The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-03-05

On Monday morning last the trial of
Robert Keller for the murder of Joseph
G. Walker, at a saloon kept by the
former near Brunswick, ON January
the 18th, 1897, came up before the Cir
cult Court for Frederick County, with
Chief Judge James McSherry and AS
sociate Judges Lynch and Henderson
on the bench.
AS was expected, the court room was
crowded with an eager throng of spec
tators anxious to hear the testimony
and details of this case, which was the
first of the kind since the memorable
one of Leonard several years ago.
The crime for which Keller was ar
raigned was fully pictured and de-
scrlbed in the CITIZEN at the time and
created the most intense excitement.
The trend of the testimony of the wit
nesses for both the State and the de-
fence carried the impression with it of
bar room brawl and alteration, but
the manner in which the unfortunate
man met his death, and the circum-
stances attending from the time he and
his brother entered the place kept by
Kellar, made the case one of desperate
chances for the prisoner. His counsel,
Mr.. Frank Pampel, plainly endea vored
all through the trial to impress the
jury with the extenuating circumstan-
ces connected with the affair, and in
his opening statement asked the twelve
men to set aside all prejudice and pas
sion and view matters only as they
heard it from the witness stand. He
asked for justice, as they would expect
it under the circumstances.
States Attorney William Kinks out
lined and described the different phases
of murder and impressed the jury with
the Importance of their decision and
the duty they owed to society and the
laws OF the commonwealth.
The empaGelling of the jury occu-
pied the greater part of the morning
and resulted in the selection of the fol-
lowing: M. Eugene Getzendanner,
foreman; Scott Lantz, Josiah Gross,
Hiram Keefer, Charles B. Slope, Mar
tin l.. Kaufman. Franklin Stottle-
myer, George s. Poffenberger, Milton
B. Slifer, Henry E. Knox, Daniel T.
Ordeman, George T. Brust.
The State had employed Mr.. VIM.
P. Maulsby to assist Mr.. Kinks and
the defence strenuously objected to
this. The Court overruled the obiec-
ton and ordered the case proceeded
with.
The Indictment was lengthy and in
strict legal form detailed the crime
charged against the prisoner and tor
which he was answerable to the State
of Maryland. Robbed of its technical
tiles, the facts were substantially these:
That on the night OF the 18th of last
January, Joseph G. Walker, the de-
ceased, and his brother, entered the
soloon kept by Robert Keller, situated
about mile from Brunswick, on the
line of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road in the direction of Knoxville, and
known as mo. g" for the purpose of
getting some beer to take to the latter's
wife, who was feeling unwell; that
while there trouble ensued between
them and the proprietor, Robert KEEL
eph &. Walker, by deadly weapon in
the hands of Robert Keller in the afore-
said saloon.
The first witness for the State was
John E. Walker, brother of the muir
dered man, and who that fatal night
was with him when he was shot. He
is twenty-five years old and had been
a resident of Brunswick for three
months prior to that time. He was a
fireman in the employ of the B. & O..
Railroad Company. Said his brother
was not married. They went from
home to Knoxville and then up to
Wedder's place, which is known as
mo. g." to get some beer. They played
cards there for several hours with a
man named Keusie. Leaving there at
late hour they passed Keller's saloon
and his brother suggested that they go
in and get some beer for the others
wife. They went in, and seeing no one
apparently waiting on the bar, asked
if the proprietor was around. John
Keller, the prisoners brother, said
mo, there's no one now, but We'll
- soon make one." Just then
Keller came from the rear of the room,
got club, and laid it on the bar. John
Walker seeing trouble brewing, said to
his brother, "Come, let's go up to We'd
der's and get the beer there" Then
Keller used violent language to him
and his brother Joseph demonstrated
with him, whereupon Keller aud JOS
eph closed with one another and with
left arm around the latter's neck, Kel-
Ter pressed revolver to his breast and
fired. Death, he said, was instanta'
neous. AT this juncture the clothing
of the dead man was shown to the jury,
still stained with his life-blood and the
hole through which the bullet passed
was plainly visible. This made 8
marked impression upon the entire
court room, even the prisoner being