The Rev. C. Y. Snell, once a minister of the Baptist church in Grand Forks, took to farming, acquiring land near Inkster in Grand Forks County. He and his wife Abbie were industrious and turned the homestead into a prosperous farm of horses, cattle, and tilled fields.
In the fall of 1884, 19-year-old George Miller came seeking employment. He proclaimed his devotion to Christianity, so the Snells took him in. It did not go well.
In January of 1885, the Rev. Snell said goodbye to his wife and six-year-old son as he left on an errand of good will to Mayville where he was engaged in missionary labor.
On January 25th, farm hand Miller arrived in Grand Forks driving a sleigh and team. He seemed to be quite wealthy. He said he was on his way to see his brother in Winnipeg. He left town a few days later. Then a telegram arrived, notifying authorities that Miller was wanted for the murder of Abbie Snell and her son. The Reverend Snell also learned of the murders by telegram.
George Miller was tracked down in Anoka, Minnesota. On this date in 1885 a small notice appeared in the Connecticut Western News of Litchfield, Connecticut. The arrest had become national news, appearing in papers from the East Coast to California.
Miller was transported back to Grand Forks for trial, and he calmly confessed his crime. He said the day before the murders he had taken a load of wheat to town. While there he purchased a bottle of whiskey and hid the bottle in the barn. That evening he told Mrs. Snell he was going to a literary club meeting, but he actually went to a dance. The next morning Mrs. Snell found out where he’d been and scolded him. He went to the barn and drank the whiskey. When he went back to the house she began scolding again. He said he didn’t remember anything more and didn’t know how he killed the woman and son. When he regained consciousness, he took all the money he could find, hitched the team to the sleigh, and drove to Grand Forks. From there he took a train to Fargo and then Brainerd.
Miller was tried in August and sentenced to hang. A scaffold was erected near the County Courthouse and Miller met his fate on October 30th 1885.
Dakota Datebook written by Carole Butcher
Sources:
Dickinson Press. “Murderer Arrested.” 14 February 1885. Dickinson, Dakota Territory. Page 1.
Connecticut Western News. “News of the Week.” 11 February 1885. Litchfield CT. Page 4.
Bismarck Weekly Tribune. “Reported Arrest of the Supposed Inkster Murderer.” 6 February 1885. Bismarck Dakota Territory. Page 1.
Bismarck Weekly Tribune. “Miller Hanged!” 30 October 1885. Bismarck Dakota Territory. 30 October 1885. Page 1.
