The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-05
He BLEW. up HIS HOUSEHOLD.
JOHN KILLER KEPT HISPROMISE
TO HIS FAMILY.

TO HIS FAMILY.
With . Dynamite Cartridge In His Hand
He Gave Instructions to His Bon on
Business Matter. but His Manner Be
trayed Him 10 His Wlfe-He Alone Dead
For some time past John zeller, middle
aged contracting well digger, Of $50 Cooper
avenue, Ridgewood. L. l., had been threat
ening, while In his cups, to blow up his wife.
his son. himself and everything else around
him. He succeeded yesterday afternoon
in blowing UP his house and himself with a
dynamite cartridge. His son is seriously
injured, and his wife, whom he hated most,
escaped unhurt.
Zeller exploded the cartridge at o'clock
yesterday afternoon, while talking to his
twenty-year- son John In the kitchen
Of his apartment. Zeller's right arm was
blown from his body. Death was instan-
taneous.
The boy John was hurled through the
kitchen window into the rear yard, receiv-
ing lacerated wounds in The right arm and
ankle and a deep wound in the right thigh.
In St. Mary's Hospital. Jamaica. his con-
dition was said to be serious.
Barbara Zeller, who stood come dist ance
from her husband and son, suffered from
shock only. After her son shot through
the easement she leaped after him into the
area below and lay unconscious for while.
The house in which the Zellers live Is a
two story and basement frame dwelling.
Of which they occupied the lower door.
consisting Of two rooms besides the kitchen.
The partition walls were blown out and
piece Of the kitchen floor also. The body Of
Zeller was later discovered in the base
ment with the wreckage Of the floor.
On the floor above the Zellers lives tho
family Of William Connolly. Mrs. Con-
molly. who was preparin 6 supper, and
woman friend, Mrs. Hannah Quinn. with
her at the time, were thrown to the floor
by the shock, but suffered no injuries other
than shock.
The house stands somewhat aloof from
other houses. but the whole neighborhood
was nevertheless shaken by the explosion.
and the folk ran out to the wrecked house.
Before the crowd had time to gather.
however, John Zeller, Jr., came to. picked
himself up from the area where he lay. and,
bleeding as he was. ran to the Glendale
police station, about three-quarters Of
mile away. He opened the door(and fell
in a faint before Acting Sergeant McDon-
aids desk.
DO you know me:' the boy said after
the sergeant had revived him.
Il have seen you before" an swered Nc
Donald.
WELL said young Zeller, "the old man
has kept his word. He's blown us up and
killed mother and himself. Help me-
The boy was removed to the hospital
When Officers Whitehead and Engel
came to the Zeller house they found Mrs
Zeller stunned and the msngled remains
Of Zeller The woman was quickly re.
vived. The remains Of Zeller Coroner
Leonard Ruff ordered to be removed to
Stenger's morgue. Three unexploded
dynamite cartridges were found. by the
Coroner.
Mrs. Zeller. when seer. by Sun reporter
yesterday evening. said that her husband
was Incorporate and often beat her. She
frequently had him arrested for assault
and only last Thursday she appeared against
him in the Flushing police court. Magis.
trate Smith sent Zeller to Jail in default Of
$500, in which he held him for Special Ses-
sions, in Jamaica.
At o'clock yesterday afternoon Zeller
came home. In some mysterious way he
had got out Of jail.
Its very strange" said Mrs. Zeller,
how my husband got out Of Jail. He often
boosted Of his influence with politicians.
At the Jail last night it was said bail for
zelIer had been furnished.
Where is john" Zeller asked his fright
ened wife when he came in. John was out.
Go find him." said zeller, who was appar-
emily not drunk.
Il found him went on Mrs Zeller. "and
John came in with his friend, Frederick
Nestlen. Ny husband sent me out to get
drunk the beer he ordered young Mr..
Neetlen to leave. as he had some private
family business to talk about
After young Nestlen left Zeller gave his
son. who worked with him at well digging.
some instructions concerning job he said
he had contracted for with one Of the
breweries Mrs. Zeller, according to her
own statement, felt when she saw her
husbands ivid face and subdued manner
that something dreadful was going to hap
pen. Instinctively she shrank away toward
the kitchen range. Zeller was standing at
his desk against the wall opposite the
range. John saw something in his fathers
hand all the while he was speaking. Sud-
denly came the explosion.
Zeller frequently employed dynamite
in blasting. But that dynamite he had
buried in the yard near ceespool Mrs.
Zeller had no idea where he got the car
tridges. She seemed much relieved over
her husbands end and anxiously sought
last night as to whether
her fire insurance policy would cover the
wreck wrought by the dynamite oartrid ge.
The damage is estimated at $3.50.
GRACE SMELL TO MARRY AGAIN,