Evening star., 1924-09-07
GUNS SET TO KILL
ARE FOUND IN HOME
One Policeman Shot in Leg
by Wired Weapon as He
Opens Basement Door.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special nispa tch to The Star.
BLOOMINGTON, Ill., September g.,
Traps prepared apparently with fiend-
tsh cunning and which he hoped would
end the lives of one or more officers
of the law who had angered him by
their effort to procure evidence of the
illicit manufacture of liquor, it is
said were found by Chief of Police
William Meyer and several patrolmen
when they conducted search of the
hcme of John Keller. at Westville.
When neighbors sent in word they
had not seen Keller for week and
expressed belief that he was dead in
his home the police started to inves-
tgate.
AS they opened the door leading to
the basement a revolver was dis
charged, the bullet entering the right
leg of George Larry, who was about
to descend the stairway. 1nveStiga-
tion revealed a rifle concealed under
the door, the butt against a rear
wall and the muZzle pointing directly
up the stairway. Connected with the
trigger was a wire. cleverly installed
and which discharged the weapon as
soon as a person opened the door.
Had the gun been elevated an inch
or two. the police say, the bullet
would have struck the victim in the
heart. Police believe this was
keller's intention.
Police Put on Guard.
This trap placed the police on guard
and. before opening other doors, they
conducted an Investigation They
found similar concealed guns, guard
ing all openings and which would
have reached a human mark, in all
,proba bility, but for the care observed
in cutting the connecting wires. Kel-
Ter also had strung wires along the
floor. which if touched by a shoe,
would discharge gun at the person
approaching.
Keller. who has some talent as an
electrician. had the wire fences
around the yard heavily charged
with electricity. Any one touching
this fence when the current was con-
nected would be in danger of being
elect-ocuted. The switchboard was
found in the room in which Keller
slept. over his head as he lay in
bed was an electric bell to give
warning if any one approached the
premises at night. Complaints had
been made by letter carriers and
others that the fence was charged,
but it was supposed that it was due
to leak from adjacent wires.
Had Planned Reprisals
The authorities conducted a raid
of the Keller home last winter when
report was received he was engaged
in the manufacture of moonshine
They had heard the warning bell
ringing, but at that time the hidden
weapons had not been installed. The
police then found parts of a STILL but
the evidence was deemed insufficient
to justify keller's arrest. The owner
was absent when the raid was made.
1t is presumed that when he found
the house had been ransacked he de-
cided upon reprisals, and in the event
of any succeeding search that those
engaged would have reason to re-
member their mission.
NeighborS call Keller the mystery
man. He lived alone and had moth
ing to do with those residing near
him. He appeared TO be Industrious
and owns a small tract of land. SUD-
porting himself by raising fruit and
vegetables. 1t is believed by the po-
lice Keller had planned to leave West
Vile. as letter was found in the
house, asking him to serve as agent
for a nursery firm in the West |
where. it appeared. he was expecting
to locate.
If Keller returns, the police say, |
he will be prosecuted for the shoot |
ing of Policeman Larry. .