The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-03
Army Officers Learning of Pub
Iication of Fake Report In
tend to Probe the Matter
To 6ottOm.
WANT TO STOP PRACTICE
OF SENSATIONALiSM
Believed That Report Of Serg-
cant KeIIer's Death Was
Written by Alleged Victim Of
FiIipinos.

Official notice has been received by
The Palladium from Grote Hutcheson,
captain 9Th Cavalry commanding
Troop H" on duty in the Philippine
Islands, which brands as absolutely
false the story printed in this paper
last November to the effect Sergt.
John A. Keller of troop H. form
er resilient of Richmond had myster-
iously disappeared. Previous to the
receipt of the letter of Captain Hutch
eson, however, The Palladium was in.
formed that Keller had been located
and returned to his troop, and made
the Information public.
From the letter received from the
Philippines today, it appears fraud
and deceit had been practiced in con-
nection with the Keller incident The
army authorities in some manner se-
cured clipping from The Palladium
bearing the original story and under
took an investigation. Information
has been sought at this office and
furnished. The reporter, who wrote
the original story, preserved the first
letter received and it has been for
warded to Captain Hutcheson to be
used as evidence in the case.
Take Keen Interest.
To the general public it will be sur
prising to learn the keen interest.
which the army officials display to
prevent the cause of the army from
being injured by false reports. 1t is
implied by Captain Hutcheson that
stringent measures probably will re-
suit from the incident in which this
paper was involved The army Off
GERS do not wish to cause friends of
soldiers unnecessary alarm and dis
tress by reports of accidents that
have not occurred.
When the first letter was received
by The Palladium, a reporter was de-
tailed to learn something about Kel-
ler's career when resident of this
CITY, Members of the family stated
at that time they had received no
word of any accident to the young
soldier. They were at loss to ex-
plain why they had not been notified.
Letter Of Kline.
This letter with improper spelling
was as follows: -:
Camp Overton, Sept 25, 'os.
Dear Sir:
Taking great liberty in asking this
favor Sergeant John A. Keller being
a friend Of mine and am in the same
troop with him try and explain the
accident that overlook him on 10th of
this month (Sept.) Sergt John A. KEEL
Ter of troop HI, 9Th u. s. Cav was sent
with five men to hunt some natives
and has not been heard of till this
date, (25). And not knowing his ad-
dress would like very much to have
this put in your paper as he lives in
this city and born and raised in Rich
mond, Ind.
Yours respectively,
ARTHUR NJ. KLINE.
Hutcheson's Letter.
The letter received from Captain
Hutcheson by The Palladium, dated
January Z. is as follows:
Sir
beg to invite your, attention to the
enclosed clipping from an issue of
your paper. date unknown. but prob
ably about the middle of November
last. relating to the alleged disappear
ance of John A. Keller. a soldier be-
longing to Troop II" 6th Cavalry.
Private Keller has never disappear
ed from the Troop. his whereabouts
have always been known, he was not
sent out with five men in search of a
party of natives September 10th and
Trumpeter Arthur NJ Kline denies
writing to the Palladium to give no
tice OF Keller's probable death.
To PreventsFaise News.
In view of the unnecessary mental
distress such newspaper accounts as
this one cause to parents and friends
Df soldiers serving in the Philippine
Islands apd to prevent il possible such
false news from being circulated, it:
seems proper to endeavor to discover
the source OF your information.
Therefore beg Of you to advise me.
II not inconsistant with the ethics Of
your office, II Trumpeter Kline did
write sucA letter as you publish. and
II so, to request 1t be forwarded to
me. II he did not. which he denies,
taen the information which formed
the basis of your article.
To Prevent Recurrence.
II II eminated from soldier within
my jurisdiction. steps can be taken
here to prevent recurrence Of such
unfortunate incidents.
There ID . .well founded suspicion