The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1910-03-16
WAGES OF SIN
Seasat;snaI Case Of Three Persons Charg-
ed With Murder.
SCANDAL IN HIGH LIFE
The Murder Was the Result OF the
Intimacy Of Doctor and the Wfe
Of . Prominent Citizen, Who Was
Slain By the Doctor and His Ac-

completes
The sayler case. which is now Oh
trial a, Watseka. H.. Is enc OF the
most sensational murder cases ever
tried in that State. The intensity
of the interest taken by the commun-
tty in the case IS due not only
10 the sensational details OF the
crime and OF the conditions which
led 20 it, but also TO the fact that
the murdered man and those &C
cused OF ee!ag his slayers and their
respective relatives are known to es-
s-ybody throughout Iroouois county
and even beyond its limits.
Immediately after the crime was
committed. on July Il. 1909. popu-
lar feeling IN the county was SO
strong that Il would have been prac-
ttc-lly impossible to obtain jury OF
twelve unbiased men 70 try the three
persons charged with the murder.
Blu: since then the excitement has
cooled down considerably and Il is
believed that the selection OF the
fury 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 woa!d mean hanging or hce-
long irpr.sonment
tn persons to be tried FOR the
murder OF John Byron Sayler. the
Crescent City banker and live stock
broker. are Dr.. William 2. Miller.
3lrs. Lucy Sayler. the widow OF the
murdered man and her father. John
Grunder. IRA Grnnder. brother OF
Mrs. Sayler. is also under Indictment
bat merly as an accessory after the
fact. Etate's attorney John c. Pal
;issard will conduct the prosecution
and he processes TO feel sure Of the
conviction OF the accused.
Joha BOZ Sayle1 was ki':ed tn
his own house by William f. Miller
about te, O'Clock o. :he Right oi
July II. 1909. The defeac- VII!
claim that the deed was an act o.
self defense and that d.. Miller d.
not FIRE the fatal shots until after
Sayier had attacked with a hat
chee. The prosecution. however. viii
try 20 prove that the act was pre-.
medieate6 murder and was tse re
suit OF a conspiracy between, Dr.
Miller, Mrs Sayie1 and he- father
Il appears that for many years
Or. Miller and Mrs Sayier eut;.ta!n
ed intimate relations which we-e iSe
talk OF the town and caused the com
raunity socially to ostracise both the
doctor and h:s affinity. Il is snowc
tha. Say!er. the victim OF the mur
der. had knowledge OF the relation:
existing between his wife and Dr.
Miller for many years. but that foi
the sake OF his daughter he refrain
ed from taking legal steps 10 OBJ
tain . divorce.
Dr.. Ntle4's wife. = Iovable anc
highly respected woman. also knew
OK the scandalous relations OF he.
husband. but would not seek sepe'
alton. fearing that the scandal con
nected with divorce suit woulc
blight the life OF her boy.
Il Is said that DR.. Miller and hi.
AFFINITY made several attempts to ric
themselves OF their respective lega
partners and even tried to inveigle
Sayler into the appearance OF az
ENGAGEMENT with Mrs Miller. bu>
failed n every instance. It is be
lieved and vii! be charged by the
prosecution tina: becoming desperate
the doctor and his affinity resorted
70 the extreme remedy OF killing the
man who stood in their way.
What happened at the Sayler res.
ideace on the night OF the murde,
only the persons charged with the
murder know. They claim that Say.
ier came into the room in which
Mrs. Say!er. her tatier and Dr.. Mil
aer were about TO play a game o:
cards. that they urged him to joic
the game. but that De refused and
without further proTocatson attacked
Dr.. Miller with hatchet.
They insist that d.. Miller merely
acted n self defense when ne sho:
Sayler Witnesses who entered the
room OF the murder shortly after the
shooting. assert that there was no
hatchet IN the room at that time and
4 one was found there. It must have
been placed there later In an attemp,
TO manufacture evidence.