Note:  This transcription of the article appearing in the Summit County Beacon Journal on August 16, 1871 has been transcribed 
here by Kathleen Funk on July 7, 2000.  I have attempted to preserve the original text as closely as possible, making minor spelling 
changes only when needed to clarify the word.  The transcription was made from the microfilmed copy of the original text.  The 
microfilm is located in the Summit County, Ohio public library.

The Summit County Beacon
Wednesday, August 16, 1871
Page 3, Column 2-3



Shooting Affray

Two Men Wounded at East Liberty
-One Seriously-
Possibility of Another Homicide


	A serious shooting affray which occurred at East Liberty, Friday night, may possibly give the public another sensational
 murder trial.  The vague reports that have reached this city give the facts as we cite them below.  A Reporter has been sent to the 
village to investigate the matter and a full report may be expected ere our next issue.  It is now stated that some time during Friday 
evening, Mr. Godfrey Semler, a son-in-law of A. J. Kepler, a farmer of East Liberty, was visiting with his family at the latter's 
residence.  Semler keeps a hotel at East Liberty, and is said to have had some trouble with his mother in-law.  Be that as it may, 
report saye (sic) that while he was talking with Mr. Kepler, in the kitchen, Mrs. Kepler came out of the bed room with a cane pistol 
in her hand.  Semler says that it was discharged by her at him, the ball however, striking the old man Kepler in the stomach, inflicting
a dangerous wound.  He also says that Mr. Kepler then took the cane and shot at him (Semler) the ball passing through his coat 
sleeve and entering his side below the ribs, inflicting but a slight wound.  Mrs. Kepler and Semler are both under arrest.  Semler was 
in the city this morning after counsel to conduct a preliminary examination to take place at noon at East Liberty. He talks wildly of 
the affair and says that she (Mrs. K.) didn't want to shoot, neither did the old man; that it was all purely accidental and the result of 
carelessness; that he don't know anything about it, &c.  The constable says that the wound received by Mr. Kepler does not appear 
to have been made by a bullet, but is rather a knife stab, and that when he left this morning the old gentleman was vomiting large 
quantities of blood, his recovery being among the doubtful things.

	LATER-The East Liberty shooting affair assumes milder proportions than at first supposed.  It seems that Semler's wife 
and himself had some trouble a few days ago, when she left him and went home.  Friday evening Semler went to see her and if 
possible have her return with him.  Everything seems to have been satisfactorily arranged between them and Mrs. Semler agreed 
to go home in the morning.  Semler then offered to go to the tavern and get some beer for himself and the old man.  The tavern is 
at the center of the village, the Kepler residence some distance northwest.  While Semler was gone the old lady and daughter went 
to bed.  On returning Semler and Kepler sat together and drank beer until nearly or quite 12 o'clock.  It is probable that they became 
slightly intoxicated and aroused the women.  Finally Semler insisted that his wife go with him at once.  This she refused to do and 
quite a dispute arose, which finally resulted in the old woman bringing out the cane pistol.  She fired it in some way and probably 
wounded the old man, as a bullet hole has been found through his left leg, passing diagonally downwards.  The old man probably 
seized the pistol, re-loaded it and fired, the shot striking Semler's right arm, near the elbow, passing entirely though that also.  The 
old man has received a wound in the stomach with some sharp instrument, which cannot be accounted for.  It certainly is not a bullet 
wound.  Semler bled like a 'stuck pig', and staggering out upon a porch covered it with blood.  In leaning against a post he left a 
bloody spot some 10 inches square.  He was followed out by the old man who fell upon the porch and lay there until help arrived.  
Semler went home to the tavern and was arrested three (sic).  The neighbors being aroused all possible assistance was rendered to 
Mr. Kepler, a physician called, &c.  Mrs. Kepler was placed under arrest as soon as a Justice arrived.  The wounds of neither of 
the men are likly (sic) to prove fatal, although Mr. K. complains of great pain in his stomach.  It is impossible to gain any information 
from the people connected with the affair, all claiming they can't tell who fired the pistol of who did the stabbing, or in fact how 
anything happened.  It may be drawn out by the examination of Semler, which which (sic) will take place presently, Justice W. D. 
Sweeden, of Greensburgh, being here for that purpose.



The Other Side of the Story

-What the Keplers Say of the Matter-

Mr. Kepler Still in Danger

	The report sent up from East Liberty, on Saturday, by the Beacon Reporter was written in great haste, and gave facts as 
far as he could learn them.  The story of the Kepler family was not told until the arrival of Hon. H. McKinney, whom they sent for 
immediately upon learning that Semler had secured the services of Gen. A. C. Voris, and the Reporter consequently made up his 
sketch from the lips of Semler and outsiders, thus getting but one side of the story.  Mr. McKinney arrived at three o'clock, and 
by five o'clock, Semler was bound in the sum of $800 to appear before Justice Sweeton, at ten o'clock, on Tuesday, for the purpose 
of a preliminary examination upon the charge of stabbing A. J. Kepler with intent to wound.

