The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-03-16
WAGES OF Sin
Sensational Case Of Three Persons Charg.
ed With Murder.
SCANDAL IN HIGH LIFE

The Murder Was the Result of the
intimacy of a Doctor and the Wife
of a Prominent Citizen, Who Was
Slain by the Doctor and His Ac-
completes.
The Sayler case, which is now on
trial at Watseka, H., is one of the
most sensational murder cases ever
tried in that State. The intensity
of the interest taken by the commun-
ity in the case is due not only
to the sensational "details of the
crime and of the conditions which
led to it, but also to the fact that
the murdered mar and those ac-
cused of being his slayers and their
respective relatives are known to ev-
erybody throughout Iroquois county.
and even beyond it's limits.
Immediately after the crime was
committed, on July II, 1909, popu-
lar feeling in the county was so
strong, that it would have been prac-
tically impossible to obtain a jury of
twelve unbiaced men to try the three
persons charged with the murder.
But since then the excitement has
cooled down considerably and it is
believed that the selection of the
jury will not be exceedingly diff
? cult. The accused, having wealthy
family connection, will be represent
ed by the ablest counsel that money
could procue and no effort will be
spared to save them from conviction,
] which would mean hanging or life
long Imprisonment.
The persons to be tried for the
y murder of John Byron Sayler, the
Crescent City banker and live stock
broker, are DR.. William F. Miller,
Mrs. Lucy Sayler, the widow of the
murdered man and her father, John
Grunder. Ira Grunder, a brother of
Mrs. Sayler, is also under Indictment
Z but merly as an accessory after the
fact. Etate's attorney John C. Pal
1issard will conduct the prosecution
and he processes to feel Ire of the
conviction of the accused.
John Bryon Sayler was killed in
: ibis own house by William +. Miller
( about ten O'Clock on the night of
July II, 1909. The defence will
claim that the deed was an act Of
self defense and that Dr.. Miller dill
not fire the fatal shots until after
Z. Sayler had attacked with a hat
Chef. The prosecution, however. will
try to prove that the act was pre-
meditated murder and was the re-
suit of a conspiracy between DR..
Miller, Mrs. Sayler and her father.
1t appears that for many years,
DR.. Miller and Mrs. Sayler entertain
ed intimate relations which ware the
talk of the town and caused the COM
3 immunity socially to ostracise both the
doctor and his affinity. It is known
that Sayler, the victim Of the null
der, had knowledge of the relations
existing between his wife and DR..
Miller for many years, but that for
the sake of his daughter he refrain
ed from taking legal steps to OBJ
tain a divorce.
DR.. Miller's wife, a lovable and
highly respected woman, also knew
of the scandalous relations of her
husband, but would not seek sepet-
alton, fearing that the scandal con-
nected with a divorce suit would
| blight the life of her boy.
1t is said that Dr.. Miller and his
affinity made several attempts to rid
themselves of their respective legal
4 partners and even tried to inveigle
Sayler into the appearance of an
ENGAGEMENT with Mrs. Miller, but
failed in every instance. 1t is be-
lieved and will be charged by the
prosecution that becoming desperate
> the doctor and his affinity resorted
to the extreme remedy of killing the
man who stood in their way.
What happened at the Sayler res
a idence on the night of the murder
only the persons charged with the
murder know. They claim that Say
Ter came into the room in which
Mrs. Sayler, her father and Dr.. Mil
ler were about to play a game of
cards, that they urged him to join
the game, but that he refused and.
without further provocation attacked
DR.. Miller with a Ratchet.
They insist that DR.. Miller merely
acted in self defense when he shot
6ayler. Witnesses who entered the
foom of the murder shortly after the
fhooting, assert that there was no
hatchet in the room at that time and
one was found there, it must have
cen placed there later in an attempt
b manufacture evidence.