Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 82, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 April 1910 — DR. MILLER RELATES THE KILLING OF J. B. SAYLER. [ARTICLE]

DR. MILLER RELATES THE KILLING OF J. B. SAYLER.

Murder Casc of Interest to Jasper County People Proceeds In Court At Watseka, Illinois. The trial of Dr. W. R. Miller, for the murder of J. B. Sayler, is still going on at Watseka, 111. Sayler was murdered at Cresent City last July. Dr. Miller yesterday testified as to his version of the murder. Sayler has many relatives in Jasper county, which has caused intense interest in the case here. A dispatch from Wat-

seka says: Dr. W. R. Miller, on trial for the murder of J. B. Sayler, today dramatically recited his version of the shooting which cost the life of his friend, J. B. Sayler, within the walls of that friend’s house in Crescent City last July.

The climax of the day came when Dr. Miller, seated in a hugh red rocking chair, the same chair he had occupied that July night, told the jury

what he remembered of the affair. 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. B. Sayler, widow of the slain man, sat with bowed head and tear-stained eyes, while John Grunden, her 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 defendants in a game of cards, rushed into the little parlor, seized a hand ax from beneath a couch, struck at him, overturned the lamp and then in darkness grappled in a death struggle which ended only when four bullets had pierced tie attacker’s frame. As he told his story, Dr. Miller leaned far back in the rocking chair, placed before the. jury box, almost overturning itrand swaying from side to side, pictured the combat. “He came at -me like a madman,

brandishing- a hand ax. and shouted, ‘I am going to kill you,’ ’’’ said Dr. Miller. “He stumbled against the table, overturneding the lamp and the first blow struck my upraised arm. Hq lurched upon me and I could not escape. I grabbed for his arm with my right hand, and he pulled away, again I caught it. It was dark, his hand was on my throat. I drew my revolver and shot quickly. "I could not see him. “The third shot struck my wrist. After the fourth he drew away and I could dimly see him stagger back, stand upright and then topple over against the wall.

“The overturned lamp still burned feebly; John Grunden took my gun. We bound my wrist and I looked at the body.

' ‘ Out oii the porch I met Mrs.-Sayler and told her By was dead. ‘My God what shall I do,’ she said, and knelt beside the body of her husband.”' The tragic recital was only a part of the ordeal through which Dr. Miller three hours he was on the stand, a third of the time questioned by his own counsel anthAhrough thfi, remainder of the time was subjected to a severe cross-examination by At torney Keestar, of Danville, who is aiding State’s Attorney Pellisard in the case.