Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-14

China Me, May 13-(SpeciaD.-In
the unsaVory section of this town
known as "Iorktown," Hadley Kellar,
a veteran of the Civil war and aged
about 60 years, was done to death in
a brawl which closed a drunken orgie
sometime between IL o'clock last Fri
day night and 3 o'clock Saturday morn
ing following. The victim. in COM
pany with other men, played poker in
The home of "Alf" Barlow in the CEN
ter of the yorktown" district. There
| was much drinking and carouSing, and
| it is said that there was fight IN
which Keller got the worst of il. He
was carried from the Barlow home to
| his own little dwelling, some % rods
away, and left on Il plank walk near
an old shed, which was on his own
| premises.
| An air of mystery surrounds the
case The county authorities have be-
gun a searching investigation and on
| Monday Coroner III. b. Smell of Water
willie will conduct an inquest by order
OF High Sheriff. Frank J. Ham, who
was i'll communication with the local
|
in charge of the case at present is
Charles Jones of this town.
Coroner Smell was notified Of the af-
fair at $50 o'clock Saturday morning.
| In company with Deputy Sheriff Jones
| he left here Immediately and went to
the scene of the crime. The body of
the unfortunate victim was found
where it had been left by his drunken
companions. IN examination Of the
body disclosed the fact that bruises
had been sustained by the man while
in life. An ugly cash was found over
the eye. ana another bruise was found
on the torso Immediately over the
heart Both wounds appeared to have
been inflicted by some blunt instru-
ment. such as Il hammer. club OF SINH
lar weapon.
! The clothing was searched and three
Ipockctboolls We're found, but none con-
ltiincd money or other valuables.
| Coroner Smell and Deputy Sheriff
Homes Immediately began their invcSti-
CATION. and il was as thorough as pos
sibl,. under the existing circumstances.
| 1t was learned that Keller spent
Friday evening with IA number Of men
i'm the home Of Barlow. The party
drank heavily ANA the game Of cards
kept the members of the worthy gath
ering together until long after mid
night. The murdered man is alleged
to have. had a considerable sum of
money in his possession, something
like. $40. ana one Of the witnesses sub
seuuentIy examined said that Keller
lost heavily during the night.
Just how many men We're in this
party, and who they We're, is not known
at this time.
Joseph Parmrnt"r, resident Of
"Yurktown," is said 20 have been in
tLr marty. He was examined at his
home by tn" officers Oh Saturday and
he did not display an cagcrncSS to
answer questions bearing upon tn"
noker party He claimed that Keller
left the Barlow house at $50 O'Clock
on Friday night and that he was not
| seen therCaboutS again.
Another witness, whose testimony nj
The inulest on Monday will b. iinpOr-
tant. is Joseph Ross. who describes
himself as a resident of Farmingdtlr
adjoining Gardiner in this county
Roes is about 60 years old. He ex-
MANNED his presence in this town by
| saving that last week he had Il horse
stol,n from him and he was looking
for the animal here. understanding tha'
, horse of the same appearance as ms
ou,n was seen here lately. Ross SAID
mat he was at the Barlow home or
| Friday night and that he was mem
har of the poker party. Ross said that
al, in the party had been drinking
| heavily and some dispute over the
/ cards or money involved in The gam,
WIS brought about. There was Z
l scutHe. i'm which Ross took no part he
claimed, and III the fight which follow
ed Keller was injured.
III Hollis Kellar a brother of the dead
Imam was examined and he said that
some of the understanding owned by
Ibis brother was missing. and that he
/ strongly suspected foul play
Coroner Smell held Il long talk Will
Vl"AIf'' Barlow the man in whose house
u|;t &c alleged. the killing was done
BARLOW was Il very unwilling witness
Hand he claimed to know little or moth
i,g about the affair. He said that tn,
.lfoht occurred as described by Ros:
md he asserted that he made an at
% tampt to put an end to the dispute anC
That while so doing. he thought. kelle
n cot mixed up in the affair and wa
burt. he thought. Thinking that per
q hans Keller was only slightly injured