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Delphi TimesM SC JLIn now belter lhan over prepared to lt;1o *11ItndiofBOOK AND JOB PRINTINGwlilub.in *t«aflna*rtd pflee, 1»Luamntootl to Ql?e HntJgftictionTHE CLIMAX.SAMUEL STEWART SHOT DEAD BY ALEXANDERKEYES.A Terrible Termination of a Long Series of Social Out*r; ’ r' r ’rages.SHOCKINC OHSERVATION OK THE SABBATH DAYA Day of Groat Excitement in 1 hoPleasant Fountain City.Particulars of the Terrible Crime ami a Pencil Sketch of the Participants.4 Iron Krfra Will In* Armtnl ken In To «liay nn«l Confront noro IVmIIIv© Evl*ill'll (C.VOL. XXXV.DELPHI, INDIANA. FH1About five o’clock on Sunday evening our city wan startled by the news of the murder of Samuel H. Stewart by Alex Keyes, at Flora, and the in formation wanaoon sustained by the appearance in town of Countable Ferguson with both Alex Keye*; and IiIh father, Cleon, In custody, whom he Immediately turned over to the Sheriff.The particulars of I ho case are substantially and briefly as follows: Siuce the marriage of Alex Keye* to Stewart’s daughter, the latter gentleman had on several occasions made efforts to have the parties live together. To this Keyes steadily refused to agree, and on Sunday afternoon, Stewart and Keyia met m nr Trick’s restaurant and had some words over the subject and Keyes left highly enraged. He went at Once to the residence of Lis father, Cleon Kayos, remarking to an acquaintance that h“ would get his father to stand by him. In a f«.w miuutcs, the Keyes, father and son, returned, and the former, on approaching Stewart, who was sitting In a chair, said; 41 Wlmt is the trouble lietwecn you and Alex?” To this Stewart replied 44 that there was nothing particular in the matter, but. if lie (Keyes) wanted to take Alex’s part, he (Ktcwuit) was roudy for them.” Keyes responded that he didn't come to tight, but he was not afraid of Stew*art. Btewurt made some remarks when Alex Keyes called him ail— liar, and Stewart said for him not to call him such a name. Alex Keyes repeated his remark with emphasis, calling Stewart a ft— d— liar, Stewart then rose up and taking the chair on which he had been sitting, undertook to strike Aiex, but the ebalr fell to pieces and it is a matter of guess work whether he was struck by the chair or not. At this juncture the senior Keyes struck Stew-coursc of people lined the sidewalk andfilled the Court House yard, neuated by a morbid curiosity and u desire to obtain a look at the prisoners. They were in charge of Sheriff Kerlin and City Marshal Steele and as they entered the court room they were followed by the curious crowd an«l in a few minutes the spacious room was filled to suffocation and quite a number of ladies were observable. TImj elder Keyes looked pale and troubled, and the deep wrinkles on bis brow and the painful gleam In his eyes told plainly that the desperate straits Into which his incorrigible son had letf him were proving a burden not easily borne. Alex bore the same determined,devil-may-care look which has always characterized him and there came from his eyes a fierce glare of indifference and defiance, while a sullen and obstinate expression gathered over his countenance, and he jxjstively'seemed to enjoy the notoriety his shocking crime had produced. The witnesses were called In a body, sworn, or affirmed, and dismissed from the room with tho Injunction from Esquire Leonard not to leave tho Court House yard. After some preliminary wrangling among the attorneys they pronounced themselves ready to proceed and the first witness was called.1O0AH woo p.I lira In Flora and am acquainted with the dc-feixlanta, Alex Keye* and Cleon Keye#; I wa* att-lln# fifteen or twenty feet from the scone of the tragedy when 1 heard some loud and angry eonvcr-«tUiou ut Trick’* rcatauiaul between Stewart and Cleon Keyes; the flratof the conversation I didn’t understand aa f did not pay much attention to It; I didn’t see Alex at that time; heard 8tewart tell Keyes he had come there to take Alex’s part, that I had etlt;K*d all that I can stand, hut If you want to light 1 can whip you.” They were at the north-east corner of Frank Trick’s resrrurant on the o«.r-wer of Main and--streets; Keyes said thatA AA ? Ahe wasn’t afraid of Stewart; Stewart then snt down on a chair; they wcro about thirty or forty feet from Stewart’s bouse which is about three or four feet from the restaurant. Alex was then standing a little behind his father; Stewart repeated that be had stood all be could stand; Cleon Keyes replied that he (Stewart) couldn’t whip him, and ran his fist under Stewart’s nose; don’t know where Alex wss at this time; Stewart aaid something I didn’t bear; and Alex said he waa a d— liar, Stewart said “don’t call me a liar and Alox repeated his assertion that Stewart was a d— liar; Stewart then got up, picked up bla chair and made a motion as if toatrike Alex when the latter stepped back eight or ten feet and Cleon Keyes either struck Stewart or caught him, couldn’t aay which, and turned him around and Just as Stewart was turning so that he fully faced Alex. Alex shot him. I was within twenty-five feet of them. Just after the shot was fired Cleon took the pistol away from Alex and Stewart said I am a dead man,” tat dlt;»wn and died. Then both the Key©* sturt.sl toward home; sereral men were nearer than 1 »»; Stewart frequently sat in front of tho restauruut as It was convenient to both Ids house and livery stable.