The New York Herald Newspaper, September 3, 1873, Page 3

THE FATE OF KELSEY. The Remains Found in Oyster Bay a Subject of Discussion. Evidence Produced at the Inquest. FEELING IN HUNTINGTON. Interviews with the Indicted Parties. A SHORT TALK WITH MISS SMITH, Curious Stories About Kelsey’s Disappearance. The Justification for Tarring and Feathering. EEE ee Alleged Obseenity of Kelsey’s Corre- spondence, Huntineton, L I, Sept, 2, 1873, Who tarred and feathered Kelsey? Thatis the question of which it is so hard to find asatisfactory solution here. It is vain to suppose he did it nim- self, Some person or persons out of an eccentric benevolence must have provided him with a suit of tar when he stood naked and shivering in the air the night of the 4th of November, Whether the tar was hot or cold is another of the questions nobody can answer. ‘I'nat he was tarred and Jeath- ered is beyond dispute, A cloud of witnesses testify to having seen him in his habiliments of disgrace, but nobody knows who did it, and that may be reckoned @ very strange fact indeed, The finger of suspicion point- ed to over half a dozen leading citizens of the village, Dr. Banks, Claudius B. Prime, John McKay, Royal Sammis, A. T. Hurd, Deacon Wood and oth- ers, yet a person acquainted for a brief time with any one of these who have been suspected would be slow to believe him guilty of an impropriety so great as that which was committed, ana certainly he phould hesitate long before tolerating the belief that men of such respectability, so sober and re- lgionsly given, could be guilty of murder, The people I have mentioned declare they had NO HAND IN THE TARRING AND FEATHERING of Kelsey. They saw him after the deed was done, not betore. As I cannoi find, alter a diligent search, anybody who played the part of furnishing Kelsey with a coat of tar, what must I conclude ? That the job was performed by some rough and ready people from the rural neighborhood, or that prolessional artists were brought all the way from ‘the congenial soil of Tennessee or Arkansas? But that would only be foolish speculation. No doubt exists of this fact—that when the town learned, as it dia before breakfast next morning, what had happened to Kelsey, the general verdict was, “Sarved him right.” Huntington, living to itself like a family in a wild wood, thought any discipline that might be administered to one of its wayward members was something the world could never know and had no business in- quiring about. Aday of calmer reflection came and Huntington felt ashamed—felt like wearing sackcloth and ashes for the deed done in a moment of thoughtless impulse. There wasa general dis- avowal all round, and here, I think, the ringlead- ers in the performance made a mistake. Iam as- suming that those who tarred and feathered Kel- sey are citizens of Huntington, who must have known what they were about and been aware that they could remain unknown but a very short time. In so small a place concealment was out of the question. Now, however, comes the query, Did Kelsey deserve to be tarred and feathered? Well, 1 candidly think he did—tarred and feathered, and nothing more. Butit should have been done in broad daylight, without disguise and without any ‘unnecessary cruelty. A SUBSTITUTE FOR TAR. Dr. Banks, who is the most prominent among those who lie under suspicion in the eyes of the law as being concerned in the affair, states that another mode of punishment was suggested to him a month before the tar and feather climax, ‘This was to elevate Kelsey on the back of an extra large and powerful man, divest him of his nether garments, carry him at noonday through the streets of the town, and ply him schoolboy fashion vigorously with a bunch of hickory switches. This would have been abundantly efficacious for the victim and a cheerful entertainment ior the citi- zens. Why did Kelsey deserve all this? Well, he was A STANDING ANNOYANCE to the rising generation of the young ladies of Huntington. A dozen had causes of complaint with him, but it was against Miss Julia Smith, who had no big brother to take her part—no maie friend in the world—that he levelled ior eight years his most unpleasant attentions. I think one month of such a course as he pursued towards Miss Smith would have entailed personal dam- age on him in any other community. They area meek people in Huntington. Halt their lives are spent within the shadow of the churches, and it must be a very desperate case indecd where they overieap the barriers of law and propriety. This was not, as I was led at first to believe, a young man. His age was forty, a period ot life when, asarule, the amorous currents of the blood are sub- dued and the restless and unthinking lust of youth gives way to sober and well regulated continence, A STRIKING CONTRAST. He was grown to manhood when Miss Smith was alittle schoolgirl. It is as needless as it is unin- teresting to narrate all of Kelsey’s doings during his acquaintance with the young iady. It will an- wer ior the purpose—the explanation of why I think this man deserved to be tarred and leath- ered—to state that for a tweivemonth alter Miss Smith was engaged to be married to Mr, Sammis, Kelsey was in the habit of sending her letters fuli of that character of lewd composition which, when in printed form, ts Jorbidden transmission through the mails; and not alone letters, but cartes de visite sized chromos, finches the worst conceptions of a prurient and biackguard fancy. Into this part of the subject it would be indelicate to proceed, but enough is here stated to give a notion of the man, ‘The letters alluded to were all signed “Cartholo.” Those of a different