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| | name = Chauncey W. Millard | | name = Chauncey W. Millard | ||
| | birth_date = c. 1851 | | birth_date = c. 1851 | ||
| | birth_place = ] |
| birth_place = ], U.S. | ||
| | death_date = January 29, 1869 (aged 18) | | death_date = January 29, 1869 (aged 18) | ||
| | death_place = ], ], U.S. | | death_place = ], ], U.S. | ||
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| '''Chauncey W. Millard''' (c. 1851 – January 29, 1869) was a 19th-century criminal in the ] |
'''Chauncey W. Millard''' (c. 1851 – January 29, 1869) was a 19th-century criminal in the ] convicted of murder. At 18, he became the youngest individual executed in Utah's history. Millard confessed to killing his coworker, Harlan Swett, following an argument. Before his execution by firing squad, Millard sold his body to a doctor in exchange for a pound of candy, which he reportedly consumed while awaiting execution. | ||
| == Early life == | == Early life == | ||
| Millard's early life is |
Millard's early life is poorly documented. He was reportedly born around 1851 in ] and described as a "child of doubtful paternity." His mother placed him in a poorhouse at the age of six, where he lived and worked until being sent to labor for a farmer named Babbitt. Millard reportedly endured abusive treatment from Babbitt, prompting him to destroy his employer’s property and flee at the age of 13.<ref name="LehiFreePress">{{cite web |url=https://lehifreepress.com/2018/08/16/from-the-vaults-artifacts-on-display-at-hutchings-museum/ |title=From the Vaults: Artifacts on Display at Hutchings Museum |website=Lehi Free Press |date=August 16, 2018 |access-date=August 24, 2024}}</ref> | ||
| During the ], Millard reportedly became a ], engaging in robberies and killings. He later claimed to have killed five men before moving west.<ref name="LehiFreePress" /><ref name="Deseret">{{cite web |url=https://www.deseret.com/2010/6/17/20121932/utah-has-interesting-history-of-executions/ |title=Utah Has Interesting History of Executions |author=Pat Reavy |date=June 16, 2010 |website=Deseret News |access-date=August 24, 2024}}</ref> | |||
| == Murder and capture == | == Murder and capture == | ||
| In 1868, Millard was hired by Champion Mayfield, a freight driver, to transport |
In December 1868, Millard was hired by Champion Mayfield, a freight driver, to transport supplies from ] to remote Nevada mining camps. Another freight driver, Harlan Swett, was also part of the group.<ref name="HutchingsMuseum">{{cite web |url=https://johnhutchingsmuseum.org/wild-west/ |title=The Tale of Chauncey Millard |website=Hutchings Museum |date=4 May 2018 |access-date=August 24, 2024}}</ref> | ||
| On December 11, 1868, the group stopped for lunch near Saratoga Bay, along what is now Utah Highway 68. Mayfield noticed his gun was missing and began searching for it. While Swett prepared food over a campfire, Mayfield asked Millard about the weapon. Moments later, gunfire erupted. Mayfield ran toward the commotion to find Swett lying dead and Millard standing over him with a revolver. Millard then fired four shots at Mayfield, striking him once in the hand. Mayfield fled across the ice-covered Utah Lake to safety.<ref name="LehiFreePress" /> | |||
| On December 11, 1868, while the group camped near the western shore of Utah Lake, Millard shot and killed Harlan Swett following an argument. He then attempted to shoot Mayfield, firing four shots and hitting him once in the hand, but Mayfield escaped across the ice-covered lake to safety.<ref name="LehiFreePress">{{cite web |url=https://lehifreepress.com/2018/08/16/from-the-vaults-artifacts-on-display-at-hutchings-museum/ |title=From the Vaults: Artifacts on Display at Hutchings Museum |website=Lehi Free Press |date=August 16, 2018 |access-date=August 24, 2024}}</ref> | |||
| Millard later reportedly told a representative of the ''Salt Lake Daily Reporter,'' "Well, Mayfield needn’t be afraid of ever being killed by a pistol, for it can’t be done. His life is insured. I shot at him four times, fair as ever a man did, and with good aim too, and never hurt him."<ref name="LehiFreePress" /> | |||
| Mayfield's escape and report of the murder prompted a manhunt led by ], a prominent lawman. On December 17, 1868, Rockwell and his posse apprehended Millard near Cedar Valley. During his interrogation, Millard admitted to killing Harlan Swett and acknowledged a history of violence.<ref name="HutchingsMuseum" /><ref name="Deseret" /> | |||
| Mayfield's escape and report of the murder prompted a manhunt. Four days later, Millard was spotted near Cedar Valley. ], a prominent lawman, and Henry Heath apprehended him on December 17, 1868. The capture was noted in newspapers, with one reporter from the ''Salt Lake Daily Telegraph'' remarking, "When such officers as Rockwell and Heath go for a man, it is pretty generally a foregone conclusion that they will have him."<ref name="HutchingsMuseum" /><ref name="LehiFreePress" /> | |||
| == Trial and execution == | == Trial and execution == | ||
| Millard was |
Millard was transported to ] to stand trial, where he confessed to killing Harlan Swett. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death by firing squad. The execution was scheduled for January 29, 1869.<ref name="Fox13">{{cite web |url=https://www.fox13now.com/news/uniquely-utah/all-that-remains-of-an-executed-criminal-on-display-in-a-utah-museum |title=All that remains of an executed criminal on display in a Utah museum |date=July 14, 2021 |website=Fox 13 News |access-date=August 24, 2024}}</ref> | ||
| With no family or associates to claim his remains, Millard sold his body to Dr. Don Carlos Roberts, who intended to use his skeleton for medical studies. In return, Millard received a pound of candy.<ref name="HutchingsMuseum" /> | |||
