The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-18

any excitement or ~excrtlon might cause instant
death. He was found dead In bed last week by .
party OF hunters. and he had evidently been
The strangest part Of the story Of the Keelerr
ts that when Bill Keller was about thirty years
Der himself. There have been ali manner Of
theories as TO what caused the elder brother to
become a hunted outlSwHbut no theory Is salts.
Iaetor{. Az that is really known is that Bnl
grounds BY the big cattle ranc6men' and be be.
became the most famous bandit ever known in
When 1t wv" Was 'R Whispered lp 'p sboau T''H tucson on and and
Tombstone that Bill Keller. who bad disap-
peared months before, was the lone highwRyman
who was go successfully. holding up the stage
and getting several hundred dollars q week, the
n ndiormstion could hardly be credited by Bits
teIltnle circumstance about some OF the hold
ups that made II certain they were the work
OF the ex-cow puncher.
People In the southern part Of Arizona will
never get through talking about Bill Keeler's
manner Of stage rubbing. Indeed, 1t may be
His robberies were perpetrated in the most APP
proved manner, and with little or no injury TO
MS victims beyond the loss Of their valuables.
lie was the first man in Arizona who ever
robbed q stage coach alone, and in this partiCu-
lar ne surpassed even the daring Of the two men
few weeks ago. Keller never. had an assistant
In any of his robberies, and, so far as known,
this man finally betrayed him to the posse Of
law officers by whom he was killed.
About 1880 Keller robbed a train containing
seven passengers, all Of whom were prepared
from Tucson thoroughly armed. Keller, no
doubt, heard Of their boast through his conf
dant, who was one OF the hands at the stable
where he himself had worked, and he deter
mined TO give the seven men Al, opportunity to
defend themselves. He posted himself out on
the road about twenty miles from Tucson, and
about u O'Clock saw the coach coming. He
could not be seen by the driver or passengers.
He sat on his horse, levelled his rifle. and as they
both rider and gun and they knew at once
what 1t meant. Keller commanded them
not to move a hand, and they obeyed.
sides, and their rife. lay hS" IEdlo IN %" the bottom Of fh the
coach. They knew II was death to somebody
the moment n move was made. He next or
dered them to get out one by, one. lay down their
their money and valuables. This they did,
piling about $4,000 worth OF treasure in a heap
them, They were then told to get back
INTO the coach and drive on. Bill Keller taking
possession OF everything that had been left he
nina. This story sounds incredible. but some Of
hose WHO were in the coach at the time still
i've IN TINS country, and verify II To the letter.
Keller seemed 20 care less for money after he
a highway rOhber than he did while a
He cared nothing for money for its
'ambicd. i waS no uncommon thing for him
% rob people and then return part or all that he
lad taken, He once, rode foul OF u newspaper
his business he gave him back IS. with the re-
mark that he would probably need 1t. He had n
,reat regard for women. and would never rob a
He was never known to have killed
ny one, although he intimidated dozens of men
shnntliE past their ears or putting bullets
through their hats.
The general population in Arizona at that
was crazy with money making in the
gold fields, and many n man made