Evening star., 1909-07-14
Erring Wife of Slain Banker
Kept From Funeral.
HER STORY OF TRAGEDY
Sealed Packet, Left by Dead Man,
May Throw Light on Scandal.
TRIED TO PROTECT DAUGHTER
Woman Neglected Husbands Body
to Nurse Man Who Shot
Him to Death.

nlul 10 OCdtn.
WATSEkA, Ill, July 14.-Arrange-
ments today for the funeral of j. b.
Sayler, the banker who was traglcally
slain at Crescent City last Sunday night,
we're simple and did not include the
presence of the widow, who, with LIT.
". L. Miller, the slayer. is In Jail here.
In to last night, it is said. Mrs. Say
Ter did not shed tear. She broke down,
however, when she received call from
Thomas Sayler. brother-in-law, VINO
lives an Chicago.
According to her visitor, she wept Dit
terly and expressed desire to attend
the funeral today. Her request was re-
fused by Sheriff Heikes.
Feeling against Mrs. Sayler and Dr.
Miller in Crescent City, while unfrleno-
v. has lost it's violent aspect. 1t wouio
be foolish to run the risk OF reaWaken-
lne II by the sight of the woman, SAID
The sheriff today.
1t was at the request OF the decenent
brothers, Willis and Thomas saver
that no public funeral was held; lose
friends only were admitted to the say
ier home at Crescent City.
Golda Mourns for Father.
GoIda. the bankers only child, was the
,rincina, mourner. 1t was for her, 1t is
said by the decedent's friends. that Mr..
sayler maintained silence over the at
,eution of DR.. Miller to Mrs. Sayler.
The intimacy between these two is said
10 have had its first growth in their mu-
tual love for hunting. :.
THAT'S what brought them together IN
The first place." said Willis Sayler to,
aay. Mrs. Sayler was passionateiy 1ond
Of hunting, while her huSDand, my
brother had no use for it.
"Dr Miller on the other hand liked
nothing better than to range the nelos
and woods with a fowling piece or rine.
Mrs. Sayler was OFTEN MS coHpdhioh vi
these expeditions
II is believed that the only possible
niece of evidence in the case which re-
mains to be investigated Is the seaieo
packet, said to be in Mr.. SAVERS pri-
vate strong box in the vault OF the. h.tio
bank at Crescent CITY. .
During the last two years 1t was the
habit of Mr.. Sayler, when leaving tne
.ity, to leave sealed instructions IN inns
oox, with instructions to W. X. Nlghtin-
yale cashier of the bank, to open only
n case of death. The packet taken
AWAY some time ago. when the Danker
eft his home. never was destroyed IL ~
believed and may shed light on the
tragedy.
Mrs. Sayler's Admissions.
Mrs. Lucy Sayler has made admissions
which are said to be without precedent
in This part OF the state. At the inquest
she testified that for three years rela-
t;ons existed between herself and DR..
Miller.
After the physician had put four bull
lets into her husbands body she calm
~ took the slayer into the dining room.
made him a cup OF conee, ana, plndinS
I'D bullet wound in his hand, which
ne either purposely or accidentally IN
aicted, sent him off to his own home.
she entirely ignored the body OF ner
husband in the next room.
Her first act was to telephone to WAT
seka for a physician to attend to DR..
Miller's wound.
Millers story that he was attacked py
Sayler, who, he says, was armed with
natchet, was shattered by witnesses, VINO
testified that the weapon was not In the
room when Sayler's body was examined.
Mrs. Sayler ran out of the house, and
the state holds that when she returned
she brought the hatchet with her and
placed 1t beside her husbands body.
All Hands Drunk.
Evidence has been obtained that Mrs.
Sayler, Dr. Miller, John Grunden. her
father and Ira Grunden, her brother, all
in the house at the time of the murder,
we're under the influence of liquor. Grun-
den and his son, who are here on visit
from Oklahoma, have been much in Mil
ler's company.
Miller spent all of Sunday in the Sayler
home. He accompanied Mrs. Sayler to a
ball game, where they saw Sayler. The
latter did not return home until 10 pm.
Csolda Sayler had been sent away by her
mother on visit several days before
When SayIer discovered his wife and
her fri under the influence of uQuOr
a quarrel followed and he was shot by
Miller. In the fight preceding the shoot
ing lamp was overturned, the room
plunged in darkness. and while struggling
In the dark the banker met his death.
Miller was formerly cowboy and went
constantly armed. In his desk a revolver
and a dagger were found. Sayler was
considered the most peaceable man In the
Town.
Mrs Sayler. though married to the
WeaIthiest man in Crescent City and liv-
ing in the finest house, has been ostra-
rized for two years.
Suffered Shame for Daughter.
Idolization of his eighteen-year-old
daughter Golda is said to have caused
Sayler to suffer in silence the domestic
tragedy that led to his death. Accord
ing to w. r. Nightingale, cashier of the
Sayler bank, the devoted father deter
mined to bear his cross rather than take
any action which would involve his child
in notoriety.
He seemed to fear some tragic solu-
lion of the situation" said Mr.. Night
ingale Whenever he left the city dur
ing the last year or SO IL was his habit to
seek privacy, after which he would reap
pear with a bulky envelope containing
papers.
always told me, open this packet and fol-
low to the letter the instructions con-
tained therein After each trip but the
last he destroyed the papers upon his
return.
He was away a little while ago. but
when he came back he failed to follow
This practice. That packet, l believe, Is
locked In his private box in the bank $
vault. Whether it will shed any light
On the tragedy which ended his life
rsnnot say. The coroner has the key and
will open the box.
That DR.. Miller stood in real danger Of
tynching Monday night is asserted by Mr..
Nightingale and many others. More than
a hundred men thronged the streets OF
the usually quiet village of Crescent CITY.
trying to organize an attack on the Jail
at Watseka.
One man with rope was forcibly
taken TO his home by cooler persons.
the latter was Willis Sayier. a brother
Of the slain man.
Cheated at Cards.
John Grunden went Sunday night to
ask Mr.. Sayler, who was occupying a
rocking chair on the lawn, to come in
and play cards. they two against DIR.
Miller and Mrs. sayler. Mr.. Sayler re-