character, in which he feit conscious there were no lines of indecency, had his genuine signature. To be satisfled he was ‘the. author of the obscene correspondence it is only Necessary to note the fact that when he wrote over the signature of ‘Oartholo" @ proposal to meet Miss Smith at some hour aiter dark in the basement of her house, he ‘Was imvariably on hand outside the house, which he was never permitted to enter. He was shrewd, too, aiter his fashion. Though the lady never wrote him a line, he would send letters by way of answers to suppositious letters of hers, relating the joy (sensually expressed) he experienced at their it meeting, when no meeting ever took Place. When the first two OBSCENE LETTERS - Lined Dade received and bes idea a |, Mra. Oakley, the grandmother o 88 Smith, "take 1 : fe orders to take no letters or anything else in Kelsey's handwriting from the Huntington Post Office, So there they accumulated for months, — Find this out, Kelsey had his letters addressed and mailed in New York and otaer places, hoping thereby to secure their con- traband entry iato Miss Smith’s house. This also failed. A great pile of correspondeuce gathered until a time arrived when Mrs. Oakley was urged, to have legal proceedings taken at Ke'sey, to his plague of letters, but his inid- t prowlings about the lady's demicil. The ‘tries Attorney, Mr. TTuttie, advised that mdenee be taken out of the Post Odice, as it might furnisn evidence in securing & conviction of the All this time Mrs. Oakley, a noble- Jooking old lady with the silver frost of seventy ‘winters whitening over her calm and colorless forehead, expressed her utter aversion to having apytl todo with the law courts. She was never among em, and her [gen ag et Miss Smith, @ petite, gentle E timid and as a fawn, ‘was horror strieken at the thought of having to go inte fone and have all the hallowed privacy of her and domestic course of life made public. serra mene bern ter el tet prowed. the law could have pakeg hold of thy man who behaved in this manner, who was con- stantly TRESPASSING ON THEIR PREMISES at night, and who on two occasions by the aid of a ladder entered @ bedroom of the house. Many meaas were tried te get rid of the offender without resorting to legal or Violent means. Mrs. Stewart, an aunt Of Miss Smith’s, wrote to him imploring him to desist in his anneyance to Miss Smith, and his answer was—‘‘You have the means of stopping it if you like,”” impiriog thereby that he was epen to a proposition of meney. erhap» this isenough about Kelsey—enough, at least, to show that he offered considerable offence and invited harm-en himself, Now as to the peo- ple who aid the tarring and feathering. They must unquestionably have been natives of Huntington. It was only in Huntington that Kel- sey’s doings were known, und it is absurd to suppose that people trom the rural districts en- tered the town for the purpose of tarring and feathering anybody. It is equaliy absurd 10 sup- pose strangers froma distance were hired to do the work. There was a personal feeling here that could only be graufied by actual participation in the brutal delight ot tarring and teathering and disgracing a man who had acces utterly obnox- lous toa large portion of his tellow townsmen, While I may say Kelsey deserved tobe tarred and feathered L impiy no jusutication of those who did the deed, Manya man deserves to be hanged. “Hanging is too good for him’? is @ common lorm Ol eXpressing the popular idea of some peopie’s rightiul meed of punishment; but we sould all be sorry to see the iorms of law set aside to achieve the end ot dealing out exact but unauthorized justice to criminals, Was MURDER MEANT? Now the question arises, did these Huntington folks exceed the limit of their programme? Did they add murder to their first indiscretion? That is the present enigina easily answered in the nega- tive by those who know the character of the people of liuptuington, but @ puzzling problem to those who don’t and to those who take a morbid delight in mystery and misery, There are hundreds who jee] satisfied the remains found in Oyster Bay are those of Charies G. Keisey, and that he was mur- dered by thesame people who tarred and feath- ered him, As to their being the remains of Kelsey there is but a solitary link of evidence, and that is the gold guard chain found in the pants pocket. To the ideutity o! this three of Kelsey’s relatives have sworn, On the other hand, there are SOME CURIOUS STORIES told which might as well be told here as anywhere else. A colored man named Abraham Stevens, of Huntington, said yesterday he was prepared to swear that he heard Chariotte Kelsey, sister of the missing man, say, at a house where she was visiting, “It took Bill (meaning her brother) and me two hours to scrape the tar off Charley.” Mrs, Brosh, of Huntington, is positive she saw Kelsey on a train at Pougukeepsie, and a Mrs. Gould is equally satisfied she saw the same ubiquitous spirit on the New Haven Railroad. When Bill Kelsey, three weeks ago, was leaving the house of a gentleman whose name is handy at any time, he stopped three timesin the course of his de- scent by the steps to the wicket entrance to remark, “In a ew Weeks Irom now you will hear of some- thing.”’ They bad been talking of his brother, In “a lew weeks” his body was discovered. Perhaps there is nothing in this, Some time ago a clair- Yoyant, whose most remunerative occupation in New York is not mentionable, predicted that Kelsey’s remains would be found just as the, werefound, Her evidence has already appeared. Clairvoyancy is hardly a legitimate reliance in anything under the sun, Mr. William Kelsey af- firmed at the investigation that the morning after the tarring he was in bed till aiter sunrise. Another witness testified he saw him coming towards hisown house belore sunrise. A state- ment has already appeared that Bill Kelsey and his brother Charles were seen that same morning before daybreak driving off in the direction of Lioyd’s beach, Another statement was made on the theory that Kelsey was murdered and his body sunk; that “a couple of heavy weights and a sack were missed from @ mull near Lioy«’s beach.” There is no mill near the beach, and no miller nor anybody else has complained of the loss of either @ sack or a couple of weights, As to the identity of the remains beyond the gold guard chain of course it is all mere conjecture. DOCTORS DIFFER, The doctors are divided on the question as to whether the remains were capable of tloating on the surface of the water and of tus being casually discovered by a couple of fishermen. After being brought to Oyster» Bay, where the inquest con- tinues to be held, they were very extensively ex- amined by proiesstonal and non-proiesstonal peo- ple alike. Dr. James R. Wood, who is spending the season at Laurelion, declared that it was a physi- cal impossibility tor a pair of legs largely denuded of fesh to float on the surface. He could readily understand how the trunk of a man’s body, in which gases would naturally generate, would float, but with the legs or arms it was @ different case. Dr. Smallwood, of Huntington, holds to the same opinion, and so de several others, leaving the inference that the remains are counterieit, and have been offered as those of Kelsey for the sake of obtaining the reward, Other doctors maintain the reverse of this, and combat the argumentabout the impossibility of the Mesh remaining on a man’s legs after ten months’ soaking in the sea by point- ing to the coating of tar found on the surface of the flesh, and contending that this acted as a preserv- ative. This matter can be readily settled by any competent anatomist, In all the 1oregoing there is FOOD #0R REFLECTION, Part of the public of Huntington, blinded by preju- dice, have been reaching out for conclusions with- out reasonable data. It does not necessarily 1ol- low that those who did the tarring had receptive souls for murderous designs. The object was to disgrace @ man who had already shown an utter insensibility to gentier forms of rebuke and chas- tisement, Allow\there was no defence for the arbi- trary course of proceedings, neither was there any for the acts that Ty ore the bizarre form of punishmeut inflicte INTERVIEW WITH DR. BANKS. In thestore of Mr. Shepherd, in Huntington, I met Dr. Banks, whose name has been more con- Cpe le identified with this case than any other. He was very feeble froin an attack of erysipelas, and talked with some effort. He is &@ married man, of about thirty-five years, of gentlemaniy bearing and intelligent address. He told a simple story, hot without its apparent reservations, and, weakly convalescent as he looked, there lurked around the expression of his lips sufficient deter- mination to go through with any design on which his mind had_ settled. He must have championed Miss Smith. He looked to me & man impossible to sit with Jolded arms and listen patiently to the stories he must have been told of the annoyances practised on his next-door neighbor, Miss Smith, He must be up and id ¢ Kelsey was a fool to make light of Dr. Banks, Isaid, “Doctor, would you tell me all you know about this tarring and feathering of Kelsey? What had you to do with tt?” “Weil,’’ said he, “you nae know that my house is withina few yards of Mrs. Oakley’s, where Miss Smith lives. 1, along with other neighbors, had resolved, when other means had failed, to take turns in watching her house and try if possible and capture Kesey entering through the windows, Should we catch him in the act we should hand him over to the law. Ieame within a few teet of him one night, as he was prowling around tne house, but he was too quick for me and escaped. Another night (a Saturday night) a colored man iniormed me while 1 was on the lookout that Kel- sey had just passed him with a ladder in his band, He did not come near the house, for he suspected the coast was not altogether clear.”? “But, Doctor, what part did you take in the tar- ring business ?” “I took no part. I came on the scene when all was over. I heard a great deal of noise in the rear of Mrs. Oakley’s house, and 1, alon with other neighbors, went across, hen reached the yard [| saw it was Kelsey was the centre of attraction, It was a dark night and I held a tantern in my hand. The folks in the house were called out on the piazza, and at that moment I held up my lantern to show them who it was. It was hardiy up when it was smashed by the blow of a boot from Kelsey, and as I turned around to descend tie ter- race, swinging the lantern at the same time, it hit Keisey in the head, not by any means hard, and certainly without intention. Shortly alter I went. home, and that ts about all I Know of the matter.” THE SAME STORY, After this I saw Mr. John McKay und others; but as they all declared they had nothing to do with the tarring and came on the ground while other people whom nobody Knows were engaged at this cheeriul amusement, there is no interest in what they tell. They ail saw Kelsey. They all say when his clothes were given him he started off towards home without uttering any expression of pain what- ever. SEEING MISS SMITH AND MRS, OAKLEY. I called this afternoon on Mrs. Oakley and Mrs. Sammis, lately Miss Smith. They live ail alone in a comfortable and elegant homestead, near the