The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-03-14
Extra Guard of Deputies in the--urt
Room to Prevent People From
Making Demonstration
Against Accused
IT is INTERESTING CASE
Wealthy Banker Was Killed in His
Home After Desperate Battle
Which Dyed the Room
With Blood.

WATSEKA, H., March 14.-Judge
Dibell of Joliet, failing to arrive here
this morning, caused the calling to
trial of DR.. William A. Miller, Mrs.
J. B. Sayler and her father, John
Grunden, charged with the murder of
~. B. Sayler, a prominent banker Of
Crescent City, ILL.,, to be deferred un-
til this afternoon Long before the
time set for the calling OF the trial
the court house was thronged An
extra guard of deputy sheriffs was
on duty to prevent any demonstration.
Feeling against DR.. Miller and Mrs.
Sayler is intense.
There has been no murder in Illi-
nois in a quarter Of century which
has attracted so much attention
/ the Sayler murder.
J. B. Sayler was wealthy banker
living at Crescent city. Lucy Sayler
his wife, the central figure in the trag-
edy which broke UP two homes, went
to Crescent city many years ago as
the bride of the banker. Her beauty
and vivacity attracted large circle
, of friends.
DR.. William A. Miller, young
physician, came to Crescent City from
J. Pennsylvania. He and Mrs. Sayler
were thrown much in each others
company. Mrs. Sayler accompanied
$ the physician on riding trips and her
. husband knew this.
Early that year Miller's friendship
8 for Mrs. Sayler is alleged to have been
: commented on, and it is said friends
of Sayler went to him and advised
him, for the sake of his daughter te
: put stop to their acquaintance.
Neighbors say that there were many
> harsh words between them, but nc
open rupture until the evening of July
H. 1t is stated that early on this
s evening Sayler and his wife had 6
q prolonged argument, which ended By
Sayler leaving the house for severa
hours. When he returned DR.. Miller
d John and Ira Grunden, father ant
brother of Mrs. Sayler, we're at th'
bankers home. Sayler seated himsel
in the front yard, and at about |
o'clock. so testimony at the inques
showed, he was called into the hous'
to Join in a game of cards.
4 What actually transpired after h
4 entered that room was not made clear
II was established that Sayler wa
found dead some time later and Dr
Miller admitted he shot him, sayin
he acted in selfdefense.
If AT the inquest it was alleged tha
when Sayler opened the door h
grabbed an ak from the parlor foo
and started toward DR.. Miller. Th
condition of tie room indicated tha
thev fought desperately There wa
blood on every chair and walls an
pictures were bespattered, and ther
a we're two bullet holes found IN tn
y walls. Sayler's body was foun
wedged behind couch, where wi
nesses say he fell after receiving tn
mortal wound.
= AS near as could be determined b
the coroner tie shooting Occurred D.
tween IL and u o'clock and abol
Two hours later the sheriff was notlfie
at his home in Watseka. He drove
Crescent City at once and placed Mr.
sayler. DR.. Miller ard the Gundef
under arrest.
The inquest was held two days "a
ie er and excitement was intense. A gre
ne crowd of people surrounded the jail
IT watseka and hooted and cursed tt
oy accused and demanded their lives, b
m tie sheriff dispersed the crowd.