The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-26
An Old German, Named &c. Keller, Condemned
and Executed Under the Judge
Lynch Code in Kansas.
He Was Found Guilty Of Six Murders, In
GLIDING His Two Wives and the
Wife and Two Infants Of
His Nearest Neighbor.
Fifteen Hundred People Witness
:. "a
the Execution.


Tfmes.l
La CYGNE, KAN, August 81. 1874
II old man Bender had been known to have had
brother living I'm Eastern Kansas there could
have been little doubt expressed but what J.. G.
Keller, the German murderer, who was hung here
last evening BY the people Of Linn county, was the
brother Of old Bender. sr-ff I'll .lgrla
Like him, he could boast Of more than one horri-
BILE murder, and. like him, he was callous alike to
pity, fear and remorse. Now that the excitement
Of last evenings tragedy has passed away,
ana only the body Of the executed murderer
remains to remind US OF the past weeks
murder and lynching, IL IL no difficult
matter TO write clear and concise history Of
Kellers diabolism in this section OF Kansas and to
trace home to him, besides the four murders Of last
Sunday night, the death OF two other murdered
persons, one his nrst wife, murdered in childbirth
and the other young man, q partner Of his, who
disappeared at his house very mysteriously, and
whom the entire neighborhood suspected to have
been murdered and the body concealed by Keller;
ana although diligent search was made for the
missing BODY nothing was ever heard or seen Of 1t
after its disappearance.
HOW KELLER KILLED MS FIRST WEE.
Since the murder of Mrs. Keller and the Boyd
family, last Monday night additional atrocities
committed by this human nend have been brought
to light. Not long after ne made his settlement in
Scott township, Linn county, his wife was taken
very sick. The physician in attendance asserted
that the sickness was caused by Ill usage, which
brought on the pains OF childbirth. The night be-
fore Mrs. Keller died the physician instructed Keller
to send for him II Mrs. Keller should feel worse
during the night. She was suffering from kicks
and bruises inficted by her brutal husband q few
mile distant, were Mortified by hearing series OF
horrible screams and cries Of agony. These cries
When the neighbors called on the following
morning they found Keller sitting smoking st0dly
and beside his dead wife ana child
following Keller married his wife. who was .
young, sprfghtly country GIRL residing near La
AN RREpREssIBLE CONFLICT.
This second marriage proved no happier than the
first one. The old German and his young American
the ungovernable temper ana brutality OF the old
man rendered life intolerable for the girl. In one
wife out Of doors and threw her clothing out alter
her. She sought refuge and shelter on the follow
ing day dune y with her brother-in-law, MIR. Ed
ward Hope, who resides not far from Kellers house.
The mere fact that Hope had Afforded his wife
shelter and protection seemed to give Keller great
XIII and burn up the family, and at once filed suit
Tor th charging his Ts Sarah nan
and CT Claiming smony. This was done on the st6
within the heart OF the old villain. He went home
ana destroy the woman who had dared 70 brave
his anger and, worse than all to attempt to obtain
ms ID ms tine
bloody holocaust Of last Sunday night
On the evening In question he was seated in bis
alone when negnsor nsmed &aesg SSsseS
the cabin. In conversation with Keller, Haley in
% S Baa anS na %o ehye al az
little CABIN about one mile distant, and that Mr..
nad over 70 20 house S to stay
vile. cursed Hope cursed Boyd and every one who
planned the murder, waiting till the gloom
Of night ,ar nsd Sa s Ke s Ger the
i horrible Intentions, iirst putting on pair
spattering blood, he pulled his little rusty brown
out u ao&
he reached the house Ia easily explained His
sss KS rasS g SS aa sa
The house where the murder was committed was Q
common prairie shanty, Il BY 10 feet, one story
bed. Il Is generally supposed rom the POSITION Of
Women were asleep in this bed when the murderer
arrived. The theory OF the murder ID explained as
tolIows:E;Ke!ler approached the cabin while the
-, now the SLAUGHTER WAS DONE
Mrs. Boyd lay upon the front side OF the bed with
her little four months old infant sleeping happily
and o SPSn ner LEFT Ct her
wall lay the object Of the steslt6y murderer's
wrath-Mrs. Keller. Guided BY the heavy breathing
over his head aud brought II down with
crushing lorce upon the forehead OF Mrs.
Byd doubt n sxos ssr Mrs. sssi sne s sp nss
and cruel husband in the gloom Of the cabin,
devil was not to be foiled in hts vengeance. The
shrieking wife had only reached the door. when
ths deadly % second S
and quivering upon the threshhold. r
SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTs.
But yet the cold-hearted devil was not satisfied.
The little children now became alarmed and cried
out In their terror. With another blow the two
yearold child was killed, and yet the horrible deed
was not complete. He next proceeded to outrage
the persons OF the women, IS his undergarments
cabin and started home, leaving the little baby IN
injured to die In the names, as no marks OF vio-
ience were discovered on its hall burnt body found
The murderer now stealthily went homewards
house and his own gloomy den wsdsd into shs
water and proceeded to cleanse from his person the
ms ne ors SooG G
and V the e Sleeve which was also sSased
sSIs upon the BOSOM then hSms hung
his overas up to dry, concealed his shirt hid his
moccasins IN the cehar, and went to bed to sleep.
About daylight on Monday morning neighbor
Haney, who resided not far from the scene OF the
dtscovered pillar Of smoke where last night had
stood Boyds cabin. He hurried to the scene OF the
fire, where his horrined gaze met with this pic
Tue shanty had crumbled down to thin layer Of