prin- cipal street of the village. It has a pleasant den in front, cut up into a variety of flower beds of various geometrical designs. Flowers blossomed all around the house, and by the porch a trailing vine flourished luxuriantiy. Inside the dwelling had the appearance of easy neatness, and all the ap- pointments showed taste and utility combined. Mrs. Oakley came promptly on being called, and entered without hesitation into conversation on the subject of Kelsey and his doings. She rather amused the writer by pointing out a terrace under the window which was worn out by Kelsey's teet when he came alter dark peering through jthe blinds. She indignantly denied that her grand- daughter ever gave the slightest enoourage. ment in any manner to Kelsey. G shunned the sight of the man everywhere, bat all to no use, She was extremely sorry for what had happened, but she was unaware of its occurrence until alter the thing had been aone, As jor the story of the ladies going out to see Kelsey when he Was covered with tar and feathers, there was 4 great misunderstanding. It is true there were ladies from the neigh- borhood in the house. There were Mra. McKay, ‘s, Wood, Mrs, Banks and Mrs, Hurd. All she saw of Kelsey on going out on the back porch was the top of his head. They were there jor only a few minutes altogether. The purpose of their go: ing out at all was to make the man feel more the disgrace, of his situation, so that it would be in fu- ture a safeguard against his anwelcome visite and attentions. On requesting to see Mrs. Sqmnis, Mrs. Oakley went up stairs, and in @ few minutes the young lady to whom 80 much painful publicity has been given entered the room. She was modestly and becomingly dressed, and the bashful look in her fine lustrous brown eyes told of the domestic and Teligious training she had received. “Mrs, Sam- nls,” I said, * must have been @ trying ordeal his # Jou, and'I doubt not you wish it was over?’ oA Ted? he 3 bewslvely, Z it hes beeg ver; trying to end all this public notice, but (and here she fooked, straight out of her deep, nd eyes with a@ fearless simplicity), only fora conscience, we never could have stood it.”” It was quite enough to hear this srpio-miinded creature disclaim ever havi given, by word or deed, any reason for Kelsey to suppose that his approaches were’ welcome, to be convinced, Mrs. Sammis was reserved, as she well might be, under the circumstances, but her face (@ mode! for a cameo) showed too plainly in its sad ereremice: that she has suffered much and long in her domestic quiet, as well [rem the Publicity at which ber mind revolts as by the course of the infatuated man who it is now supposed has left Huntington forever, THE FRELING, No abatement is apparent in the excitement that prevails here and in the neighborhood for miles around, I have already referred to the unhappy condition of leeling aimong the citizens, the dis- tracting division of opinions, running into bitter and passionate controversy, and I have every reason to think that a calm, dispassionate view of the case is not to be had trom the people of Huntington in their present very much perturbed and biassed mood of mind, The Inquest. Asearly as six o’clock this morning wagons and carryalis began to flow imte the town of Oyster Bay, and by nine o’clock, the time set for the open- ing of the inquest, the streets ana avenues leading to the Nassau House were 80 crowded as to almost. entirely prevent travel, The crowd in the court was greater than on Saturday, and the heat was intolerable. Notwithstanding tbis, the gathering, composed exclusively of men, patiently sat through the whole affair, and every new development awakened a murmur of surprise, which at times was so annoying to the jury and members of the press that Coroner Baylis had to order it stopped under pain of clearing the room, The Coroner had new legal advice’ to-day. Messrs. Platt and Young were on hand, the former acting as clerk,while the otherdid the questioning. When the pants of Kelsey were produced all necks were crantd to catch a glimpse of them. The watch of Kelsey also excited great curiosity, and many in the court who had known Kelsey said audibly, “That's his,”” The story of the finding of the shirt was retold by the men who first saw it, and as each of the articles was produced @ movement in the crowd told of the interest felt. At the afternoon ses- sion the throng Was 80 humerous that fear was en- tertained that the floor of the court would give way. The jury was convened at ten o'clock, and the roll called, THE FIRST WITNESS called was Dr. Van Zandt. His testimony was sub- stantially as follows:—Am a resident of Oyster Bay, and was called down to see the remains found in the harbor on Friday evening; 1 graduated from the Albany College; carefully examined the parts from the rim of the pelvis down to the ankle joint; certain parts were missing, and 1 am undecided as to the cause, whether tbey were mutilated or decom- posed; aminclined to the belief that it happened after death, for the reason that the spermatic cord protruded from the body; I know no reason why the parts in question should decompose belore the others; the cord was much decomposed, but its shape was distinguishable; the tar and feathers tore the skin, which was nearly all gone; I satis- fied myself that tue substauce was tar; if the cord were cut in liie it would have gone into the body. ‘the pants were here produced. They were black, and had been cut in the operetion of taking them off. There was no offensive smeil from them, as they had been washed and dried on the beach, THE MEDICAL TESTIMONY, Dr. M. Corry was the next witness