KELLER, Robert
Source: Kingman Star Friday, May 13, 1949
Tokyo—Maj. Gen. Earle E. Partridge, Fifth Air Force Commander, Tuesday approved the death sentences of two airmen convicted of murdering a post exchange clerk in a burglary.
The cases of Pvt. James H. Burks, 20, of Cullman, Ala., and Pvt. Robert E. Keller, 20, of Covington, Ind., must be reviewed by the U. S. judge advocate general and President Truman before they may be hanged. The killing occurred the night of Dec. 31, last year at Jama Air Force base. – thanks to S&E – this is so sad
Source: Kingman Star Friday, May 27, 1949
Covington, Ind.—Mr. and Mrs. Marion Keller were expected to return to their home here today from Washington where they appealed to army officers for commutation of the death sentence imposed on their solider son.
The son, Pvt. Robert H. Keller, was convicted in Japan last January in the killing of an army guard in the robbery of a post exchange.
In Washington, the Kellers, accompanied by Rep. Cecil M. Harden, sixth Indiana district representative in Congress called at the Judge Advocate’s office and asked that the son’s sentence be reduced to life imprisonment.
They were told that their plea would be placed before the Army Board of Review.
Source: Kingman Star Friday, May 13, 1949
Covington, May 10—The parents of Pvt. Keller, Mr. and Mrs. Marion Keller, had received no word Tuesday relative to Major Gen. Earle E. Partridge’s approval of the death sentence for their son.
Pvt. Keller was convicted along with Pvt. Burks and a third soldier, Robert Baugham, of Connellsville, Pa., for the murder of Sgt. Paul T. Wilburn, of Columbus, Ohio, and the robbery of the post exchange.
An army public information officer in Tokyo said evidence introduced at the Covington youth’s court martial disclosed that Keller and Burks slashed Wilburn’s throat while the bookkeeper was asleep in the Jama airbase post exchange. They then robbed the exchange of goods valued at $810, he said.
Pvt. Keller was not very well known in Covington. He attended grade school in Illinois but did not attend high school. Before enlisting in the Air Corps, he helped his father here part time in his work at the Coffing Brothers Orchard, south of Covington where the father is employed. The son enlisted in the Air Corps in July 1946 when 17 years of age. He had been stationed in Japan for more than two years.
In addition to his parents in Covington, Pvt. Keller has a sister in Covington, Mrs. Kathryn Yuochunas, living near the home of his parents. – thanks to S&E
Source: Unknown newspaper -
Nagoya, Japan Saturday – A young airman from Covington, Ind was hanged Saturday for murdering a fellow soldier during a robbery. Pfc. Robert E. Keller, 21 walked to the gallows at the 8th Army stockade here at 13 minutes after midnight. He was convicted of stabbing to death Sgt Paul T. Wilbur, 20, Columbus, Ohio who was on duty at the post exchange at Tachikawa Air Base about 20 miles west of Tokyo when it was robbed by three soldiers Dec 3, 1948. President Truman upheld the general court martial sentence, Pfc James H. Burks, 21, Cullman, Ala and Pvt Robert L. Baughman, 20 Connellsville, PA are under life sentences in the slaying. Burks also was condemned to hang but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by the president. Pfc. Keller was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Marion Keller of Covington. He was convicted Jan 12, 1949 by a general court martial held in Tokyo, Japan. The public information officer at the base said that the evidence disclosed that Keller and Burks slashed Wilburn’s throat while the bookkeeper was asleep in the post exchange. They then robbed the exchange of goods valued at $810. Baughman kept watch at the door. Keller was not very well known in Covington. He attended grade school in Illinois but did not attend high school. Before enlisting in the Air Force, he helped his father parttime at Coffing Brothers Orchard south of Covington. The young Keller enlisted in the Air Force in July 1946 when he was 17 years old. He had been stationed in Japan more than two years at the time of his slaying. In addition to his parents, Keller also had a sister in Covington, Mrs. Kathryn Youchunas. --thanks so much to Bren M and ~~~Transcribed and Type by kbz
Source: Indianapolis Star Sunday Jan 9, 1949 p 13
Tokyo, Jan 8 – Three Air Force enlisted men are scheduled for trial Monday on murder charges in the Dec 3 killing of Sgt. Paul T. Wilburn, Columbus Ohio. They are Pfc James H. Burks, 20 years old, Cullman, Ala; Pfc Robert E. Keller, 20, Covington, Ind and Pvt Robert L. Baughman, 19, Connellsville, PA. Wilburn’s body, the jugular vein severed was found in his room at the Tachkiawa Air Base post exchanged where he was bookkeeper. Despite cabled inquiries Mr. and Mrs. Marion Keller of Covington said they have received no details concerning the affair in Tokyo involving their son, Pfc Robert E. Keller. Pfc Keller enlisted in the Army about two years ago. He is a graduate of Perrysville HS in Vermillion County. ~~~Transcribed and Type by kbz
Source: Fort Worth Texas Star Thursday Jan 13, 1949
Tokyo, Jan 13 – A general court martial Thursday convicted three US Air Force privates of the murder of a post exchange bookkeeper and sentenced two to hand and the third to live imprisonment. Sentenced to hang were Pvts Robert E. Keller of Covington, Ind and James H. Burks of Cullman, Ala. Pvt Robert L. Laughman of Connellsville, PA was sentenced to life imprisonment. They were convicted in the death of Sgt. Paul T. Wilburn of Columbus, Ohio. The public information officer said the evidence disclosed that Keller and Burks slashed Wilburn’s throat while the bookkeeper was asleep in the Jama Airbase post exchange on Dec 3, 1948. They then robbed the exchange of goods valued at $810. Baughman, the evidence showed kept watch at the door. ~~~Transcribed and Type by kbz