Miller, The Hickman Courier, July 14, 1893

Bardwell, Ky., July 8– C.J. Miller, the mulatto charged with outraging and murdering Mary Ray and her little sister, and whom the people of Bardwell had resolved to burn at the stake, was saved by the father of the murdered girls from a death by fire Friday, only to be hanged by a mob and mutilated and cremated after death.

Miller was arrested in Missouri and was brought back to Bird’s Point by the mob of Kentuckians who had pursued him. Friday morning he was taken to Wickliffe, the county seat of Carlisle county, for examination.

The evidence against him seemed to be overwhelming and conclusive, though he protested his innocence, and at 11 o’clock Friday morning he was brought to Bardwell, the scene of the crime.

A pile of timber ten feet high had been built near the station and upon this it was proposed to burn the unhappy man to death. As soon as the train came to a standstill the crowd began to shout for the prisoner. 

“Burn him! burn him!” was the cry. As they entered the first car to search for Miller, Sheriff John Hudson and his prisoner escaped by the rear car and hurried away. They were seen, and in a moment the mob was yelling at their heels. Into the street poured the howling mob, while a detachment which had made a detour marched down the street and headed off the officer and the Negro. Seeing that it was useless to resist, the sheriff turned back, took Miller to the pile of timber, upon which Miller was compelled to clamber. The sheriff and guards followed him. Immediately 5,000 people surrounded the pile, clamoring for Miller’s life. Up to this time Miller had exhibited indifference to his fate, but when standing upon that heap of timbers facing the mob, and in expectation of death in its most terrible form, he wept and silently raised his shackled hands above his head as if imploring mercy. 

The Negro then addressed the crowd, saying:

“Please be quiet, everybody. My name is C.J. Miller. I am from Springfield, Ill. My wife lives at No. 716 North Second street. I am here among you today looked upon as one of the most brutal men before the people. I stand here surrounded by men who are excited— men who are not willing to let the law take its course— and, as far as the crime is concerned, I have committed no crime, and certainly no crime grows enough to deprive me of my life and liberty. I had some rings which I bought in Bismarck of a jewel peddler. I paid him $1 50 for them. I left Springfield on the first day of July and came to Alton; from Alton I went to East St. Louis, from there to Jefferson barracks, thence to De Sota, thence to Bismarck and thence to Piedmont, thence to Poplar Bluffs, thence to Hoxie and to Jonesboro, then on a freight car to Maldon, then to Sikeston. On the day I was supposed to have committed the offense I was at Bismarck. Well, gentlemen—“

Here he was interrupted, the mob shouting, “Let him talk,” but there was too much noise and he could not be heard.

“For God’s sake, gentlemen,” said the sheriff, “I must take this man to jail. I am bound by my oath to deliver this man to jail.”

The mob, which had quieted by this time, shouted, “Yes, take him to jail until 3 o’clock, then we want him.” 

The prisoner descended from the horrible pile of inflammable materials and was taken to jail. At 3 o’clock the jail was surrounded by the mob. Before Miller was taken from jail Mr. Ray, who had a lingering doubt as to the guilt of Miller, proposed as a compromise with the mob that Miller be hanged. This was agreed to and a rush was made for the jail.

As Chief of Police Manoney was just leaving the prison the mob rushed in and seized the prisoner. He was stripped and his shirt was tied around his legs. A chain was placed around his body, and, followed by a mob, he was led through the streets to a depot and lifted onto the pile.


There were shouts of "Set it on fire, burn him," but they were not heeded. The chain was taken from Miller's body and hooked around his neck. A man climbed the telegraph pole, the chain was passed to him and he made it fast to the crossarm. Other men placed a forked stick between Millers [sic] hips, lifted him several feet and allowed him to drop.


It is thought that the first fall broke his neck, but the operation was repeated. Then numerous shots were fired into his body, and he was left hanging until they were satisfied he was dead. While the body was hanging there both ears and nearly all the toes and fingers were cut from the corpse. Later the pile was fired and the body was cremated.