Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-16
NO NEARER SOLUTION.
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Il QOn MINK tndt I've Deen tTedteu
just right in this matter by the peo-
pie who have circulated these stories
about me. Why. mister, l don't know
any more about Had. Keller's death
than you do, l swear it.
This statement, it is believed, IS
substantially the same as given py
Barlow to Sheriff Ham. Barlow ad-
mitted to the writer that on MONDAY
forenoon he drove cross-country u
see Hollis Libby.
Why did you do that" asked the
reported.
We'll, l wanted to warn him 10 'ei,
the truth about things if he was a'AeN
any questions, that's all
In conversation with the Journal
porter. Frank Nelson. farmer WIN
lives on the Western Ridge roau'
about ~ miles from the kelier pidce
said:
II am probably the person VINO was
the last to see Hadley Keller alive.
was at nv home over yonder Friday
NIGHT ar about $50 o'clock. | was
stondine in the doorway about
,ods from the road and along came
had Keller driving in his blackboard.
and then asked me if | had any seed
oats that / could sell him. reriled
that 7 guessed | had all he could use.
and he said he'd come over and see
mo about getting some, later on. He
appeared to be about the same as
usual. l don't think that he had been
drinking, as | have heard some folks
around here tell of. He appeared to
be natural in his talk, and perfectly
sober"
Hollis Keller, the brother of the
dead man. was interviewed this after
noon by the Journal reporter. He said
that he had considered all of the facts
in connection with his brothers death
with the greatest calm and delibera-
ton, and that he felt that his brother
did not die a natural death. Ever
since the discovery of the body. Hollis
Keller has maintained his theory of
foul play, and has been insistent for
an autopsy and thorough investigation
of the whole case.
The officials will continue their in
designations this week with view to
securing as much evidence as possible
to lay before the coroner's inquest
W men IL Is Helu Ill llllS ' lldSc icAt
Monday.
There are many facts already brought
to light that would tend to support the
theory of foul play. 1t is said that the
doctors who conducted the autopsy today
could not determine the cause of death.
1t is also understood that while there
were a number of bruises upon the body,
there was no internal disorder or organic
disease and the brain was entirely nor
NAL and un.njured. which would obliviate
the theory of apoplexy, fits, etc.
Tho peculiar position occupied by the
body when it was found by Joe Parmen-
ter would also occasion suspicion in it
self. The body was in the old shed.
TANNED down under the doorstep which
led to the main part of the house. Joe
Parmenter asserts that the two doors of
the shed were fastened on the inside
while the doors leading from the shed to
! the house and to the stable were not
latched. The front door of the house was
unlocked but latched.
It is understood that the doctors found
no alcohol in the stomach when the au
tOpsy was performed this afternoon. That
would do away with the theory that kcl-
Ter was under the influence of liquor and
had fallen into n stupor while intoxicated
The great bruiSe on the side of the head
occupies large area and it would seen
extremely doubtful If it could have beer
caused by the face coming in contact with
the step when Keller fell.
Another circumstance which would as
sist in the maintenance of the foul play
theory is that Keller was known to have
been on bad terms with one or two men
who lived very near to his house. AS fal
as can be learned, these are the only
facts that have as yet been brought out
| to sustain the theory that Hadley KelIe,
died as a result of foul play.
There are also important and highly
probable facts which might tend 20 prove
| that Keller died a natural death. 1t is
said that he was subject to heart disease
and the doctors found that the heart was
not entirely normal. it is understood.
The bruse on the face might be ac-
| counted for by the rats which Gnawcd
the hand of Keller, and it is suggested
| that Keller might have been out attend
ing to his chores in the stable, ard upon
| returning into the house had stumbled
over the step falling heavily, strkin2
| his temple or the corner of the step. and
| fallen down into the corner, whore hc
lived for several hours
1t will be remembered that three young
people have been found who assert that
| they passed the Keller house on theil
way from a dance at 3 O'Clock Saturda
| morning. and they heard groaEs issuing
from the shed.
The one weak point about this last pos
sibility is that the lantern which Keller
always used about his work on the farm
was found in the dining room. 1t had no
been lighted. which would indicate thai
Keller entered his house in total darkness:
by the way of the front door. passed
through three rooms. all quite dark. ant
out into the shed, the interior Of which
| must have been of inky blackncss, a.
there are no windows through which tn,
faint moonlight might have access.
Was this the case? Or did some per
son or persons unknown set upon Kcle
as he was sitting in the dining room. bea
him into Inconsistencies and carry hi
| body through the house and toss 1t int
the shed? Or did Keller visit some of hi
L npiChhprc pfvbt t,tr