The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1903-11-10
REVOLVING
CRIME
CHARGED
AGAINST JAMES KELLER, OF MAN.
NINGToN, AND HUMANE oFFI-
GERS ARE AFTER HIM.
Foster Daughter, Belle, Aged Thirteen
Years, is the Alleged Victim Con
fession Said to Have Been
Made by Keller.

+. S. Bruce Hess, of Warrington, a di.
rector Of the Humane Society of that
city, was in the city yesterday, says
The Wheeling Intelligcncer, for the pur,
pose of comforting with the state pres,
ident. Mrs. Guy II. c. Allen, on an i'm.
portant matter relative to thirteen year.
old Bell Keller, foster daughter OF James
Neller,'a former Fairmont man now To-
Gated about four miles back of Manning
ton. The Humane Society is about to
bring grave charges against the foster
father which may land him behind pris-
on bars for some time to come. For the
past four months the girl has been living
in the same house with her foster parent,
Under the most deplorablc circumstances.
According to Mr.. Hess, the name house
given to the miserable shanty in which
they have been living together is a mis-
nomer. 1t is a plain board affair and
contains only one bed, which it is alleged
is used by both of them. The charge
which the Humane Society is to bring
against Keller is obvious without going.
into the cold and horrible fact. lie claims
She girl is his daughter, and if he in
sists upon that statement, the charge
will be all the more serious, and if he
admits that she is only his foster daugn
ter the case will be serious enough, at
that, considering the girls tender years.
The fact that she is only his foster
laughter is pretty thoroughly estab-
lished.
The young girl was brought to Wheel.
ing several months ago in charge of the
state society. She was placed in a prom
inent home on the Island, where she re-
mained until about four months ago,
when she mysteriously disappeared and
left the impression among many of the
neighbors that she had committed sui
eide. This theory was strengthened by
the gossip in the neighborhood to the ef,
feet that she had been driven to do the
meanest drudgery, had been dressed poor
~ and was otherwise badly treated, not
being allowed to 90 out further than
the grocery store, and not dressed so as
to be pcrsentable if she had so desired.
LocSl Humane Officer S. NJ. Darrob
took the matter up. As the girl had
been taken from her foster father, he
thought he might have cprsuaded her to
come back under his shcltering wing.
This has turned out to be the ease. He
was brought before the board of direct
ors in Warrington short time ago and
made to confess as much under oath.
and the affidavit has been saved TO use
against him in the coming trial. Mr..
tDmrah went to Warrington and endeav-
ored to locate the girl, but returned
without success, and preferred charge
against the Warrington agent, NJ Z.
staley, of failing 10 igyc him the proper
assistance.
When Mrs. Allen heard the charges
against Staley she took them for grant
ed and dropped the case. 1t is to get
her to take it up again THAT Mr.. Hess
is now confcrring with her, and he hopes
TO have no trouble in convincing her.
The girl is very comcly and has the
instincts of a good woman, but has been
sadly neglected and misguided. Her al
legged foster rapcnt is whiskered old
sinner of sixty odd summers, and is said
to be addicted to drink. But he has
a powerful influence over his protege.
Mr.. Hess returned to NTanpington after
Ills conference with local officials of the
Humane Society, but stated before his
departure that it had been decided to
arrest Keller.