Year: 1867

The Execution To-day at Elizabeth, NJ
1.-THE story of His Career and Crime
His Trial and Confession.


Sylvester Quiller, a negro, charged with the
muIder of George F1rmer, in West6eld town
ship, New Jersey, on the night OF the 8th of June
OF the present year, and at his trial at the Crimi
nal Court at Elizabeth found guilty of murder
in the first degree, and sentenced to be hanged
on the 14th of November, suffered the extreme
penalty of the law at the county jail at Eliza.
beth at 10 o'clock A. M. to-day.


The particulars of the crime are as follows:-


During the month of April of the present
year the deceased and his wife were obliged to
remove to barn near Quillers residence, in
consequence OF some misupderstan ding with
their loImer landlord. Quiller, appearing to
sympathze with Firman's situation, rendered
him and his wife apartments in his house until
they could find apartments elsewhere. The
house contained two rooms the entrance lead
ing directly into the front room occupied by
Quiller, the other room being given up to Fir
man. About 6 O'Clock, A. NJ, on Saturday,
June 8, an alteration ensued between the two
men in regard to Firman occupying the room.


Both had been drinking freely, and, as is
usual in all such cases, the men got to quarrel
Ling, and the result was the death of Firman.
After hard words had passed between the two
Qulller proceeded to remove q portion of de-
ceased's furniture from the house, when threats
were uttered on both sides; a brother-in-law of
the accused then called Quiller aside and told
him 10 let Firman alone as he would be killed
If he did not; Quiller then walked to the resi-





the scene OF the murder, and asked to borro a
gun, stating that he wished to kill skunk
He was at first refused, on the ground that he
would set tire to the barn, but hnally the gun
was given 10 him. He then walked directly
back 10 within about ten feet of the house and
called Flrman. AS the latter opened the door
to get out of the house, Quiller raised the gun
TO his shoulder, and, saying, "Come out of
there, you ID nieger," fired: The contents
of the gun entered the body of deceased near
the heart, and literally tore away the lungs and
a portion of the heart, crushing the backbone,
the gun being heavily loaded with shot. The
wound was large enough to admit closed
hand.


After committing the decd Quiller returned
the gun to Mr.. Hatfield, remarking that he had
"kllled the skunk, but that it was tWo-legged
one." He then asked where ne could find
squire, as he desired to give himself into GUS
tody. He was directed to justice of the peace,
but the story was not believed, and Mr.. Hatfield
paid no further attention to the matter until the
truth of the mans statement was too truly cor
robOrated. Quiller then walked to Plaindeld
and offered to give himself into custody, but his
story was not there believed, and he was allowed
to roam according to his pleasure until his
arrest by the chief of the Railway police, ,Bodd-
well by whom he was taken to the Union
County Jail at Elizabeth.


Coroner's inquest was held on the following
day Sunday, when a verdict was rendered
''that George Firman came to his death from
the effects OF gunshot wound, the gun being
in the hands of Sylvester Quiller; and that said





Justice Stephen Jackson, the Coroner, there
upon committed the accused TO the County Jail,
there TO remain until delivered by due course
OF law.


QuIiler was lightly built man, of short
stature, aged thirty, his face conveying the i'm
preston of deep earnestness. He has at various
times during his confinement spoken freely OF
the occurrence, admitting his guilt, but always
that he had no intention of killing the deceased
When questioned as to his probable fate, he
said he thought his punishment would be con-
| Nhn GknNn tknnk h.v.N
twenty years. His own statement of the occur
renee is as follOWs:-


Deceased and wife had been obliged to live
in barn near his house. and feeling a sympa-
thy for them, he took them to live with him
until such time as they could procure apart
ments. After they had lived with him a long
| while, he found out they were not looking for
money from them, he felt they were imposing
| on him, and several times he told them to leave.
| Firman would insult him, and call him bad
names whenever he could. On the night of the
murder they had both been drinking; Firman
began the trouble by Insulting the prisoner,
using bad language, and he (Qqiller) made up
! his mind he should leave.


Quiller took two of his chairs and put them
outside, when Firman said, Don't touch an
other article, or will cut you open.n Prisoners
brother-in-laW then called him aside, aud told
him FiTman would kill him If he did not leave
him alone. He then borrowed a gun, thinking
he would scare Firman away. After getting the
gun he went to the house and told deceased to
come out. He came to the door and said some
thing, when he raised the gun. II went of; but
he did not mean to do II. He returned the gun,
and tried to give himself up to the esquires; but
they did not believe he had killed any one. On
Sunday following he was arrested.


firman, the deceased, had bad reputation,
being known as a common thief In his neigh
ooIhood. He had served several terms In the
JAIL at New Brunswick, and had once made his
escape from that place of confinement He was
aoout sixty years of age.


The statement Of the prisoner varies entirely
from the evidence adduced at the trial. This
evidence goes TO show that the murder OF
deceased was cool, premeditated act; that he
had fought with deceased on the morning oI
the murder, and finding he stood no chance
! with him, he resolved upon some plan to revenge
he returned to his own house and Ia the ViIest
Language dshsa his OppORsRttV come Out upOI