The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-12
CUNNING FOR RATS
SHOT IN BRAIN
DEATH OF Mr.. PAUL KELLER.
TRAGIC END CAME IN HIS BARN on
DRAKIE'S PLANTATION.

Drove Away in Buggy From Homo
and Prolonged Absence Caused
search to Be Instituted-FOund iii
Store Room With 22-CnIiber Rifle
still in Enthusiastically Frustrated
by Pragedy-WeH known and Had
Relatives Here.
Stopping for a few minutes TO shoot
rats in his barn Mr. Paul Keller, OF
Meinhard, accidentally killed himself
with a 22-caliber rife yesterday
morning.
There was no one in the barn with
Mr.. Keller,n any one near enough to
hear the sound of the shot. 1t was
only when his continued absence
aroused the fears of his family that
the negroes on his adjoining farm
four miles away, started in search Of
their missing employer.
1t was late in the afternoon before
they came upon the dead body of Mr..
Keller in the store room of the barn.
The dead man still held in his grasp
the rifle upon which he fell as the ball
penetrated his brain. The shot struck
his eye and lodged in his brain.
Mr.. Keller owned two farms, and on
the one upon which he lived he was
superintending a number of negroes
who were ploughing the fields About
10 o'clock he drove in his buggy to
his second farm. four miles away,
evidently to take look about the
place and with the intention of return
ing within an hour or two.
Failed to Return.
AS the noon hour passed without any
tidings of Mr.. Keller. the family be-
came alarmed by his prolonged alb
sence. and the negro laborers organized
a searching party.
When they came in sight of the sec
ond farm. which was known as Drakie's
plantation, they saw the horse and bug
gy the animal not being tied, show
ing that it had been the intention of
the owner to make a brief stay out
side the vehicle.
Sure that the mystery was about to
be cleared up, the negroes began an
active search. The various apart
ments of the barn were entered, the
last one being the store room. AS
the door was opened the body of Mr..
Keller appeared lying on the floor, cold
in death.
Used to XIII Rats.
The rife which fired the fatal shot
was a 22-caliber, and was always left
in the store room. On his trips to the
barn Mir. Keller often used the rifle
TO kill rats.
There were number of empty bar
rels in the room, and it is supposed
that while carrying the cooked gun
among the barrels in a hunt for the
rodents, the trigger was struck while
the gun was pointed towards his face.
Death was probably instantaneous.
The body was carried to his home by
the negroes, and the news of Mr.. KEEL
ler's death broken to the family. Mr..
Herbert Keller, a nephew of the de-
ceased, came to Savannah to commu-
nicate the sad news to his relatives
here. He also telephoned TO the two
sons of Mr.. Keller who are attending
the G.. A. and NJ. School at Milledge-
Vile. They will arrive to-day.
Number of Relatives Here.
Mr.. Keller was well known in this
city, where he has a number of rela-
tives. He was a cousin of Coroner
Keller and of Mr.. Gordon Saussy.
He was one of the most extensive
truck farmers in the county having
two large farms. He was in Savannah
last Saturday and met number of his
friends.
Mr.. Keller leaves a wife and eight
children, five boys and three girls.
The funeral arrangements will not
be completed until the arrival of his
sons. 1t is probable that the funeral
will take place tomorrow. The inter-
ment will take place near his home.
Just twelve years ago Mr. Hugh
Saussy, nephew of Mr.. Keller, was
killed in a game of foot ball, the date
being Nov. IL. 1892. The coincidence
was recalled by relatives last night.