of the board OF pardons, asking
for his release on the ground OF his
innocence.
Till's appearance was at the request
Of Attorney Tracy r. Bangs, who APP
peared for him before the board Of
pardons. With Attorney Bangs were
Vice Consul Silvestri OF the Austrian
government at Chicago, and Judge
4 Kneeshaw, OF Pembina county, who
defended Till at the trial. The vice
consul said the evidence against TIL
at the trial was q tissue Of lies manu-
fSfactured by men Of his own country
who had conspired to kill Miller and
4 afterWard perjured themselves to lay
the blame on Till. Judge Kneeshaw
said he had come before the board
4 at his own expense, without any other
4 desire than to see justice done. He
said he felt deeply in the matter and
was satisfied that TIL was not guilty.
The evidence in the case was closely
4 reviewed by all three men and they
asked Justice for Till, which they
Z claimed would release him from fur.
4 there incarceration. s.s
TIL Is Hungarian. In 1895 he
/ came to Pembina county with the wife
Of Adam Miller, who furnished the
money for their passage. They arriv.
ed on February s. Eight days later
on February IS. Miller was murdered
Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Bedose who
& lived two and q half miles from Penn
4 bina were In Pembina on the day d
the murder. Till and Mrs. Miller were
& staying temporarily with the Bedose
4 family, Miller having vet no house d
his own, and working In town. II was
Miiler's custom TO drive out to the
( Bedose place III the evening, ana thii
he had arranged to do on the nigh
OF the murder,
The question Of time enters init
the circumstantial evidence agains,
Till ia q material degree. Attorne,
Bangs stated yesterday that at thu
cornor's Inquest. It was testified tina
H Mrs. Miller and Mrs Bedose returned
from Pembina and that supper wal
eaten at about six o'clock, and that al
the members Of the family were ii
bed before eight o'clock, Miller wal
last seen on the streets Of Pembinl
by James Kneesiaw between sever
and half past seven q clock. He wa
then going in the direction Of TIL
harm. to hitch up and drive out tw,