Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-15
Joseph Ross, Alleged Witness, Located But De-
MES All knowledge Of the Affair.

China. Me. May (SprciaD.-The
mysterious death az Hldlcy Keller who
was found dead in his little home in
Yorktown, six miles from this town,
Saturday morning, will probably be
solved within the next Il hours.
Sheriff Frank ]. Ham Of Augusta spent
several hours mere today ANA examined
some Of tn, people who live hcreabouts
and who are SUPPOSED to nave cunsid-
| cradle knuWlrdg,. of tn" circumstances
| that are believed to have lead up to
Kell"r's death.
Sheriff Ham arrived here at o'clock
| this morning and he Immediately made
| an examination of the premises. He
| WAS accompanied by Coroner Smell of
| Watcrvllc. Harold +. Cooke Of Water
| willie WHO represented Comfy Attorney
Leigh Deputy Sheriff Charles brown
| of this town ana several newspaper
| men.
| TIE body Of Keller had been laid out.
| preparatory To- funeral arrangements.
| in tae tiny front room Of the small
| ldI lllIl'ltlNt III NIlRll NFlltI IlN''l llt-
| body WAS examined again by the curun-
rr in tn" prcscnc" of Sheriff Ham and
| At,nIno; :. Cooke. Th. left side. of the face
| was one solid bruse. extending from
above the eve to within \. inch of the
| Jaw. There was also an abrasion on
| the body. directly over tn" heart, and
! both hands % tho corps" were terribly
| bruised ard wounded. 1t is believed
| that the Mounds ON the hands We're
| catscd by rats. which infe.t the place,
and which attacked the ht.dy of the
unfortunate rccluSc when it was lying
| in ti,r Shed.
The county officials made 4 minute
examination If the spot whore Keller
| body WAS found. TINS shrd is Il low
and rough building which connects the
main budding with the barn. The
floor is Of earth. and tn" finish is sim
ple. The door leading to the main
| building is about three feet from the
| ground and in order To reach the upper
floor. Keller had built Il step. The
| body was found lying, face down. ON
this step which was not in its usual
position. hut several inches away from
the Gonrsil. When first seen, the bod
The h al ami shoulders were jammcd
down under the PARTITION. between the
shed wall and the wall Of the main
building. The trunk rested on the
doorstep ana the legs We're drawn out
straight over an Inclined plank leading
from thr ground to the step. TIL
hands were outStretchcd. Keller
wore his plain derby hat, which was
found crushed under the sill. ANA was
clad in his ordinary clothing, such as
he wore when last seen alive.
a further examination If the rooms
in the main building disclosed nothing
of Importance. ON the table in the
kitchen was found some eggs. beans
and pork which Keller purchased on
Friday Nothing about the house had
beer disturbed.
| Sheriff Ham next examined all those
whom he could find who knew any
thing of the man. his habits. and any
thing that might have material bearing
upon his death. Most of these wit
nesses were examined in the sitting
room of the Keller house. where on one
side Of the room, lay the stark. cold
remains of the dead man.
| Joseph Parmentcr, aged IL years old
| and n rt sident Of the Yorktown district
was called into the room and subjected
to a long line Of questioning. He said
| that he entered the Keller house Satur-
dav morning. The front door was un.
| locked and he went into the kitchen
calling keller's name. Getting no re-