The Carlisle independent., 1909-08-12

and he entered, and going up to the bed, flashed his light upon the bloody spectacle of the murdered mans body. So great was his horror and surprise that he dropped the knife upon the bloody sheets, and had only just picked it up again when the two travelling men entered
 His trembling and fear at their arrival he attributed to the natural horror of the situation and the ter TOT of the instant thought that guilt might point to him.
 With such a degree of sincerity was his story told, and so firm was the landlords bearing before the pre- liminary court that he attracted many sympathizers who believed his story and looked upon him as the unfortu- nate victim of a most peculiar com bination of circumstances.
 But these circumstances were too patent to be ignored and Miller was bound over to await the action of the grand jury, indicted and in due course of time brought to trial be- fore me.
 Tn the time intervening between his arrest and his trial the landlords attitude was a mixture of terror and bravado which did not tend to in crease the belief of the general pub lie in his innocence. I myself, al. though I have always endeavored tc enter a trial free from prejudice, had I been a venireman, should have been forced to admit that I had formed an opinion concerning the guilt or innocence of the accused.
 The state naturally rested upon the testimony of the two salesmen who swore to the events of the fatal evening and to entering the room just in time to find the landlord bend ing over the body They were both firm in the conclusion that his terror upon seeing them was the terror of discovered guilt. I admit that de- fendant's counsel should not have al- lowed this portion of their testimony to go to the jury, but no objection was made to it.
 Also further damaging evidence against him was produced to the ef- feet that he had short time before become liable through indorsing a note for a large sum of money and that his ownership of the hotel was threatened in case he was not able to raise the amount. This seemed 10 furnish a powerful motive for the crime. That he had always borne good reputation, that his record for honesty was such that he might eas- fly have raised the sum of money be required on loan, and his own story of going to Conway's room and find ing the body were all that the unfor- tunate landlord had to offer in his own defense.
 There could have been but one conclusion as to what the verdict of the jury would be, although I am sure that l gave them the law without par tiality. Miller took his sentence with resignation and when I asked him if he had anything to say, he arose and addressed the court as follows:
 Your honor, it comes to every man once to die. For the sake of my dear wife who stood by me so nobly through this terrible ordeal I should have chosen for myself a different end from that which is to be my lot I have no fault to find with the view the jury and this court have taken of their duty, but you are making a terrible mistake You have convicted an innocent man. I am not guilty of the death of Robert Conway. I had nothing whatever to do with his death. Some day the truth will come out, but I fear it will be long after have done with this world. Ihave no more to say but that I am inno-