The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-11-20
DAUGHTERS ACT
IT SAVED THE SLAYER OF HEF
PARENTS FROM LYNCHING.
The BRUTA. I NIPSH MURDER.
Butcher Keck Ate Dinner With
the Aged Couple Before the
Shooting-1he Excitement
Intense.

IRovToN, Pa, Nov. 90 The brutal
double murder Of Jeanette Nipsh, and
her husband william, at Smoketown,
of discussion. William Keck, the mur b.
der is in Jail at Allentown.
The aged couple lived in an old one
story log cabin in an isolated part of
the county. Keck, who had been on
terms of intimate friendship with the
OIL folks, went to their house Wedues
day. He had with him a double bar
relied shotgun and he said he had been
cunning
He was asked to remain for dinner,
and did so. So far as is known there
was no trouble between him and the
old folks and robbery seems to be the
only motive for the crime. The story of
the shooting is told by the husband,
who, although mortally wounded,
crawled on his hands and feet to the
house of Henry Druckeumiller, who
lives about n hundred yards away, and
notified them of the tragedy.
After dinner, he said, keck went TO
the corner of the kitchen where his gun
was standing, and took up the weapon.
Nipsh was sitting at the window look
ing at the chickens. Keck deliberately
fired at him, the charge taking feet in
the old mans back,e near the right
shoulder, telling him to the floor Mrs.
Nipsh went to her husbands assistance,
but was hurled aside by Keck, who then
went out to the wood pile, seized an axe,
and returning struck Nipsh on tho back
OF the head.
The old man tried to defend himself
by holding up his hands, whereupon
Keck picked up heavy piece of kind
ling wood and struck his victim a ter
rife blow across the head, making him
insensible.
Mrs. Nipsh had run out to give an
alarm. Keck followed and caught her,
dragged her back into the house and
threw her upon the floor, Picking up
his gun, he shot her, the load taking
effect in the back of her head, crashing
| through the skull and penetrating the
brain.
Supposing that he had effectually dis
posed of his aged victims Keck went
into the bedroom and from the top
drawer of the bureau took all fine money
the aged couple possessed. 1t was
about So, mainly in silver. He then
left,
1t was two hours after the murder
when Nipsh reached Druckenmiller's
home. A party went to Nipsh's house
and found keck there. He had returned
to see the result of his work He was
put under arrest, and under guard was
kept in the house until policemen from
the city should arrive.
In the evening hundred men entered
the house and took Keck out, intending
to hang him to the nearest tree. They
were dissuaded, however by Mrs. Joseph
Masonheimer, daughter of his victims,
who besoughJ them not to wreak their
vengeance upon the murderer but to
let the law punish him.
Nipsh is not expected to live the day
out. Squire kelcner took his ante NOR
tenn statement lase night and it was
presented to the coroner's jury. Charles
Lebach testified that shortly after the
murder Keck bought coal from i'm and
in payment gave him silver, which, it is
believed, he stole from Mr. NIpsh 8
house.
Keck says he is innocent, but rsf uses
to give any explanation OF his move
ments. He is 80 years old, has wife,
from whom he is separated, and a
daughter He served six months in
Easton Jail for threatening to kin his
family. He served in the Slst and 47th
regiments during the war.