Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1896 — SAVED THEIR NECKS. [ARTICLE]

SAVED THEIR NECKS.

DAN KELLAR, WIFE, AND SISTER ARE ACQUITTED. — . j . Were Accused of Murderinc Clsru Shanks—End of a Sensational Trial at Terre Hante, Ind.—History of tha Alleged Crime. Story of the Case. } Daniel Kellar, his wife, Nannie, and bit • "Swter; ■’ifaggie Kellar, were oh Friday acquitted of the murder of Clara Shanks. •The case was tried at Terre Haute on a change of venue from Parke C’ounty. The body of Clara Shanks was found in Wolf creek near Wallace, Ind., the morning of July, 7, 1895. She had not been seen since she left her home the previous afternoon. She w r as then apparently in great distress of mind, due, it wan believed, to a story circulated by Daniel Kellar and his wife tha t she had been on inti* mate terms with Kellar; Suspicion pointed to Kellar as her murderer, but he was a prominent man in the little community of Wallacp, and, inasmuch as there was no'positive evidence of his guilt at the time, the coroner*# verdict -was;that Miss Shanks came to her death t>y suicide. ' a Marks of Violence Found. Late? a number of disinterested citizens combined to hring the law to bear upon the murderer, whoever he might be. The body was disinterred, and many marks of violence were found upon it. The back and neck were both broken—good evidence that She had hot committed suicide. A subscription was raised and Detectives Byrnes and "Webster of Indianapolis were r inployed upon the ..-use. Three days later Daniel Kellar, hia wife, Nannie, and sister, Maggie, were placed under arresl. Miss Shanks was 18 years old and had borne an envialile reputation among all who knew her. For some reason Mrs. Kellar suspected that her t husband* was too* intimate with the girl, and when hfe was accused by her of it, he refused to " admit or deny such was the case. Kellar’s Dastardly Conduct. The husband and wife then visited the home of the Shanks, and tn- tire—young girl’s presence Kellar made the admission. The girl flatly denied the accusation, biit said Kellar had made proposals to her which she.had repelled. During the foliowtng n'gFr. whicli proved 'ro he trer last on. earth, she seemed to suffer greatly over the imputat'on cast upon her, and next day alio left her home suddenly. It was thought at the time she had gone away to be alone with her sorrow, but Bgw it is believed she went to confront her ers. There, it’ was supposed, sh&Anet a violent death at the hands of the angered wife and disgraced husband, and to hide their crime they threw the body into the pool where it was afterwards found. Cost of the Trial. With a» estimate of SI,OOO for the expert chemist and SGOO for the six doctors who held the autopsy on the body of Clara Shanks, the cost of the trial of the three Kellars will be nearly $5,000. Judge Taylor of the Terre Haute court has made allowances for the costs since the case was taken there on a change of venue, and the largest amount ia $1,200 for the jury. It is understood that Parke County will ask Fountain County to pay half the costs of the case. Mr. Lamb •has said that he will bring suit for Miss Maggie Kellar for SIO,OOO damages against several persons who were active in the prosecution. The Kellars returned to their home near Wolf creek popl and do not expect to be molested.

Carleton’s Poem in Real Life. Will Carleton's poem, “Betsy and I Are Out,” has 'been enacted in real life in Carroll County. William and Melissa Long were married more than a quarter of a century ago, and by their united efforts have accumulated 495 acres of land in Democrat township, stocked with sleek animals and supplied with good buildings and machinery. They have brought up a large family of children, most of whom are married and settled upon the broad acr.-s of the home farm. And now, in their old age, Mr. and Mrs. Long, differing over some trivial matter, have agreed to separate and journey down the shady side of life alone. 'Together they toiled to the top, but the descent will be made alone. They called art: an attorney’s office and arranged an equitable division of the property, worth at least $30,000. Mr: r Long gets 255 acres of land, half the stock and implements and the old home. After tho papers had been signed the aged husband gave her some money and told her to go out and buy a good dinner. Efforts of the children and the attorney to-effect a compromise bare ptwred unavailing, much to the regret of the community generally, where the aged people are highly esteemed. Fortune for an Indiana Miner. Six months ago Cyrus Pullum, after twenty-one years of prospecting and laboring in the mines Colorado, returned to his home in Rushville, worn out-by hard labor and greatly depressed in spirits. The last few years he spent in the Cripple Greek regions, where he staked a few small claims. He left them in care of friends, only asking them to do the right thing by him in case anything ever turned up. Mr. Pullum was notified last week that his friends had struck a valuable find on one of his claims, and further in formed him that his share was worth probably $50,000. Pullum has for the time being forgotten his aching limbs, and at once left fbr Cripple Creek. He expects to become a millionaire before long, as Iris other claims lie near the’ one on which the find has been made. News of Minor Note. The Wabash shoe factory, one of the leading industries of Wabash, was dt--stroyed-by-fiee-Suaday- morning. Lu fiftcen minutes the building was practicajjy consumed mid tho walls and roof fell in. George Todd, president of the company, states that the company had 12,000 pairs of shoes on hand ready for shipment, worth on an average over $1 a pair. The loss is nearly $45,000. George Palmer, of Wakarusa, disagneed'with his wife as to_whether a gun which wgs lying on a cupboard was loaded. Mrs. Palmer declared it was not, and in attempting to take it down th* gpn was discharged and instantly killed Palmer, tearing his head from his body. The case of George Aldrich against County Clerk-elect Oliver P. Wormley, charging him with alienating the affections of the former’s wife, which was on trial at Lebanon far several days, resulted in a verdict for the defendant, The ease hat attracted widespread attention and wai very scnsatioptaL