Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2016 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== EAST SHORE NEWS PENTWATER, OCEANA Co., MICH. FRIDAY, May 17, 1872 Vol. II, Number 70 MURDERER ARRESTED -------- Sequel to the Horrible MILLER Tragedy - The Murderer of MILLER Arrested - He Pleads Guilty - He Confesses How he Plotted the Crime. -------- On the night of the 24th of November last, DENNISON MILLER, and old and highly esteemed citizen of Greenfield, was murdered in cold blood in his bedroom, in his dwelling, on the Chicago road, about six miles from the city. All the features of the tragedy were so cow- ardly and villainous that a thrill of horror ran through the community when they were made known. The story briefly retold is as follows: On the night above mentioned - a bright moon- light one - Mr. and Mrs. MILLER had retired as usual to their sleeping-room, a small bed- room on the first floor, opening out of the kitchen. The balance of the family, a young man, a nephew, was in bed up stairs. Shortly after 12 o'clock Mrs. MILLER was awakened by the footsteps, as she thought, of some one outside near the window. Just at that time, a cat, which had been shut in the house, made a noise, and Mrs. MILLER arose quietly without disturbing her husband, and opened the outside kitchen door to let the cat out. As she opened the door a man pushed rudely against it, and entered the house. Alarmed, she exclaimed "What do you want here?" The man replied, "keep still and you won't be hurt." She screamed "murder" and fled to the bedroom. The assassin followed her, and in reply to her question demanded money. As he reached the bedroom door, Mr. MILLER, who had been aroused by the outcry, and had got out of bed, met him and grappled with him. The two struggled together a moment, when the ruffian plunged a dagger into Mr. MILLER'S breast. The wounded man sank to the floor and expired without a groan. The murderer turned on his heel and fled. The neighborhood was soon aroused and search for the assassin was commenced, but no trace of him could be found. He had evi- dently been disguised, for although Mrs. MILLER had a full view of him in the clear moonlight she could give little description of him except to say that he was a small man, not more than five feet four inches in height, wore a long loose overcoat of some dark fabric, close buttoned to the chin, a black slouch hat, and his face looked so black that she could not tell whether it was blackened or covered with a black cloth mask - she thought the latter. With the ex- ception of a few drops of blood upon the doorstep, and just at the corner of the house, around which he evidently turned, he left no trace to show in which direction he had gone. The greatest vigilance was exercised to discover the murderer. The natural desire to bring him to justice was stimulated by a reward of $500, $300 of which was offered by Sheriff CODD, and $200 by the family of the murdered man. One or two arrests were made, and it was first supposed that there was strong evi- dence against one of the parties. But it was not sufficient to warrant his being held, and he was discharged. But Sheriff CODD and his deputies did not relax their vigilance, and ever since the affair they have been on the alert to discover the assassin and bring im to jus- tice. Quite recently a man named JOHNSON, who is in jail on a charge of counter- feiting, informed the Sheriff that one of his fellow prisoners had told him some things which led him to believe that the man was the murderer of MILLER. The Sher- iff encouraged him to sound him still further, and the latter did so, confirming still more strongly his suspicions. Sheriff CODD and Prosecuting Attorney VAN DYKE then called JOHNSON and the suspected man, whose name is WM. SMITH, before them for an in- terview in a private room. The result of the interview was that SMITH confessed his guilt, and made a clean breast of the whole matter. He was questioned and cross-questioned, on every detail of the affair, and his state- ments are corroborated by well known facts and circumstances. The man having thus con- fessed his guilt, gave information which led to the securing by the Sheriff of the dagger with which the murder was committed, and the coat worn by the murderer on the night of the affair. These were shown to SMITH, when he identified them, and they are now in the possession of the Sheriff. SMITH was arraigned before Justice BARBIER yesterday noon on a charge of murder, when he pleaded guilty to the charge and was com- mitted to await trial. The confession of SMITH is that at the time of the murder he was working as a farm hand for JOE MAPLES, whose farm adjoins that of MILLER on the west; and whose house is not many rods away. He made up his mind to rob MILLER, who was reputed to have a con- siderable sum of money in his house. He came to the city and bought a bottle of chloro- form at a drug store on Jefferson avenue. He also bought of one EBENEZER HARRISON a dirk knife with a sheath, which he intended to use only in self-defense. He also pre- pared a black cloth mask which he wore over his face. He slept with a young son of Mr. MAPLES in a back room up stairs. He could climb out of the window of this room upon the roof of a back kitchen and thence eas- ily slide to the ground. He proceeded to MILLER'S house, having previously taken pains to inform himself as to the part of the house in which Mr. and Mrs. MILLER slept. He went to their window, the curtain of which had not been lowered. By the light of the clear full moon he could distinctly see the couple in bed and that Mr. MILLER slept on the front side. He then went around to the kitchen door to effect an entrance. What was his surprise soon after reaching the door to see it open as if to allow him to walk in. Supposing himself discovered, he thought he might as well go through with his scheme, and he did walk in. The result is well known. After committing the murder he ran im- mediately back to the MAPLES' house, climbed upon the roof of the back kitchen, crawled through the window, and got back into bed without awakening his sleeping companion. In the course of an hour the family of Mr. MAPLES was aroused with the new of the murder. SMITH pretended to be asleep when they called to him, but feigned to be sur- prised at the news, and woke up the boy and told it to him. But neither of them got up. SMITH kept on with his work as usual the next day. He privately sent the dirk knife back to HARRISON, requesting him to bring it back to him (SMITH) in the presence of third parties and sell it to him again. Though the object of this maneuver was not known at the time, it evidently was to manufacture evidence that he did not buy the dirk until after the murder. He soon after sold the dirk to his cousin in Macomb county, who sold it to GEORGE BUTTON, of whom Sheriff CODD obtained it. SMITH is a young man about 18 years of age, small, stout built, and of an ugly aspect generally. His parents live in this city. He is evidently a desperado of the worst type. About six weeks ago he attempted to throw a train on the Michigan Central Road off the track near Dearborn. He was arrested and gave bail to appear for trial. On the evening of the day of the unveiling of the Soldiers' Monument he was detected in the act of making perparations to throw from the track a heavily loaded excursion train. If this diabolical attempt had succeeded undoubtedly many lives would have been lost. But he was caught in time to frus- trate it. Soon thereafter he set fire to and burned a barn in Ecorse. He was arrested for arson, and it was while in jail awaiting trial on this charge that his connection with the MILLER tragedy leaked out. When arrested he had upon his person a double-barreled shot gun, a four-shooter revolver and a huge dirk knife. He has been hereabout ever since the murder, and it is believed that an accusing conscience had much to do with his own revealing of the fact that he was the murderer. At any rate it is a matter of congratulation that the my- stery which surrounded that dreadful affair has been cleared up, and that the desperado who committed the foul crime is likely to receive the punish- ment which the law awards to his crime. The vigilance and promptness of Sheriff CODD in this affair are highly commend- able, and we congratulate him on the success of his detective efforts in ferretting out the perpatrator of one of the most diabolical crimes which ever startled the good people of Wayne county. - Detroit Post. ==========================================================================