The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-05-31
A SAD CASE.
j. X. Kehler, An Aged and Respected
Resident Ends His Life.


Resident Ends His Life.
The people was shocked yesterday morning
by the announcement that Joseph X Keller,
the retired merchant and one Of the oldest
and most res pected citizens Of the town had
committed suicide by shooting himself in the
head. The report proved true in the main.
but death did not ensue until several hours
after the act was committed Great SYM
pathy is expressed for the family. The deed
was committed while all but one of the
family were attending church services.
Mr. Kehlor had suffered from I'M health for
the past three or four weeks and was ailing
when he arose yesterday morning but his
condition was not such as to warrant any
apprehension. He was at breakfast and
there was nothing in his demeanor to cause
any suspicion that he contemplated any rash
act, or that there was any danger Of such an
occurrence Miss Ida Kehler, his daughter.
remained home TO keep him company. She
was Joined by her neice, Miss Verde Keller.
The deceased suffered from liver trouble. At
about nine o'clock in the morning his two
sons, Monroe II. and Oscar Kehler called and
cOnyersed with Mr.. Keller in the parlor for
some time. He complained that he was sleepy
and expressed a desire TO go to bed. The sons
left him and went to church Immedi-
ately after their departure Mr.. Keller retired
to his bedroom on the second floor. Some
time after Miss Ida Keller to ascertain if
her father was still in his room, or had gone
out to take walk, called upstairs. Mr..
Keller replied that he was in the bath room
and would be down stairs in a few minutes
Shortly after the report OF pistol shot was
heard from the bath room. Mr. Kehler was
found lying in pool of blood beside the
D huf ,ffr1,
from wound ON the side of the head and
another from an ugly hole in the top of the
skull Messengers were sent at once for Mrs
kehler, the widow, and other members of
the family, who were attending worship in
the United Evangelical church. Drs. J. S.
Kistler and G. NJ Hamilton were also sum
moned. They found the case hopeless one
The victim was unconscious and his entire
body paralyzed The doctors dressed the
wounds and the victim was removed to his
bed room. He expired at about seven
o'clock last evening, without having re-
gained consciousness.
The wounds show that the fatal bullet.
which was Of 30 calibre, entered the left side
of the head just above the temple and
passed out at the top Of the head and just to
the right of the centre line. 1t passed
through the brain, which accounted for the
paralysis Of the body. The bullet imbedded |
itself in the wall against which the bathtub |
rests.
The prevailing impression is that the act /
was committed while the victim was tenn
porarily insane, although the widow adheres
to the belief that it must have been an
accident. She cannot accept any other
explanation in view Of the fact that her hus-
band was devout attendant at church, his .
home relations were of the most pleasant
character and he was possessed of sufficient
means to procure all the comforts OF life. |
and always had them when desired. 1t |
appears however, that during the past
two weeks much of the deceased's usual
genial characteristics left him. He was not
disagreeable, but seemed to lament that his
htes happiness should be marred by illness. |
This condition, with the solemn Memorial /
Day observances is supposed to have worked
an insidiOus effect upon the unfortunate
mans mind that did not become apparen tun-
til eliminated in the dreadful climax. 1t is
difficult to realize the force with which the
unfortunate occurrence has shocked the
family
Joseph X. Keller was born in the Mahan-
tongo Valley, Eldred township, this county,
on May 10th, 1927 and was therefore 10
years and 20 days old on the day Of his death.
He was the son of John and Catherine
(kuerr) Keller. The Kehler family have
been natives of Schuylkil county for the
past three or four generations. His grand
father, John Kehler, was born in Eldred
township. j. X. Keller was united in
marriage with Catherine Hepler, a daughter
of Peter and Elizabeth (Houck) Hepler, of |
Mahanoy Valley, on December 18th, 1s47. |
The marriage was productive Of a family of
eight children, five sons and three daughters;
Elizabeth, wife Of Thomas Genwright, mine
foreman at Minersville; Miranda, wife of
sylvester W. Host, cashier of the First
National Bank Of town Augustus, deceased;
Joseph H., of Allentown; Monroe H.,
retired merchant residing in town Oscar s., |
dry goods merchant of town. Edwin, de-
ceased, and Ida NJ, at home.
Mr. Kehler was reared upon his fathers |
farm and followed the occupation of farmer
in Eldred township for eleven years He
then engaged in q general store business for
two years. and then removed to Deep Creek
where he conducted a store for one year,
when he returned to Eldred township and
again resumed farming, continuing in the
business for seven years. Subsequently he
removed to Locust Dale and conducted a
hotel and store in conjunction, which engaged
his attention until March, 1867, when he
came to Shenandoah and became associated
in the general store business with John B.
Raber under the firm name Of Raber &
Keller. The partnership continued for four
years, when Mr. Keller went into business
for himself and continued in it for five years
He then Went to Ashland. Remained there
for year and returned to shenandoah and
engaged in the manufacture of cigars for three
years, when he again went into the general
store business and continued in it until
/ his retirement from active pursuits in 1885
Mr., Keller was Republican in politics and
filed the office Of treasurer of this borough
for five consecutive years. He was a men,
Der Of Washington Camp No. 1l2, p. O. S.
Of A., and one Of the most active and prom
inent members Of the United Evangelical
church.
The funeral will take place at i p, m. on
Wednesday from the family residence on
North Main street and interment will be
made in Odd Fellows cemetery.
Bfckerbs Cafe.
Our free lunch tonight will consist of
Boston Baked beans and pork. Vegetable