New-York tribune., 1909-07-14
BANKER ADORED CHILD
SUFFERED IN. SILENCE.
Cool Heads PreCent Lynching Of
DR.. MIIer-Light on Tragedy.

Vatseka Ill. July 13.-Love for his daughter
Coda. seventeen years old, is said TO have caused
J. B. Sayer vice president OF the First National
Bank Of Crescent City, Ill, 10 suffer in silence the
alleged domestic tragedy that led 70 his death Sun
day night at the hands Of DR.. ". R Miller, who
for many months, It IS said had paid attentions TO
the girls mother
According TO ". R Nightingale, cashier Of the
hank OF which Mr.. sayler was vtce-presdent the
father determined TO suffer IN silence rather than
take any action which would involve hts child in
notoriety,
He seemed to fear some tragic solution ot the
situation" said Nj Nightingale to-day. When
ever he left the city during the last year Il
was his habit TO seek privacy, after which he would
raappear with q bulky envelope containing papers.
Should anything happen TO me ne always told me.
open this packet and follow 70 the letter the in
struCtions contained therein After each trip but
the last ha DESTROYED the papers upon his return.
He vas away a little while ago, but when he came
hack he failed 70 follow this practice. That packet
believe Is locked in his private box in the banks
vault Whether IT will shed any light tbs
tragedy which ended his life I cannot say. The
Coroner has the key, and will open the box later.
possibly after the funeral tomorrow
That DR.. Miller stood In real danger Of lynchng
last night is asserted by A1r Nightingale and many
others More than hundred men througed the
streets of the usually quiet village OF Crescent
city. trying 10 organize an attack on the jail at
Watseka. One man with a rope was forciby taken
TO his home by cooler persons, whose counsel
finally prevailed. Among the latter was Willis
Sayler. q brother Of the slain man.
DR.. MiIer's defence is that he shot only when at
tackled by the banker with hatchet Evidence
casting shadow on this statement was given at
the inquest.
sayIer was slain about u O'Clock Sunday night.
Mrs. Miller. wife Of the doctor. had left town a
few days previously TO visit her parents at Sharon.
Penn and Dr. Miller was taking his meals az the
Sayler IA bic and sleeping At his own home There
we're also AT the Sayler home at the time Of the
shooting John G.. Grunden. father Of Mrs. sayler.
and Ira C4runden. her brother.
The struggle in the house was witnessed bv John
C1-undeu Mrs Sayler ran from the house. she says
when the struggle began Grunden saws he en-
deavored to separate the two men. but could not
C=rlInden declares that savler brought hatchet
INTO the house with him Mrs Sayler saws that her
husband came in urarr7ed and took the hatchet
from under ? couch Edward Bantin, a lsborer;
Dietrich H. Nver. retired merchant. and Edward
2 Never president Of the village Of Crescent city.
summoned 70 the Ssvler home Immediately after
the shooting. assert that they examined the room
thoroughly a. that time. but no hatchet
When Mrs Sayler rturned from the harm. IN
which she had taken refuge during the fight the
three men went the home Of Dr.. Miller. Mrs.
Savler and Ira Grunden 0he latter vas asleep
during the ehootiug} were left alone in the house
with the body. When the trio returned they found
the hatchet stained with blood This. It is said,
was nearly three hours after the death Of Mr..
SsyIer-
Mrs savIer is said 10 have betrayed no concern
over the disposition OF her husbands body. which
Law on the floor where IT fell but 70 have expressed
great solcitud4 over the doctors wounded wrist,
offering 10 dress it and insisting that he call
physician TO attend to il
DR. Miller and Mrs Sayler are in separate cells
Ct the Jail The doctor is held on charge OF
murder. Mrs. Sayler and her father and brother
are in custody as alleged accessories
DIT Miller is Of medium height. about forty-fve
Years old He was a favorite IN local society
Mrs Sayler Is forty years old Her hair is golden,
as Is that OF her daughter. Goda-
Or Miller and I have been much in each
others company for the last two years" she said.
and nv husband seemed 70 approve. He always
knew where and when We went together and
never objected He and I never quarrelled on the
subject"
Dr. Miller said the whole thing was somewhat
hazv to him. and that he did not care to discuss
the case further than to say that he shot in self
defence