called. His testimony, Which will be found below, would seem to settle the doubt that has existed in reference to the possibility of the legs floating. He seemed rather positive about the principle of endosmose and its potencies in this case. It is stated by parties who have seen Dr. Woods, who 18 Aronping. at Laurelton, that he expresses a doubt as to the pos- sibility of such a thing, and the tact of the doctors not agreeing gives promise of a grand medical battle when the trial begins :— Ama graduate of the Coliege of Physicians and Surgeons; was called by Coroaer Baylis on Friday, about ten o’ciock in the morning, to view the re- mains found in the bay; 1 found that the parts were much decomposed; the bones oi tne pelvis on the inner side were devoid of flesh, but on the thighs there was a considerable amount which, although decomposed, was imtact; the lower ex- tremities were entirely denuded of hesh; on closer examination I found that the parts of the anatomy between tne pelvisand knees were missing; I ex- amined it rather closely, and found that the inner surface of the scrotum Was there; the fact of this being the case I am inclined to the beliet, or, 1 should , it leaves a@ doubt in my mind, as to whether it was done by violence; Thave seen corpses in the’ Morgue of New York where these parts were missing, but they as a gen- eral thing were iound in a nude state, and it was impossible to determine whether they were drowned with or without clothes; it was the opinion of witness that it was the work of violence, and from the part that remained he was of opinion that the operation, ifsuch it was, was performed in a great tiurry, thus leaving the part of which he spoke; the flesh trom the lower extremities was, in my opinion, eaten by fish, tor it presented avery jagged appearance, very unitke that of a body or part worn away or decomposed by the action of water; the remains of the missing part were not at all jagged, they being smooth and regular; the surface of the legs where there was most tar seemed to be better preserved than the other part not 60 well covered; 1 took TWO VERY LARGE BUNDLES OF FEATHERS from the part you speak of, but they did not seem to adhere; I just iitted them off; I have not the means of knowing whether the black substance that Isaw on the bo was tar or not; inmy opinion it was tar, but itis not proiessional, and consequently unreliable; if the body had been in the water without weights it would have come to the surface in about a month or less, that being about the time that the gases take to generate; if the man committed suicide he would have come up atthe time I speak of; if the body has becn floating since December I don’t see why the other part is not there also. ‘To Mr. Mn ee the operation you speak of was performed upon aman he would, in the natural course of things, bieed to death; although the books state cases where the patients have recovered, they are rare and miraculous cases; I am not sul- ficiently expert in the matter of the different stages of decomposition to state an opinion on the matter; I would not, in fact could not, state whether the body haa been in the water two months or nine months; 1 do belleve that the legs can float without the body; the cause of the floating of the legs 1s the same as the cause of the body’s fluating; the gases formed on the principle of endosmose have a great affinity for the air, and consequently rise to the surface to get the air; this gas can be contained in the cells 01 the tissues, this being the only way the legs would float, MR, WILLIAM MOSS’ TESTIMONY. This gentieman is ajeweller and a most important witness, from the fact that the chain was not identitied by any one outside of the family before he gave his evidence to-day, His testimony 18 conclusive, tor he brings his books to substantiate what he says. Live in Babylon; previously resided in Hunting- ton; came to Huntington in 1869; I am a watch- mTnaker and det cnn Was acquainted with Charles G, Kelsey; did some work tor hin; repaired for hima watch about November, 1869; the watch was No. 5,238, and | have an entry on my book as follows:—‘“Clean and repair centre wheel jor Charles George Keisey—Due $3.”’ Also repaired a chain for him ; the chain weighed ten penny weighis; he bought the chain and watcn from Protessor Em- mot; I know this, because he came to me and asked me what the watch and chain were worth, as he intended to buy them of the Profegsor; the chain he bought from the Professor was a very thin one, of what is Known as the Tuscan order; Kel- sey told me, whea he left the chain to be attached to the hook and bar, that they were an old family heirloom, and he thought a great deal of them; by my book I see that Ihad the watch, or a watch of Kelsey’s, in 1871; the date. is, ‘“‘alarch 17, 1871— Clean and put in crystal; sold lever watch No. 8,695 for Charles George Kelsey ; I charge $2." Here witness described the crossbar and hook. Chain produced and carefully examined by wit- ness, WhO put on a jeweller’s glass, and, alter a few inoments, swore to his workmanship on tt. Continued :—I eld that split ring on it for him, as I aout he Le: jt want to put on some charms. It would grow black in the water, but would not rust any; I don’t think it would duninish its weight much to be in the water; however, it might about haifa pennyweight. Here Mr. William Kel- sey was called into Court and requested to give the watch to Mr. Moss, This was done, and witness recognized it; he opened the case and read aloud the number 8,695 from the case and number 5,238 on the movement. This concluded the morning session of the jury, and an adjournment