The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-01
POINT FOR DEFENSE
SOME DOUBT ABOUT THE BLOOD
SPOTS AT THE KELLER HOUSE.
Muncie High School Principal Arrest
ed for Kicking a Boy Down Stairs
Other State News.
special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
TERRE HAUTE. Ind, Jan. 3l.-The de-
Tense in the Keller murder trial made a
strong showing with to-day's testimony
The pressure of the crowd has become so
great that for the convenience of witnesses
and others whose duties called them to the
court room Judge Taylor has instructed the
sheriff TO issue passes. Only those holding
passes were ADMITTED uD TO within few
minutes Of the time for calling the court
to order. and then the doors were opened
for the crowd. By noon the corridors were
crowded. A larger part of the crowd in
the afternoon is composed of women. and
this afternoon they fought for chances to
get near the closed doors. When the doors
were opened they rushed in despite the
efforts of deputy sheriffs to maintain some
decorum.
But two witnesses were heard in the
morning session. The first was Jacob Rat
cliff, who went to the pool Sunday morning.
arriving there soon after the dead girls
body had been removed from the water. He
saw the trail leading from the pool over
the bluff. and saw what was supposed to
be blood on the log at the foot OF the bluff
The cross-examination left the question of
the freshness of footprints in doubt.
Henry Myers. prosecuting witness, told
how he had examined the house as a mem
Der of committee appointed at Clara
Shanks's funeral and came to the con-
clusion that the stains claimed to have
been made by blood were from paint. The
planks and pieces of wood and the trousers
of Dan Keller, on which there were stains
which an Indianapolis chemist is to testify
were blood stains. were not taken from
the premises for two weeks after the ex-
a IN N n nm rr1od do hxr1
Prosecutor Ell Stansberry. of the Circuit
Court OF Fountain and Warren counties,
was on the stand all afternoon. Mr.. STAINS
berry gave the story of his visit to the
places on July % in long and interesting
narrative. He had consented to go with
Mr.. Simms, who represented the citizens
committee, and Mr.. McCabe who had been
employed by the Kellers. He was present
when some of the chips were taken from
the floor, and he took charge of these chips,
which he afterwards turned over TO Sheriff
Moore, OF Fountain county. The following
day the court of inquiry was held at Buffa-
understanding that both Mr.. McCabe and
Mr.. Simms would be there. and that there
would be no objection to any question that
might be asked. IL was not a legal court,
and the kelers appeared voluntarily. The
three Kellers told their stories, and Mr..
stansberry told the jury to-day in sub
women went into detail about the quarrel
with the Snanks family and about Clara
Mamie keller, the wife. said she had told
Mrs. Shanks that II Clara came over to her
house again she would bust her head"
Mr. Stansberry remembered that con-
hicting point In their evidence was that
the woman said Clara went east on the
road at IL o'clock of the SATURDAY. she dis
| appeared, whereas Dan said he saw her
going east at o'clock, and that he watched
her until she arrived at the woods some
distance away. The Shanks family had
testified that on that afternoon when they
were searching for Clara, Dan told them
| that 1.-THE girls" meaning his sister and
| wife. had seen her goin~ down the road
| but did not say that he had seen her.
Mr.. Simms. of counsel for the State. was
| sworn and told of the manner in which
| the chips from the floors of the house and
| the blocks from the rail fence, over which
| Keller is supposed to have carried the dead
body. were got together for delivery to the
| officers.
At the afternoon session John Nickel
| identified the pole which he cut and which
was used to fish for the body. 1t is ten oil
| twelve feet long, with forks at one end
that were cut to make them hooklike, and
which caught In the girls dress Mr.
Nickel showed the jury how he used the
pole, but he found nothing.