Born: c. 1861
Died:
Married: Abbie Boyce
Children: two, a son and a daughter, who were 16 and 18 at the time of the murder of their mother.
Herbert Miller was a guide who became infamous for murdering his wife. Tried for murder, he was permitted to plead guilty to manslaughter and sentenced to 16 years hard labor in Clinton Prison.
Adirondack News, October 21, 1905
MURDER AT SARANAC INN.
On Monday afternoon about five o'clock Herbert Miller, a man well known in the Adirondacks, for the past two years in charge of the guide house at Saranac Inn, shot and instantly killed his wife. Miller, who had been drinking, went into the kitchen where his wife was. He got his rifle and then asked his wife if he could take her dog and go hunting. They got into an altercation and before Patrick Ryan or Miss Katherine O'Neil, both of whom were in the room, could interfere he fired at his wife, the bullet entering over the left eye and literally tearing the top of her head off. Miller then placed the muzzle of the rifle under his own chin, but before he could discharge it Ryan grabbed the weapon away from him. Ryan then ran for help and while he was gone Miller picked up a knife used in the kitchen for peeling potatoes and gashed his throat severely. He fell to the floor where he was found by the men who came at Ryan's call, lying beside his dead wife. Dr. Twitchell, of Saranac Lake, who happened to be present took charge of Miller, staunched the flow of blood, sewed up the cuts and made the unfortunate man as comfortable as he could. Miller is a man 44 years of age, a former resident of Saranac Lake, and when sober is said to be a fine fellow and to have been good to his wife and family. When under the influence of liquor he appeared to be jealous of his wife for which there was no cause, and it is said that when in that condition had threatened to kill her.
Sheriff Steenberge, District Attorney Main and Coroner Dr. Oliver were notified of the shooting and went to Saranac Inn on the early train Monday evening. By the time they arrived Miller had come to his senses, and was horrified at what he had done. He said that his wife was one of the best of women, and his only regret was that it was not himself that was dead in place of her. He admitted his guilt and said that be was ready to take the punishment of his crime. Sheriff Steenberge arrived in town Tuesday morning with his prisoner, who is now locked up in jail here. He is a man who weighs about 100 pounds, of sandy complexion, wears a mustache and side whiskers and is bald headed. He is apparently broken down by his awful crime and has very little to say to anybody.
A sad scene was enacted on the train coming to Malone on Tuesday morning. Miller was in the smoking car handcuffed to Sheriff Steenberge, and in the day coach was his boy, a young man 17 years of age who was accompanying the remains of his mother to Hyde Park, Vt., where her parents reside. Coroner Oliver asked the boy if he wanted to see his father. The boy said he did and together they went into the smoking car. The boy took hold of his father's hand, on which was the handcuff, and the father threw his arm around the boy's neck and cried like a child. Getting control of himself, he directed the sheriff to give his watch to the boy, which was done and the boy was taken back into the other car.
The murdered woman was formerly Miss Abbie Boyce, of Hyde Park, Vt., a cousin of Willard Boyce, who is connected with the management of Saranac Inn. She was an estimable woman in every respect and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew her. She leaves besides her unfortunate husband, the son above mentioned and a daughter, aged 18 years, who was attending school at Kingston, N. Y. The affair is a particularly sad one and nothing but sorrow is felt for all concerned. Miller, when asked about it said that it was “rum that did it.” There is a temperance lesson in it that those addicted to the use of strong drink will do well to consider.
—Palladium
Ticonderoga Sentinel, October 19, 1905
KILLED HIS WIFE THEN CUT HIS THROAT.
Horrible Crime Committed by a Drunken Guide at Saranac Lake.
Herbert Miller of Saranac Lake shot and instantly killed his wife and then cut his own throat Monday at Saranac Inn. Miller had been drinking and quarreled with his wife. Dr. J. A Pryor of Saranac Lake was called and took several stitches in the wound in Miller's neck. Miller will recover. The body of Mrs. Miller arrived in Saranac Lake on the 6:20 train Monday evening. Miller has had charge of the guide house at the inn during the last summer. He has two small children.
Miller was well known throughout the woods to the thousands of summer visitors as a guide, having followed that vocation since boyhood. Mrs. Miller was formerly Miss Boyce of Saranac Lake. There is much public indignation against Miller, and the authorities fear, that they will have difficulty in keeping him out of the hands of the mob if he recovers. The guide house of which Miller had charge is situated east of the inn. It is occupied by the help and the guides who are employed by the guests of the house.
The Sun, November 16, 1905
Judge Beman has appointed Willard Boyce, of Saranac Inn, guardian for the two children of Herbert Miller, the homicide, and also to look after affairs in relation to the estate of the family.
Malone Farmer, April 11, 1906
Herbert Miller pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder in the first degree, alleged to have been committed by shooting and killing his wife last fall at Saranac Inn. His case was set down for trial at an adjourned term of the supreme court to convene April 30th, at which Judge H. T. Kellogg will preside, and several equity actions will also be disposed of.
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