was made until two o'clock. THE AFTERNOON SESSION. The first witness called was John A. Franklin, one of the men who found the body. His testi- mony was taken in regard to the pantaloons, and was merely of legal significance, 80 as to confirm the identity of the pants produced in Court, He said:—I got the pants that are here produced from Mr. Ludlam, who took them from the body; these here produced are the identical pants; 1 washed them out in a brook and dried them the next morning, HENRY ©. SHADBOLT was next catled. He saw the shirt that was found at Lioyd’s dock; live at Huntington ; knew Kelsey, and saw him about two weeks prior to November 4; 1 saw some artictes at Lioyd’s beach the day after the e on Wednesday, the 6th of November; these articles were a shi @ boot and @ necktie; they were folded up, an: the boot was over the shirt, on which there was also @ necktie; Isaw it that night, and also the next morning; @ friend of mine, who was in the Wagon, went out to look up the things, so I told he would get himself in trouble; Mr. Gall picked the shirt up, and held it out so 1 could see the blood upon it; I heard that aman had been mowing on the beach and had cut himself, and I imagined he taken this article to stanch the biood; the article was ‘was no brick edo theatre Wart sem We Jtry—Tn9 blood Was im clowe on the Dot. NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1873—TRIPLE SHEET. tom, front of the shirt, and was a bright ‘brillant color; this shirt, | believe, on tne beach tor a ‘week, and on Thursday night, the one preceding fv ag when I first saw it, we hada heavy rain The shirt was produced; it is an ordinary white linen shirt, open in the tront, with pearl buttons. How any one could say that the stains were those of brick dust is realiy inexplicable; the stains are a8 plaid a8 ever blood marks could be. The necktie was produced. It is a small green and biack silk one of the order known as “butterfly it Was intact, but alittle the worse for being exposed to the weatier. Witness said he had seen Kelsey at church with that same .ecktie two weeks hefore, William Kelsey recognized the articles the Saturday afer they had been first seen. ‘The shirt was handed to the jury and they tailed to detect any tar on it, WILLIAM GALLIENNE’S TESTIMONY, This is the man who was in company with the foregoing witness on the evening of Wednesday, November 6, He deposeg—l was in company with Mr. Shadbolt and Mr. Brown when Mr. Shadbolt saw the shirt and other articles; [saw them also; the reason I did not take the shirt with me was because | was toid it Was in all probability dirty; that is, that it nad animal lie; I brouglt the boot home and Wiliam Kelsey calied jor it and my mother gave it to him. ‘the rest of his testimony Was substantially the same as that oi Mr, Shadbolt. WILLIAM KELSEY, recalled, deposed that he heard some one come into the house on November 4; the person who came in made very little noise; the next morning J found the lamp in the kitchen, on the table, stil burping; the bed in lus room was undisturbed and had not been used that night; I first heard of my brother's having been tarred and ieathered on November 5, at four P. M.; Mr. McKenna told me my brother had been tarred and feathered; he said Mrs, McCurthy told him so; [ went and asked her and she toid me I had ought to ask Dr. Banks; Dr. Banks said he didn’t know who had done it bi fore | asked him anything about the tarring ; I said, 1 don’t care who did it—all l want to know is where Charley has gone; he then told me_ he had gone out of the back gate of Mrs. Oakly’s yard and had gone to Wood’s shed to put on his clothes; he said he was 80 ee 9 When he saw Charley that he couid have cried, he presented such # horrible object. He then told the story of the finding of the clothes, which was the same as that already told by Shad- bolt and Guiliense, Chariey generally carried money about with him; he had $70 with him on the might in question, and had paid $25 to Samuel Jones ior the interest on a morugage; my brother had told me that ne was alraid that some one was waiting ior him, and ashe didn’t come home in the night | naturally felt uneasy; Charley had told me that he would go to Oakley's as often as he liked until Miss Smith told him he was no longer welcome, and would pay no attention to What the amily said; this was about September, 1872; [heard Royal Sammus tell my brother C! ley in front of our house that if he went to ee ley’s again it would not be good for him; he jump out of the wagon and ran alter my brother with a whip;1 do not know that my brother was ever threatened before this time; he never said anything to me about it, although I have heard it said that he was threatened: trom what my brother said ido not think that he was ever told by Miss Smith to send his coming; I have seen Miss Smith and know her by sigat, but never spoke to her tomy knowledge ; some people thought it was Sammis and not Miss Smith that wanted Caarley to stop his advances; I thought they would tie my brother up and make a Jaughing stock of him to the village during the day, and that is the reason I went to look for him; 1 went to Gallienne’s for the boat that had been found upon the beach, and that entieman’s brother gave it to me; these boots jai been half-soled ana heeled in the village about two weeks before Charley sisappeared. If the shoemaker can be produced he will be an important witness in the case. ‘his concluded the evidence for to-day, and the Coroner ordered an adjournment until Thursday at nine o'clock A. M. THE FUNERAL, The funeral of Kelsey has been ordered for Fri- day afternoon, at three o’clock, and