| On the day of his execution, Millard |
On the day of his execution, Millard reportedly commented on the snowy weather, stating, "It was snowing like this when I done it." Witnesses noted that he showed little emotion as he was seated in the execution chair. Legend claims he was still eating candy as the shots were fired.<ref name="Deseret" /><ref name="LehiFreePress" /> | ||
| == Legacy == | == Legacy == | ||
| Artifacts related to Chauncey W. Millard, including a preserved piece of tanned skin reportedly used by Dr. Roberts to wrap medical instruments and the gun used in the murder, are displayed at the |
Artifacts related to Chauncey W. Millard, including a preserved piece of tanned skin reportedly used by Dr. Roberts to wrap medical instruments and the gun used in the murder, are displayed at the Hutching’s Museum in ]. The rest of Millard's body was reportedly destroyed during an unsuccessful attempt to clean the bones using lye.<ref name="Fox13" /><ref name="HutchingsMuseum" /> | ||
| == References == | == References == | ||
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Latest revision as of 12:06, 9 January 2025
19th-century criminal executed in Utah This article is about the 19th-century criminal. Not to be confused with other historical figures named Chauncey Millard.| Chauncey W. Millard | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1851 New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 29, 1869 (aged 18) Provo, Utah Territory, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Execution by firing squad |
| Other names | Candy Man |
| Occupation | Freight driver |
| Criminal status | Executed |
Chauncey W. Millard (c. 1851 – January 29, 1869) was a 19th-century criminal in the Utah Territory convicted of murder. At 18, he became the youngest individual executed in Utah's history. Millard confessed to killing his coworker, Harlan Swett, following an argument. Before his execution by firing squad, Millard sold his body to a doctor in exchange for a pound of candy, which he reportedly consumed while awaiting execution.
Early life
Millard's early life is poorly documented. He was reportedly born around 1851 in New York and described as a "child of doubtful paternity." His mother placed him in a poorhouse at the age of six, where he lived and worked until being sent to labor for a farmer named Babbitt. Millard reportedly endured abusive treatment from Babbitt, prompting him to destroy his employer’s property and flee at the age of 13.
During the American Civil War, Millard reportedly became a bushwhacker, engaging in robberies and killings. He later claimed to have killed five men before moving west.
Murder and capture
In December 1868, Millard was hired by Champion Mayfield, a freight driver, to transport supplies from Salt Lake City to remote Nevada mining camps. Another freight driver, Harlan Swett, was also part of the group.
On December 11, 1868, the group stopped for lunch near Saratoga Bay, along what is now Utah Highway 68. Mayfield noticed his gun was missing and began searching for it. While Swett prepared food over a campfire, Mayfield asked Millard about the weapon. Moments later, gunfire erupted. Mayfield ran toward the commotion to find Swett lying dead and Millard standing over him with a revolver. Millard then fired four shots at Mayfield, striking him once in the hand. Mayfield fled across the ice-covered Utah Lake to safety.
Millard later reportedly told a representative of the Salt Lake Daily Reporter, "Well, Mayfield needn’t be afraid of ever being killed by a pistol, for it can’t be done. His life is insured. I shot at him four times, fair as ever a man did, and with good aim too, and never hurt him."
Mayfield's escape and report of the murder prompted a manhunt. Four days later, Millard was spotted near Cedar Valley. Orrin Porter Rockwell, a prominent lawman, and Henry Heath apprehended him on December 17, 1868. The capture was noted in newspapers, with one reporter from the Salt Lake Daily Telegraph remarking, "When such officers as Rockwell and Heath go for a man, it is pretty generally a foregone conclusion that they will have him."
Trial and execution
Millard was transported to Provo to stand trial, where he confessed to killing Harlan Swett. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death by firing squad. The execution was scheduled for January 29, 1869.
With no family or associates to claim his remains, Millard sold his body to Dr. Don Carlos Roberts, who intended to use his skeleton for medical studies. In return, Millard received a pound of candy.
On the day of his execution, Millard reportedly commented on the snowy weather, stating, "It was snowing like this when I done it." Witnesses noted that he showed little emotion as he was seated in the execution chair. Legend claims he was still eating candy as the shots were fired.
Legacy
Artifacts related to Chauncey W. Millard, including a preserved piece of tanned skin reportedly used by Dr. Roberts to wrap medical instruments and the gun used in the murder, are displayed at the Hutching’s Museum in Lehi, Utah. The rest of Millard's body was reportedly destroyed during an unsuccessful attempt to clean the bones using lye.
References
- ^ "From the Vaults: Artifacts on Display at Hutchings Museum". Lehi Free Press. August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ Pat Reavy (June 16, 2010). "Utah Has Interesting History of Executions". Deseret News. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ "The Tale of Chauncey Millard". Hutchings Museum. 4 May 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ "All that remains of an executed criminal on display in a Utah museum". Fox 13 News. July 14, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2024.