Year: 1875




In the case of John Miller, indicted at this term
for the murder Of his son Charles at Birch Island,
the County Attorney entered mol. pros. as to the
first count in the indictment, which charges express
malice aforethought. The respondent then pleaded
guilty.


For the purpose of enabling the Court to determine
the degree of murder Mrs. Miller the wife of the
spondent, called and gave the following account
Of the affair:


My husband got up about five O'Clock in the morn
ing and noticed he staggered and leaned up against
the door. asked him if he felt light headed, and
bathed his head; he then went and sat down in a
char and put his boots on; made some noise and
he threw boot at me, and said he would learn me
better than to disturb him in that way told him
didn't think l disturbed him much; he said did,
and that was what did it for, that was just like
my mother-she was always trying to torment every
body; then went about getting my breakfast, and
started to go down cellar, when he came and took
me by the hair of the head pulled me back into the
room and sat me down in chair, telling me to sit
there until he told me to get OUT at the time
he struck me and threw dish of dirty water in my
face, saying. 'tlere go and wash yourself'' Charles
first appeared at the porch door while he bring
ing me back into the room and says, let her alone
or will knock you down. Then he went round to
the front door, and told him to go away; he went
out and Mr. Miller went to the door and told him he
would not have him around the house any more;
Charles then passed by the window and requested
me to give him his hat, which did, telling him not
to speak to hi; father again. for he was as crazy as
loon; the next saw, Mr.. Miller came in and took
his gun from the chimney corner and went out; i'm
mediately after heard the report, and looking out
saw Charles lying on the grass sent for help and
went off over the hill and waited until they came, for
frfn ad T I,ooIr r
at the gate, and his clothes wet through he
wanted some dry clothes and told kim to go up
stairs, and l went with him and got them for him;
while up there he wanted me to screen him; he
wanted me to say that Charles wanted to go gum
ming and he opposed it, aud tried to take the gun
away from him, and in the scuffe the gun went off
accidentally; he said If would screen him he would
never speak another cross word to me or lay his
hands on me again; he said while was gone he
tried to drown himself, hitched rope to himself,
tied rock to it and jumped in, but the rock slipped
out and he said the next time we went down near
there he wonld show ne the rock. Charles and his
father had frequently quarreled Charles was nine
teen years old. Mr.. Miller is sixty-four.


The County Attorney said that he had fnlly inves-
tgated the facts of the and was satisfied that
the crime was murder in the second degree, and
that Mr.. Reed, who was appointed by the Court as
counsel for the respondent, concurred in that view


Miller was then sentenced to imprisonment in the
States prison for the remainder of his natural life.


Anthony Bundy, found guilty at the May term of
an assault upon the person of Annie M. Penny. with
intent to murder, was sentenced to seven years in
the States prison.


Tne 1ohowing parties were convicted as rioters at
the last term in resisting officer who was attempt
ing to seize quantity Of LIQUORS on wagon in the
street; James H. Larkin, John Fitzgerald, Thomas
III. Conley and Thomas Simpson were fined fifty dol
lars and quarter costs each. James McQuade and
Martin McCaferty were each fined S2O


The criminal business is nearly finished for this
term.


Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will be de-
voted to civil business.