•eelL FRANK MOSSwas Hie second witness called and bis testimony corroborated that of Mr. Woods so far as It went and ooutalnedsome additional points which were given jas follows ;Alex Keyes and John Eik^uberry cauie to my house almul two o'clock and Alex said he wanted to see me, and aski d where my revolver was aud told mo about a racket ho had had with Stewart; he aaid Htewart told him that If he didn’t live with his wife he would aonu be ready for burial and ' Alex said that was something two could work at. II told biin my revolver waa in my overcoat pocket up-ftairs and went back in the house; pretty soon they went away, Keyes saying let’s go up town.” Alex told me Stewart had threatened to kill niui, and thought killing waaagaine two could play at.Hero the witness waa shown the revolver with which Keyes hatl com tinted the murder and indentified it as hisowu. •/_ \ *THOMAS J. DRAPER wtiM 11ii* next witness called and testifiedto that effect; after f went, Nwfc tomyhouao and told my wife what I beard and told her I thought there would lx» trouble; Simon Lap* and his wife were there; in a few minutes the Keyes came along and shortly after 1 heard of the shooting; then Alex and hi* father went past going liaek home; as they neared the door, Mrs. Keyes, Alex's mother, came to the door and asked, “Alex, did you doit? Alex replied, “1 did.” Mra. Keyes asked, “la he dead? Alex aaid, “bo l«.H Mn. Keyes replied, '*1 am afraid you are ruined ,*• ^After the close of Mr. Klkenberry’s testimony, Mr. HIm% of counsel for the defense, arose and stated to the court that at the evidence of Mr. Klkenberry was of such a startling and unexpected character, they desired time for a consultation and the court granting their request, his counsel withdrew from the room. After perhaps ten minutes they returned and nunounced themselves usIppWlgfJRfNptf •fc- i CUBOH KEY KB Iwas then placed upon the stand hi Ids own Miulf. Mr. Keyes *|*ke plainly and clearly, though apparently laboring under great excitement aud struggling bravely to control bis emotions. Themmmmr. mg testimony;I had no knowledge whatever of my son s having A revolver; had no knowledge of iuy son’s in ton lions; I was al home and asleep when my sun rauie home and began talking with his mother; bearing the name of Stewart immtloned 1 woku up and asked what was the matter; my son said “Stewart turn threatened my life, and I told him 1 would go down and recoSctle him, heard th«- 1. of John II. Klkenberry In regard to my telUng Alex that if Stewart struck him or attacked him to put him in a nhapo that his wife wouldn’t know him, all of which Is false' ! made no aneh remark; I made no remark about putting him where Mg wife wouldn’t know him; perhaps there is a portion of John II. Kikenlterry's testimony that is true, my hay dhl •iwak of Stewart’s threat*; I did not go to Sabbath school—did not walk out in the afternoon; was not on the streets; after Stewart was shot I told burr, my aecund son, U go and tell his mother. When we met Stewart, I told him It was not necessary for us to have any trouble. 1 aaid; “What is the matter, Knmuel, with you and Alex? He said, “Matter enough! PM you come to take it up? 1 said I did not come to fight.Here Mr. Keyed gave the particular* of I be conversation between all parties,the effort* to strike, etc., etc., exactly a* Mr. Wood hod except that Mr. Keyes Instead of striking at Mr. Stew art,»»id he raised his baud* for protection from the Chair anti tried to catch the chair.Upon cross-examination, Mr. Keyes Haiti that the subject of the intimacy 1h»-tafefc. .r- j * a ■ ,A LEX ANIi MISS STEWARTwas known to and frequently talked about in hi* family anti that l»«*t11 hej and hi* wife opposed the idea of theirI cohabitation T L ’\MRA KKYKHwife of Cleon Keye* and mother of Alex,wait then placed upon the stand andtestified a* follow * : . s ,Waa at home on Sunday; did nut go to Suudsy school nud were not on the street*; Winn* Alex and iuy husband went up t Stew art’s, u«y eon c;ut»e home and said that Mr. Htewart had threatened his life, and arkctl his father if he would go up street with him; my hu-d»aiid auid Its would ami recon-ello him; heard tio conversation In regard to violence mg intended; met my son coming home; iuy younger ton canto home and told me of the shooting and I met Alex and said, “Oh, Alex, what have you dnoo, or something In that otf.et.Fpon croeo-exumination, Mr*. Keye* admitted that she and Mr. Keye* and the chiidreu were walking on the street* uI*ml noon; that they pa**cd the house