The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-06
MILLER DETAILS
SAYLER KILLING
Defendant Tells How He Was
Attacked in Room
NO MOTIVE is GIVEN
witness Says That sayIcr Advanced
Upon Him With An Axe and That
He shot sayIer to Save Him
self From Death

Watseka, Ill. April 5.-Dr. W. S. Mil
Ter, on trial for the murder of J. B.
Sayer, today dramatically recited his
version of the shooting which cost the
lift of his friend, ]. b. Sayler within
the walls of that friends house in Cres-
cent City last July.
The climax of the day came when Dr.
Miller, seated in a huge red rocking
chair, the same chair he had occupied
that July night. it is alleged. told the
jury what he remembered of the af-
fray.
Not a hint was given by the witness
of the motive which prompted what he
said was a savage attack on him.
Through it all his co-defendant, Mrs. J.
3. Sayler, widow of the. slain man, sat
with bowed head and with tear-stained
father, also under the shadow of the
same accusation, stared straight ahead.
In brief, the witness said that Sayler,
who had refused to join the three de-
fondants in a game of cards. rushed
into the little par1or, seized hand axe
from beneath a couch, struck at him,
overturned the lamp. and then, in dark
ness, grappled in death struggle, which
ended only when four bullets had pierced
the attackers frame
As he told his story, DR.. Miller leaned
far back in the rocking chair, placed
before the jury box. almost oyerturnins
it, and swaying from sic to side, pictured
the combat
He. came at me like mad man.
b-andishing a hand axe and shouted, I'm
going to kill you" said Dr. Miller. He
stumbled against the table, overturning
the lamp, and the first blow struck my
upIfted hand. He lurched onto me, and
could not escape. 1 grabbed for his
arm with my right hand. and he pulled
away Again l caught it. 1t was dark;
his hand was on my throat. l drew my
revolver and shot quickly. / could not
see him The third shot struck my wrist
After the fourth he drew away, and l
could dimly see him staggering back
ward, once stand, and then topple over
against the wall.
1.-THE overturned lamp still burning
feebly. John Grunden took my gun, and
we bound up my wrist and looked at the
body.
..out on the porch" said the defend
ant. Il met Mrs. Sayler. and told her
Bybie was dead My God. what shall
we do? she said, kneeling at his side.
The tragic recital was only one part of
the ordeal through which DR.. Miller pass
ed For three hours he was on the stand
part of the time questioned by his own
counsel, and during the remainder of the
time subjected to a severe cross-examina-
ton by Attorney J. W. Keslar of Dan
Vile, who is aiding States Attorney j..
Pelisard in the case.
Many incidents of the day. preceding
the shooting were touched upon by the
questions and answers. and DR.. Miller
testified to having passed most of the
day in the company of Mrs. Sayler, her
father and her brother, Ira, while the
husband stayed away from his home
and did not sppecr there at mealtime.
In pitching horseshoes and In playing
cards that day, DIR. Miller says Mrs.
Sayler was his partner. and Attorney
Keslar brought out that they occupied
the same seat in the surrey on an after
noon trip to a ball game, and later
drive in the country.
| The cross-examinaton will be resumed
tomorrow, and later in the day Miss
Sayler is expected to be called to the
witness stand. who will testify Of the
infidelity of her mother.