Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-22
Dies in Hospital at Belfast and His
Murderer Is Still at Large.
The Coronefs jury Decides That Hadby Keller Of
China Died Of Heart Disease
KELLER DIED NATURAL DEATH.

China, Ne, May 2l-(SperiaD.-Th
Investigation into the mysterious death
Of Hddlcy Keller, whose dead body was
found under such suspicious circum-
stances at his desolate little farm-home
in that part Of the town Of China
known as 'YorktoWn' on Saturday
by the county officials Monday after
noon, when the jury serving at the cor
oner'3 inquest III China returned a YER
diet that the deceased came to his
death from natural cause, namely,
valvular disease of the heart
This verdict was qualified in a measure
by one member OF the jury who re
turned verdict that kcllar died Of
'vdlvUlar disease Of the heart induced
by excitement
The inquest began at 100 o'clock
this forenoon shortly before that
time Coroner H. b. Smell, Sheriff Frank
j. Ham ana County Attorney Leigh,
accompanied by q stcnogIapher and
some newspaper men from Wuterville
and Augusta, arrived in town and re
r. l.. hail located over Does. store in
| the centre of the village. The jury,
" hich was imrantllcd Nv Coroner
Plummer Two days after KCller'S death,
was assembled The members Of the
| jury We're Rev. \. NJ. Heikes Of Al
| bion foreman: j. NJ. Wiggin Of Albion,
| c. l.. t. Handy Of China. Martin Ham
| lin of china. Edison Wurthey Of China.
and Edwin Ragley Of China.
II was voted by the jury hat the in
| quest should be held behind closed
doors. ana the general public, which
was represented by about $50 villagers.
| was exc GUIDED, IL; is usual iii such cases.
| The. members of the press We're the
| only person not directly connected
with the case who We're permitted To
| be in attendance. 1t was decided that
| the noon recess be taken Immediately,
| and the party adjourned To StarkeY s
| Hotel across the lake. and partook Of
| q bounteous dinner. The inquest was
| re-opencd at / o'clock.
Coroner Smell presided at the inquest
and the examination Of the witnesses
was conducted by the county attorney
The first witness examined was 10
snph parmentcr. living in Palermo
| about 81 Of a mile from the home OF
| Iadley Il cller.
| Parmentcr testified that he had
known the deceased for several years
He said that he had never had any
trouble with linn. but on the contrary
had always enjoyed the closest and
| plcasanteSt relations with him. HI
saw the deceased Friday forenoon at
his home and did not see him again
alive Parmenter said that he spent
the afternoon Of that day at the home
| of Alfred Barlow ana that there WAS
some card playing ana drinking OF
| cider. but that he was positive that
Keller was not there. He saic
that on the morning following
SATURDAY. he left his home to 90 t
Everett Thurston'S place to do 4 day.
work In passing the home Of HadleA
| Keller he decided to step in a moment
ana talk with the man.
H entered the dining room by the
front door, which was latChed out m"
locked, and called keller's name
Receiving no response he passed
through the house and in leaving th'
rear wood shed came upon the body
. of his friend which was stretched on
. before him, the head and shoulders be
! ing hidden under the sill. He was very
!. much frightened, he said. and he lef
!. the house and summoned several Of TIL
! neirhbors The witness stated Yer!
!. positively that this was all he knew 0
!. Keller's death. He was excused.
!. The next witness called was DR.. Gus
!. toyus ]. Nelson of China village. Wh'
j with DR.. Stinson, performed the au
!. topsy upon keller's body last Tuesday
!. DR.. Nelson gave testimony regard
i inc his visit to the Keller place on tn
!. saturday that the mans body WI
. found but 1t shed no light on the case
!. In giving testimony regarding the au
!. topsy. witness said that he found III
!. brain and all other vital organs of tn
: body in normal condition. save tn
!. cardiac. Uhe hearth According to tn
. witness, Kellers heart was very muc
lenlarged il weighing y ounces, Will
D tho normal heart weighs only 10 or !
Iounces. The heart was later dissecteC
r according to the witness. and it wa
found that the ventricleS and linin
Continued on Page Two.)