New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-04-13
Murder and Suicide.

short extract from The Niles Union was published in
The Adrerftser lately purporng to give te lar.cs :"
the death of Mrs Keller of Decatur as was supposed ny
the hands of her husband and the suicide OF Mr. Neel
Yesterday, Judge Woocu H. Keller the ther OF te uc
ceased called upon us, and from nm we ~
fculars than given by Ihe CAt0H simon y;
Keller the deceased was a son of Judge keeler, and
was about thiTtyseven years OF age. ne was a M, WI
good general character industrious wen euucvu hi
ferprsng and was the owner of good farm under cu
yadn from which he derived his support az to t' VI
hisdecesse however he residing win ms mher upon
farm owned by Judge Keller Mrs keeier the wie Oh
Simon Keller was about thirty years ciae VINO was aso
well educated intelligent and of excellent mora caIaCIer
unbemished reputation, correct uepor'io" anu 0"'i'
ment. e,..
Asa general rule the utmost affection and confidence
prevailed between this couple. The deceased husband
however was subject at times to excessive DRINKING winch
cou,pr al mon him sometimes for weeks together, and
Whici necfed his nervous system 10 great extent rem
dering Tim almost insane Az sHch ule ne was Gose'
and yerbearng in his department toward her. and at such
times their previous good understanding and affection
venaced by feelings in entire contrast to those of his real
nature On Friday, March 95 Judge Keeer went from
his residence to be gone until Sunday the eth leaving his
son and wife, the only persons at home For about three
weeks previous to that day, Simon O. keeer had been
etany INDUCING TO in the OF liquor much
that his appetite for food had forsaken him.
Before leaving home Judge Keller (between whom and
his son and wife the strongest affection subssed took
casion to admonh his that his drinking fpersevered
In, would soon lead him to drunkards grave. Judge
Keeer exhorted him to put his foot down and promise that
he would not drink another drop of liquor until the first of
January 1854 promising him, in he would prom
se and knowing from his character that he promised
he would perform TO give him the free of the farm
which Is well stocked with span of horses, wagon and
harness two yoke of working oxen 90 hogs cows sheep
&C. and with all necessary farming utensils and To make
him present besides ofhay provisions, &C. amounting
In all 10 about $500 The admitted that he killing
himself with liquor but evaded making the promise desired
by his father and saying well, father, will think il
over and when you come home will make it all right
These were the last words spoken between them
Judge Keeer departed upon his business and the awful
tragedy which followed not witnessed by mortal eve
10 far as is known. On Sunday afternoon Judge keeler
returned to his home finding the house shut Failing to
arouse the inmates and with orebodng of evil he effected
an entrance into the house when the first object which met
was the corpse of his daughter.n-laW decenty dis
o. spon the floor of the sitting room her face bound up
With bandkerchefas if for burial and the limbs straight
ened and stiff in DEATH pillow was under her head and
by her side evidences that another person had lain
down. She had been SHOT through the heart Upon enter
ing the bedroom through the open door he discovered the
body his son, stiff in death but distorted and convu,ed
though he dragged himself in the agony of diving from
s'de of his wife, to the bed which they usually occupied
MO lad there died in extreme torture Upon searching for
he cause Of his DEATH the father found that large piece
nHu oe.n shaved of from lump of opium and to this
nc attributed the death Of his though post NOR
Examination failed to give evidence Of that any 9th
Judge keeer, who Of course was intimately aconsird
1; <th "u character OF his son. strongly of opn.
a. Nan ;ransn the death of his wife, even under
m er snnnose ~ passion created by strong drink,
jealo. he sgag, to work upon the fears s oS Ss Wife and
sia ;r snd ,s,o and that. being seized
means 10 terminate his life a au uoie =; Sos.sd
that he bad aken every possible means 10 restore ANNA
fiop TO the body Of his wife, before com;,,; .be last ia
iaI act against himself
The gef of Judge Keller who TO use NJ, , words is
now lone old man" was touching in the erreme lie
gave the foregoing paTitats N fearful simplicity and
S,oI en- and choked by the powsri and agonizing
sons r;th which his heart was filled The mon ton must
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