	The statements as drawn from the Kepler family, Mrs. Semler included, make up a story as follows:  By reason of the 
drinking propensities of Semler, himself and wife have had trouble for the past five or six years.  The trouble has at times assumed 
such proportions that Semler has openly threatened her life, doing so on a number of occasions.  He also prepared a loaded gun, 
with which he claimed he would shoot her.  Two or three years ago, his drinking habits growing stronger, and his cruelty to her being 
unendurable, they separated and she went to her father's house for shelter taking her children with her.  Thus matters ran along for 
some time, when Semler, apparently reformed and promised to do better.  She owned a house and lot at Liberty, and was finally 
persuaded by him to exchange this for the hotel property and live with him again.  Thinking he was really in earnest in reforming, 
she did everything he wished, but after going into the tavern he drank harder than ever, and was, indeed, almost constantly 
intoxicated. 

	On Thursday last he came to this city, with one of his little girls, and while here had her photograph taken.  Returning 
home the photograph was shown to Mrs. Semler, who said she liked it quite well, but thought the hands too large.  Upon this he 
became very violent, calling her names and accused her of trying to run down and traduce the children.  Late that night he went to 
bed, where she already was, in an intoxicated condition, and immediately commenced to choke and maltreat her, threatening to kill 
her if she got out of bed and making her lie there in all the agony of suspense lest he carry his threat into execution.  Towards 
daylight, Friday morning, she heard his heavy breathing and knew that he was asleep.  Stealthily arising she clothed herself and 
children, and, not wishing to trouble her father again went to Greensburgh, to see his people and ask for advice.  It was in vain, 
however, that she went to them, for they refused to do any thing.  Heartsore and faint, she determined to go to her own father, and 
started for Liberty.  A kind hearted farmer coming along took her into his wagon and thus she was situated when she met Semler 
on the road, armed with a gun.  When within a few feet of the wagon, he deliberately raised the weapon, aimed and would have 
fired, but the gun was out of order in some way and refused to obey his wishes.  By this time the wagon was opposite him; with a 
curse he drew back the hammer a second time and again he pulled the trigger, but as before there was only the dull sound of the 
falling hammer; no explosion took place, and Mrs. Semler, who had fallen forward to avoid being shot had the satisfaction of 
knowing that she was unharmed.

	It was late in the evening when she got to East Liberty, and with her children went to her father's house.  Desirous that 
he should not be troubled on her account, and yet not knowing what course to pursue, she sat down on the broad porch in front of 
the house and gave way to a burst of tears.  The children full of sympathy with the mother also cried, and made such a noise, that 
Mr. Kepler, who had not yet retired, heard them, and came to the door.  Seeing them there he enquired as to the trouble and 
learning all about it, took them into the house, sent the little ones to bed and then sat talking over his daughter's troubles with her 
and his wife.

	About ten o'clock, Semler came to the house (the first time in five years) and commenced abusing his wife, and insisting 
that she go home at once.  She plead (sic) with her father to protect her, when Semler seized her by the throat and choked her.  
This fired the father, and he took Semler's hands away, telling him the girl should stay till morning if she so wished; that at all events 
she need not go back that night, but perhaps would go in the morning.  Semler still manifested violence, when the old man went into 
the bed room and brought out the cane pistol, already mentioned, ordering Semler to let Mrs. Semler alone or take the consequences.  
Upon this Semler became more sober and left the house.

	Mr. Kepler anticipating more trouble, sent Mrs. Semler and his wife to bed, and put the cane gun behind the door.  
Presently Semler came back with a pitcher of beer, of which he and Kepler drank freely.  As the beer began to operate on Semler's 
system, he became more violent, and demanded his wife, saying she must go home that night.  Rising up from the table he broke 
into the bedroom where she had retired, and commenced abusing her in a shameful manner, using violence, and dragging her into 
the other room.  Again the old man interfered t protect his daughter, released her from Semler's clutches and repeated his statement 
that she should stay all night, but go home in the morning.  Then it was that Semler fairly frothed in his rage, and knowing that 
although he is a powerful man, he could in no wise compare his strength with Kepler's, he stepped to the corner where the cane 
pistol stood and securing possession of it, attacked Kepler, who followed him so close that when the pistol was fired and the shot 
penetrated his leg, his pantloons were set on fire being in contact with the muzzle of the weapon.  The pistol discharged was useless 
in Semler's hands, and dropping it, he found himself in a hand to hand scuffle with his father-in-law, who flung him to the floor, 
where Semler drew his knife and stabbed Kepler in the pit of the stomach.  The sharp pain caused Kepler to relax his hold, when 
Semler eluded his grasp and sprang towards the door.  The old man stepped to another corner of the room and seized a rifle which 
was standing there, raised it and as Semler was going through the door, fired, wounding him, as already described.  Following Semler 
on to the porch the old man fell, faint with the loss of blood, and was found there by his son, who had heard the noise and came 
across the fields to see what was the trouble.

	The following actions of Semler have already been told.  On Sunday, the parties who had signed his bail bond, discovered 
that he was securing all the money he could, and that his actions indicated that he was about to run away.  They, therefore, had him 
arrested and the bond surrendered.  The situation of Mr. Kepler is said to be very critical.  Dr. Brownell, who was called in 
Saturday morning, thought the wound in the stomach only a slight one, but the developments of Sunday led to the belief that it is a 
dangerous one and counsel was called in.  The old gentleman is in great pain, and it would not be surprising if his wound resulted in
 death.

	REPORTED DEATH-Report says that A. J. Kepler, the old gentleman who was wounded in the East Liberty affray, 
died of his wounds on Monday night.  The report may be only a rumor, however.  The preliminary examination of Semler comes off 
to-day, and the lawyers have gone there from this city to represent the parties.