Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-01-09
SHOT HER TO DEATH
Details of the Tragedy at Jack
sonvile, Ills.
MISS KEENER's CASE Is HOPELESS.

m4pO hhbN LIZ " bh01 Ii 4AS4 41A0hSs
Facts About the Young Woman's Family
Her Relations with the Negro Posten
Bring the white-Caps Down on Her,
but They Find Her Prepared-The Fa'
tai Shot of an migrate. for Whose Life
She Pleaded.
JACKSONVILLE, Ills, Jan. 9-Frankie
Keener, the beautiful, wealthy and maynard
girl who was shot Tuesday by Nathan Pos
ten, was in a critical condition last night
and will probably die of her injuries. Posten,
the negro, who was shot by Miss Keener and
beaten on the head with a gun stock, is also
very low. The relations of Miss keener and
Posten have long been the subject of un.
favorable comment in this vicinity. A few
years ago Mrs. c. C. Keener, whose real
name was Moore, purchased property just
west Of this city and built fine residence.
She was the daughter of highly respectable
commission merchant of Naples, but had
been divorced from her husband and was not
generally received in society here. She was
more or less addicted to the use of rough
language and was in other respects peculiar
woman.
Further Family Information.
She had two sons and a daughter, all Of
whom were inclined to be wild The young
woman seemed to have a fascination for
Posten, who is black as a coal and extremely
repulsive in appearance. They were to-
gether great deal, and many stories were
circulated concerning them. Posten was
married, but neglected his wife, though he
was generally industrious at the Keener
mansion. Three years ago Mrs Keener
married F. c. Taylor, of this city, who,
though he was panied at the condition OF af-
fairs at the keener residence, was unable to
do much toward correcting them About a
year ago Mrs. Keener-Taylor died quite sud
denly and Mr. Taylor left the place, which
Miss frankie continued to manage with the
help of her younger brother and Posten.
Stands on the white-Caps.
The talk of the neighborhood increased,
and once during the summer White-Caps
visited the house Mt night and ordered Posten
to leave Miss Keener and her forces were
all well armed, however, and repealed the
intruders. During the fall she moved into
the city and sent Posten to Mt Pleasant, Ia
with several of her horses and some house
hold goods. She made two or three trips
westward after that, and Posten says she
spent a week in his vicinity about Christmas
time.
Tuesday morning Posten arrived in this
city about o'clock, and soon after went &c
Miss Keener's house, where she was living
with her brother and hired girl, and sent a
man in to ask for an interview with her, he
meanwhile waiting outside. The request was
denied.
Posten Begins His Attack.
Once or twice during the day he reap
peared, and finally in the afternoon she Went
out and tai ked with him while returning
to the house much disturbed She soon after
put on her things and went to police head
quarters and asked for protection against
Posten, saying she feared he would shoot heI
brother. She was promised the desired aiG
az soon the men arrived, and started
home. As she neared the gate she met q
young neighbor named Bancroft and stopped
to speak with him. While they were talking
Posten stepped out of the house and ap
preached them. Bancroft. not recognizinl
him, said Good evening" and Posten re
sponded with blow that staggered him and
followed it up with two shots from a re
volver, one of which badly shattered Ban
croft's left arm
The Parti-Colored Duel.
Bancroft started to run, and Posten turnet
his artillery on Miss Keener, one ball enter
ing her right hip and lodging somewhere in
her body. Miss Keener returned the fir,
with small pistol, inflicting flesh wounC
in his right arm. Her brother Tom and jim
Brown, a colored chore-boy, rushed on the
| scene and the former tried to fire, but hi
pistols were not loaded Tom then clincheC
with Posten and threw him down and tool
| away his revolver. Posten begged to b,
| killed or released and Miss Keener pleade,
| for him so hard that the boys supposing b.
was unarmed, let him up
An Ungrateful Miscreant.
With his left hand he drew another re
volver and fred at Miss Eeener again. Tn
| first time she threw up his hand and the bul
| let went into the air, but the second shot en-
tered her left breast just below the colla
bone and went through her lung and LODGED
under the skin on the other side Meanwhile
| Tom had gone into the house for more car
tridges, while Brown the chore boy, seize
a shotgun which he had brought from TIN
house but dropped in the excitement, and
rushing on Posten, belabored him with tn
butt. He struck Postens right arm wher,
it had been hit by the bullet and crushed tn
bone, inflicted several severe wounds on tn,
head and sent Posten sprawling into tn,
ditch. Tom appeared at this moment will
fresh ammunition, but was not permitted t.
use it, as several persons arrived and put
stop to the conflict.
The Girls Case Hopeless.
There is no hope of Miss Keener's recov
cry. Her brother received slight wounds il
each hand. Brown escaped unharmed Tn,
generally accepted theory is that in sendin.
| Posten to Iowa Miss Keener was trying K
| get rid of him, trough she was afraid to SCI
him adrift, and that in fit of jealousy h,
returned and while slightly intoxicated
| committed the terrible deed.
ABBREVIATED TElEGHAMS.