Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-12-16
Duelling Without any F0rmalities by
Former Citizen Of WatertOWn.

| Parmalee lived IN W atertOWn several
years, but when the Pixies Peak fever
broke out, he emigrated west, where he
has since resided:
For several years past bitter fe nd
has existed between Tom Keller and
| Dan Parmalee, both old citizens of
this county, and very widely known.
Saturday evening, about 5 o'clock
near Elkhorn Station, about 20 miles
west on the Union acifc Railroad
the two men met, and the feud termi-
mated in fatal duel, in which Keller
was killed. 1t was very impromptu
affair. the usual preliminary arrang-
ments of the dueling code being dis
pensed with.
1t appears that Mr.. Parmalee, al
though living in Omaha, has a grain
warehouse at Elkhorn, and a farm
about miles from Elktorn, adjoining
Tom Keeler's place. The old feud be-
tween the two men, originating in a
dispute, as some say, about piece of
land, had been kept alive and famed
into greater bitterness by Keeler's at
tacks and Permalee's defenses.
Mr.. Parmalee left Elkhorn at about
5 o'clock in spring-wagon, while
William Philpot, young man in his
employ, was driving team of mules
ahead, with load of cobs. About the
same time Tom Keller, who was at
Elkhorn, also started for home, and
soon drove mis- team ahead of Philpot.
Parmalee came up and told Philpot to
stop, when Keller asked Parmaee if
he wanted to fight, and told him to
say yes or no..
Parmalee replied, Go to hell"
Both parties then drove on short dis
lance and again stopped. Parmalee
then picke up his Winchester rifle, a
sixteen-shooter,-with which he,always
went armed, as he had been threat
ened, so often by KeeIer, who had
warned him several times to
4" heel himself-and jumped to the
sround and ran around 20 the right
side of his wagon. Keller who always
went armed, had revolver strapped
to his hip, as usua, and also double
barreled shotgun loaded by buck
shot. Grabbing up the shotgun, he
almost at the same instant jumped out
to the left side of his wagon, putting
young Philpot between the two men.
Having thus simultaneously chosen
their positions, it would appear that
each had come to the conclusion that
the hour had arrived when their diff
erences must be settled by bloodshed.
Parmslee, who is man of great
GOODNESS and remarkable nerve in times
of great danger, raised his sixteen
shooter to his shoulder, and opened
the duel by blazing away at Keller,
the two men not being more than 10
rods apart. He quickly fired again.
Both shots struck Keller But did
not hurt him much, merely grazing
him, and glanclng off.
Keller returned the fire, the buck
sho5 scattering, one hitting the arm of
ParDalee, making sight scratch, and
others biting Pan alee's own team,
which started on runaway. Keeler
emptied the other Dsrrel of his shot
gun, missing ParElalee, bat striking
his own team with some of The shot,
causing them also to run away. Pa
malice now got the drop" on Keeler,
who, instead Of pulling his revolver.
10 oouot thinking it useless at SO long
.ange, especially in opposition to a
Winchester rife, started and ran to-
Na.ds cornield. P>rmalee covered
him with his weapon, and seat
ball after him, hitting him in the
back, passing out in front, and putting
daylight clear through hin. Keller
here cried out for mercy, asking Par
malice to spare him, and not Kill him.
Two more shots instantly followed
from the deadly rife, one taking him
in the neck and the other in the head
both passing clear through, and killing
him Instantly. Thus was the career of
the notorious Tom Keller brought to
an end.
ParmaIee got into bis wagon, and
Philpot remarked, Il guess he's dead
You had better 60 and see" Parmalee
replied that be could do that if he
wished, and remarked that he was
ready to give himself up, which he ac-
cordingly did to Henry Stanton, Dep
uty Sheriff, who came up to them soon
afterwards.
The above is the substance of Phil
pots testimony.
The verdict of the Coroner's Jury
was to the effect that Keller came to
his death at the hands Of Parmalee.
Officer Hanlon brought Parmalee into
the city late yesterday afternoon, and,
taking him before Judge Peabody, he
gave bail in the sum of $4,000. By
ron Reed and W. E. Sweesy being his
bondsmen.
Each of the duelists has a history,
which, could it be given in full, would
49, II,