of John II. Kikenbcrry and saw him aud liia wife aud two children in the yard, but that she did not see Mr. orJOHN K. KIKKNIIEUKYwhs then called, and placed upon the stand. Hi* evidence was contradictoryand iiiwni infactorv. Sulisdmit iall v .OOEOKER’S VERDICT.Acting Coroner Shultz waa Iuimediately notified of tho tragedy and after a few hasty preparations repaired at otiot to the scene of the tragedy and held an Inquest over the remains of the victim.A number of witnesses were examined, anti the testimony adduced was In accordance with the foregoing statement, anti similar to that given by the same parties in the preliminary Dial on Monday afternoon, which Is given in a corn-complete form below. After giving the matter due consideration, the Coroner returned the following vert I let:Static os IvImasa, Carroi r. cm si v, Hs.I, Jtulson J. Hhultx, Coroner in am! tor the county of Carroll AmJ State of Indiana, having Imlt; ii summon*! to Inqulro and true presentment make in what manner and at whore hands Samuel Stewart, whose body was found on July A . I)., ifistl, on a side walk in Flora, Motmx township, Carroll county *,nd Stale of .ndiana, came to his death,after having heard the evidence and examined the body, I do find that the dree lt;*ed came to Mu death by violence and that said body has the following mortal wound iu flirted by Alexander Keyes, vl*: a pistol shot wound from a H-rallher revolver, the shot entering the body of the deceased three nod one-half inches to the right of the left nipple and passing entirely through the btwlt;4 the heart and lodging near the spinal rolum In the muscle* of tiie ha« k behind the lower margin of the seventh rlhon the left aide.I further find Hint Cleon Keyes was an accessory before the fart.J. J.ffiict.rx, Coroner, THE WOUND.Dr. J. K. (Vomer, of Flora, wa* »|-poiuted by tho Coroner to holtl an au-topey uiul after the examination mafio the following report;Fidra, Ind., July 21, 1KK3.To the Coroner of Carroll County:Below please flntl report «»f autopsy belli by me on the bntly lt;*f Samuc| Htewart, Uvccasrd, in FUna, county ofCarroll, State of Indiana, on Monday,July 23, 1883.V : ‘ REPORT. ’ *, ■ *The wound wa* located three nnd ono-balf inches to the right of the left idpfde aud five inches below tho supra-stern.iI notch. The tissues injured in the course »f tho bullet w. re the skin, faMda, iipiwr tiordor of the fourth rib, pleural membrane*; It pa*Md through the pleural cavity, between tho kibe* of the left lung,through the pari-cardium. entering the heart at the upper part of the right ventricle a littL- i- ih© right of the septum, parsed out through tho left auricle, through (he lower M«r of the seventh rib and stopped In tissues Just beck of it.Reapcetfully sutnaitted,~ Oaawia, m. d.THE CACHE OF THE CRIMEi* a long story ami not unfamiliar lo many of our renders. Alex. Keye* bus never Urno n good reputulion, and hit* cun.ham I hi* parent* much trouble and the expenditure of a great amount of money. Harly la*t Mi turner he and hi* cousin* bt^gan'paying their attciitlon* D Mr. Stewart’* daughter*, a proceeding which wa* very «tUtagrec*ble tlt;» Mr. Stswart, who, however, w;t* unulfio to prevent it. Shortly afterward, the see* oud daughter discovered that she was in a condition very unfortunate and declared that Alex Keyes wa* the cat ho of Iter di*gracc. Alex then skipped out and went to Kan*u*, where, through the influence of J. J. Mo**, a former Flormite, he obtained a |x**ition a* clerk in a hotel. This *itnation lie lost by driukiug to exce**, and, rtinniug short of mouey, returned to hi* home, where lie obtained employment at railroading aud afterward* at carpeuteriug. Wlfi'o engaged in the latter pursuit lie wa* arrested upon a charge of bastardy preferred by Mi** Htewart, wlto hatl gone to the residence of her sister in Com couuty, and be wa* taken up there, butmercantile years. He reputation gene rally a upright nut he has beer hi* disrepufamous tru able fault, 1 nature, am have an town ehlldr tnro and tlon. He ithe fa tilts c have heart pat by for 1 which he 1 i* a good nunder tht‘ lt;ed hi* affet reach Id* least to tconduct di:won him Iof compute versa I.I* an tigshooter, hbore, it wtincut in atfinUhed i handle.A* the it cxdtcincnvengcanc*1nity was lynching other* of 1 aide* ami tlon. The that Sheri the safety tni p recau Arrangem*i»tanoe oia signal — agreed ujs More con however, molest eitA iiumljail durltij the murtltladle*, hocrritlor*, er*. On ladle* npiyoung 1mKeye* thhim. Kr wc*t side, on one of an excrlH-a few mil ea*t aide, lar ami n•tops lestHe seenu ently cnj« antly ta carefullypocket, unco and able. Hi tlon* wit prisou at of InteresAitvn IkF/tin iuiul f IitrDfklTUOIkl illit f .tWhen Monday, very qui practicalwere pre
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Delphi Weekly Times
Delphi, Indiana, US
Fri, Jul 27, 1883
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IN, USA 03 May 2019
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