Keller - Annetta McMullen - Nettie
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Wed May 10, 1916
Mrs. Nettie KELLER, about 70 widow of Dan Keller, committed suicide at her home 7 miles SW of Crawfordsville this monring early, hanging herself to a ladder by a towel. Her body was found by her son, Ben Keller with whom she had lived. Coroner HB Williams was called from Mace and made an investigation. His verdict will be suicide. Mrs.Keller tried to take her own life about two years ago, slashing her throat with a knife. Physicians hastily called gave her attention that saved her life then. Mrs. Keller had been in weakened health and is thought to have been brooding. This morning at daybreak her son heard her arise from bed. He called to her, telling her it was too early to arise. He then heard her return to bed and thinking she would not arise again, went to sleep. Mrs. Keller probably arose again at once and went to the woodshed. When her body was found, probably an hour after her death, it was suspended from a rung of a ladder about 7' from the floor of the shed. A towel was tied around her neck and fastened to the ladder. Mrs. Keller and her family had resided in the neighborhood for a long period and had a great many friends. When she tried previously to take her life it was thought her mind was affected and neighbors believe this caused her suicide this mroning. She was a highlyr espected woman in the community. Her husband, the late Dan Keller, has been dead several years. One son and a daughter besides the son Ben at whose home the tragedy occurred survive. They are: Mrs. Goerge Clodfelter of Alamo and George Keller of this city. Relatives of the aged woman were shocked beyond measure when they heard of the death.
Source: Crawfordsville Review Thursday, May 11, 1916
Mrs. Nettie KELLER committed suicide by hanging herself at the home about 7 miles SW of the city yesterday morning. Mrs. Keller was about 70 and had been in poor health for many years. It is believed that despondency over her condition was the cause of her taking her life. About two years ago Mrs. Keller made an attempt against her life by cutting her throat, but physicians were called and her life was saved. The body was found by Ben Keller, a son who lived at home. It was suspended to a rung of a ladder in an outhouse and it is probable that it had been there for about an hour. As soon as the deed was discovered Dr. Williams the coroner was called and he arrived about 8 o’clock. After an inquest, he pronounced the death a suicide. At the hearing of the coroner Mr. Keller stated that he had heard his mother moving around before daylight yesterday morning and that he had called to her what she wanted. He declared that she then went back to bed. The mother had evidently watched her chance and when she found that he was asleep slipped out again. She had taken a towel and gone to an outhouse. There she climbed up on a box and fastened the towel to one of the upper rungs of a ladder. With the aid of a safety pin she looped the other end around her neck and then kicked the box out from under her. Keller testified that he arose shortly after daylight and started his work around the place. In going into the outhouse he found his mother suspended from the ladder, dead. He called the coroner and after the inquest a verdict of suicide was rendered. While Mrs. Keller had been in poor health for years suffering from paralysis of the right side her son declared that she had been in as good spirits as usual and that he could give no reason for her action except worry about her health. Mrs. Keller was the widow of Dan Keller who has been dead about 7 years. She was Nettie McMullen before her marriage and has always lived in the county. She has always borne a reputation as a good Christian woman. The funeral will be from the home Friday morning at 10 o’clock and the services will be in charge of Rev. Thompson of the United Brethren Church. Mrs. Keller is survived by 10 children: Ben and William both of the SW part of Crawfordsville; George, Walter, Elmer, Mrs. Marrit McCloud all of Crawfordsville Mrs. Dave Keller of Hillsboro; Mrs. Henry Miller and Mrs. Thomas Myers of New Ross. One brother Joe McMullen also survives.