it 1s expected that it will be the largest ever had in the county, The services will be held in the Second Presbyte- rian church of Huntington, and the Rev. W. W. Knox and the Rev. Mr. Davison will preach the sermon and conduct the religious part of the ob- sequies, What Royal Sammis Says and Did Not Say—He was not Present when Kelsey was Tarred and Feathered—M Smith had not Received any of Kelsey’s Let- ters for Four Years, Mr. Royal Sammis, one of the gentlemen impli- cated in the Kelsey mystery, is a tall, good-looking young man, probably twenty-seven or twenty- eight years of age, and is in the employ of a large wholesale house in this city. A HERALD reporter called on him yesterday and learned that a report published in one of the city papers, purporting to give the result of an interview with Mr. Sammis, was faise in almost every important statement it contained, After some conversation with him in Telerence toa matter not directly connected with this report the reporter asked if the interview alluded to was reported correctly or substantially correct, “Why, no,” replied Mg, Sammis, “there is scarcely anything in it that is correctly stated. I had only about three minutes’ conversation with that reporter and he has made A TREMENDOUS STORY out of it, stating some things as expressions of mine when he actually used*the remarks given himself, Iusednone of the slang phrases which he thought proper to include in his report. Now, in reference to Mr. Wood also, I did not use any such language as he reports. I simply told him that on the night when Kelsey was tarred and feathered I met Mr. Wood outside the yard where the atfair took place, and I think I saw him in the yard also. The reporter said that the members of the Presbyterian church there intended to throw me overboard. I replied that 1 didn’t know any- thing about that, bat I supposed it they wanted to Liab doit. I said also that I did not be- jeve that THE LEGS FOUND were Kelsey’s legs, and I don’t believe it any more than I believe that they are yours or mine.” RerorteR—I noticed that you are reported as having said, in answer to the question as to whose body it was that was found in the water, “I wouldn't like to say what I think about that.” Did you say that, or aid you mean to imply that you knew something as to whose body it was? Mr. SamMis—I said nothing of the sort. I have no more idea of where that body came from, or WHOSE BODY IT 18, than you have yourself, REPORTER—I understand that you are now mar- ried to Miss Smith ; is that so, sir? Mr. SaMMis—Yes, sir; it is, REPORTER—Do you reside in New York? Mr. Sammis—I do; that 1s | board here, 80 as to be convenient to my business. My wife still lives at Huntington, and is there now. I go out once or twice a week. 1 would like to say to you that the best way of learning all I know about the case is by relerring to my testimony in the examination on charge of riot and so forth, before Justice Mount- ford. It was all published at the time- RePoRTER—Well, I understand there never has been any denial of the statement that you were present WHEN KELSEY WAS TARRED and feathered, as stated in that reported inter. view. Am I correct ? Mt. SaMMIS—Oh no! (with evident surprise.) Why, I did not see Kelsey tarred and feathered. Twas not present when it was done; but I got to the yard pe as he was leaving, and it was then Isaw Deacon Yood. There was quite a crowd there, but it was all over and i were coming out of the yard. REPORTER—Why, | have always been under the impression trom tne accounts I have read that you were present while Kelsey was being tarred. This puts @ new face on the affair, so far as you are con- cerned. Mr. SaMMIs—Well, sir, that is a fact; I saw nothing ot it butas Ihave told you. I must say I think there is something strange in the way this case has been generally misrepresented by the press, but the official rile alee will bring out ‘the actual facts, and you will then see how guilty those who are blamed have been. After a few more general remarks concerning the case the reporter turned to leave, but was re- called by Mr. Sammis, who said :—‘“There is a point here that ia not generally known in reference wo these letters which KELSEY WROTE TO MISS SMITH. ‘That reporter speaks of the recetpt of these letters by Miss Smith. Sir, she did not receive any af those letters. “They didn't reach her at all. They were received and opened by her grandmother, and Miss Smith had not received fo J of his letters for about four years when this trouble occurred. This terminated the interview, and the reporter left. This last statement concerning the non- receipt of the alleged obscene communications by Miss Smith 1s @ new and important development in the case. While the reporter was waiting to see Mr. Sam- mis, Who was engaged when he entered the estab- lishment, several of Mr. Sammis’ brother em- pioyés ‘addressed the reporter. It is just possible that they may have known the occupation of the reporter, although they were not informed by him of the nature of his business; but upon learning that he desired a conversation with Sammis they spoke of the diMculty in which their associate was involved and sympathized with him deeply. They commended very highly the general rectitude of his conduct, his temperance, Feats cat energ: and industry and his good disposition toward HA with whom he came in contact, “YAORTING NOTES A match came off yesterday between the open sloops Josie Jay and Sprite, of the Harlem Club, for $600, over the Harlem Yacht Ulub course. The Sprite won the race, The following passed Whitestone yesterday :— Yacht Idler, NY-Y.0, Mr. Colgate, from the Bivaent