Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-04-21
Murder and Suicide, Fruits of In
temperance.

ttlEf'Ct 0hOSs
Judge Keller, who gave the narrowing reel.
tsl annexed is well known TO many Vermon,ers
having formerly resided in Brandon and occup
cd honorable posts in the public service.
short extract from The Niles Union was
published in The .4dreriiser lately. purporiing to
give the particulars of the death Of Mrs Keel.
or, Of Decatur. as was supposed by the hands of
her husband, andihe suicide Of Mr. Kecicr.-I
Yesterday. Judge Woolcutt H. Keeler. the faith
er Of the deceased, called upon us, and from him
we derived fuller particulars than were given by
The Union. Simon O. Keller the deceased,
was son Of Judge Keller, and was about lhr.
~ seven years Of age. He was man Of good
general character, industrious. well educated and
enierprising, and was the owner OF a good farm
under cultivation from which he derived his sup
port. AT the time Of his decease, however, he.
was residing with his father upon farm owned
by Judge Keeler. Mrs Keeler the wife Of 81
mon q. Keeer, was about thirty years of age.
who was also well educated intelligent, and of
excellent moral character, unblcmishcd repuia-
ton, correct department and refinement.
As a general rule, the utmost affection and
confidence prevailed between this couple. The
deceased husband, however, was subject at times
20 excessive drinking, which continued upon
affected his nervous system to a great extern.
rendering him almost insane. AT such tunes be
was beset with jealousy towards his wife which
rendered him fierce and overbcaring in his dc.
pertinent toward her, aud at such times their pre-
yious good understanding and affection were re-
placed by feelings IN entire contrast to those of
his real nature. On Friday March %. Judge
keeler went from his residence. to be gone un-
Ill Sunday the 9th, leaving his son and wife, the
only persons at home. For about three weeks
previous TO that day. Simon o. keeler had been
constantly INDUCING TO excess IN the use Of Ii
quor so much so that his appetite for food had
forsakeu him.
Before leaving home, Judge Keller between
whom aud ms son and wife the strongest niiec-
ton subsisted) took occasion 10 admonish his
son that his drinking, if persevered IN, would
soon lead him to dnnkards grave Judge
Kceler exhorted him to put his foot down and
promise that he would not drink mother drop of
liquor until the first Of January. 1851. promising
him, in case he would so promise, aud knowing
from his character that If he So promised he
would perform, TO give him the free use Of the
farm, which is well stocked wiih a span of hors.
es, wagon, and harness. two yoke Of working OK
en-, % hogs, cows, sheep &c, and with all ne
cessary farming utensils and to mike him
present besides of hay. provisions &c, amount.
ing in oil 10 about $500. The son admitted that
he was killing himself with liqnor but cvaded
making the promise desired by his father. and
saying, ~ ell, father, will think it over. and
when you come home we viii make Il all right"
These we're the last words ever spoken between
them.
Judge Keller departed upon his business. and
the awful tragedy which followed was not wit
messed by mortal eye, 50 far AS Is known. On
Sunday afternoon Judge Keeler returned TO his
home, finding the house shnt. Failing TO arouse
the inmates, and with forebodng Of evil. he ef-
fetted an entrance into the house. when the frs,
object which met his eye was The corpse of his
dangher-in-aw, decently disposed upon the
floor OF the sittIng-room, her face bound up with
n handkerchief as If for burial, and the limbs
Strengthened and stiff in death. A pillow was
under her head, and by her side were evidences
that another person had lain down. She had
been shot through the heart Upon fnterinc the
bedroom through the open door. he discovered
the body Of his son, stiff IN DEATH bu, distorted
and convulsed, as though he dragged himself in
the agony Of dying from the side Of his wife, 10
the bed which they usually occupied, and had I
there died in extreme torture Upon searching
for the causc OF his death, the father found that
n large piece had been shaved oil from lump
If opium, and to this agent he attributed the
death OF his son, though post mortem examin-
alton failed to give evidence of that or any 9th
or positive cause.
Judge Keller, who of course was Intimately
acquainted with the habits and character of his
son is strongly Of opinion that he never intend.
ed The death of his wife. even under the sudden
influence Of passion created BY strong drink. but
rather supposes that, in one OF his temporary fits
Of jealousy, he sought to work upon the fears OF
his wife, aud that the shot itself vas accidental
and that. being seized with despair and remorse
1T what he had done, he took means 70 terminate
ais own life. Appearances Indicated that he bad
taken every possible means 10 restore animation
to the body Of ms wife, before committing the
last fatal act against himself
The grief OF Judge Keller, who, to use his
own words, is NOW lone old man." was touch
Jog in the extreme. He gave US the foregoing
particulars in fearful simplicity, and, as We be
lieve, in earnest truihiulness. His words were
broken and choked by the powerful and agoniz-
Jag emotions with which his heart was filed
The monitor must furnish its own comments
Detroit Daily .lipeniser.