Dudiy, Willkeies, N jantucket for New York. Yacht Gertrude, from New Maven for New York. ie’ Steam Ww LY.Y.0,, MI from New Fork for Kew Londen, ot a Hatley, in. ht Triton, 43.0, ‘Mr, Thayer, is at agchor of FORT SILL. An Encouraging Letter from the Indian Agent at the Fort—The Indians Very Good Children of the Great Father— The Reported Massacre Hoax. WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 1873. The Commissioner of Indian Affairs received to- day the following letter from Fort Sill, written on August 21, the day after the reported massacre :— KioWA AND ComANcuE AGENCY, Bighth month, 2ist day, 1%’ } E. Hoag, Superintenuent, Lawrence, Kansas : Deak Faienp—by the last mail out [had the sat- istaction of reporting to the Superintendent that Horsepack and Blackbeard had brought in and turned over to me twelve head of horses which had been stolen by some of the young Qua-hasdas trom Texas. This evening the Yam-pa-reka chie's, Quirts-Quip, C eevers, Yellow Moon, Wild Horse and Tron = Mountain, brought in fifteen more and turned them over to me. They say their intention is to do all they can to keep their young men from running off and stealing horses, and i they cannot do 80, a8 last as they bring uny stock to camp they will coilect it together and give it tome to send back to the owners, | am expecting some more this week from Bochetakers, Lt is really gratiiying to me to be privileged to make suci a report, the more so when I reflect that it has been brought about with- out @ threat being made, but simply by kind talk and appeais to their better nature. IT have told them that Washington sent me here to work lor tuelr good, and if they wil help me we can have a white country here, peaceful and quiet, so that we can iie down and sleep without fear of anybody disturbing us. I believe alarge number of them are peaity anxious for such a state of affairs, and will willingiy work to that end, Amidst the many discouraging circumstances by wh I have at times been surrounded since assu ing the responsibilities of tuis important agency, days of sunshine show themselves and many bright beacons come up in my way to cheer ine. More and more as [mingle with this people am I con- vinced of the wisdom and righteousness of the present peace policy in their management, and firmly believe that if it be only carried out in good faith by the government and its agents, great good will be accomplished and millions of treasure saved to the people, besides the lurge number of lives which any other system would cost. 1 think tve Indians of this ageucy are, as a vody, in a good state of feeling for a beneficial council or treaty to be made with them, by which the border of ‘Te: may be made as safe from harm, so jar as these indians are concerned, as any other part of the State. Respectiully, J. M, HAWORTH, Indian Agent, The Rumored Massacre a Hoax. Wicuita, Kansas, Sept, 2, 1873. The stage leaving Wort Sill August 28, brings the report that the story of an Indian massacre is @ hoax, There is no trouble with Indians at Fort Sill or on the road, FIRES, mS ane tds Fire in Newcastle, Pa.—Destruction of Property—Loss $75,000. PirrsBuRG, Pa., Sept. 2, 1873, Aspecial despatch to the Chronicle from New- castle, Pa., states that at nine o’clock last night a fire broke out inthe Knox House stables, in the rear of the Knox House. The fire spread rapidly, burning the foliowing business places:—Aibert Fisher, four and feed store; George Henderson, dry goods; A, Cubbison & Son, jewellers; Rk. P. Robingon, tobacco and news devot; J. M. McNair, merchant tailor; J. U. Ewer & Sens, dry goods; J. H. Gilliland, fancy goods, and everything per- taining to the Knox House. ‘The merchants gen- erally saved their goods, but in a damaged state, ‘The totai loss on the buildings and goods will not be less than $75,000. Probably half ot the loss is covered by insurance, The fire is thought to have been the work of an incendiary, Fire at Fort Riley, Kansas. Sr. Louis, Sept, 2, 1873. A Kansas despatch says the government stables and corrals at Fort Riley, Kansas, were burned on Sunday night, The horses were saved, but the buildings were totally destroyed. Two Mills Burned. Kryaston, N. Y., Sept. 2, 1873, The paper mill of Sturdevant & Co., at Mount Pleasant, together with the sawmill of Isaac Longyear, was burned last night. The loss is about $25,000; insurance unknown. TAMMANY REORGANIZING, Preparing for the Campaign. An adjourned secret meeting of tne Tammany Hall Committee: on Reorganization was held at four o’clock yesterday afternoon. There was a full attendance of members, including Mr. John Kelley, chairman of the committee. The meeting lasted over an hour. It is understood that the principal subject under discussion was in reference to the appointment of inspectors of election and poll clerks, 80 as to secure the rights and proper representation of Tammany, With this object @ committee consisting of Martin T. MacMahon, E. P. Plum and E. D. Gale, was appointed to wat' upon the Police Commissioners and report back. The meeting then adjourned for a week, to meet again sor the purpose of issuing a call to elect delegates for the county, to a State Cofivention, the call for which will be issued by @ meeting of the State Central Committee. The latter committee Meets ateleven o’clock to-day in the St. Nicholas Hotel. The General Committee meet on Thursday evening at eight o’clock. COMMISSIONERS OF EMIGRATION, A meeting of the Board of Emigration took place yesterday aiternoon. There were present Commis- sioners Starr, Kaufmann, Quintard, Forrest and Lynch, Mr. Forrest, as the Clerk of the Board was read- ing the minutes, rose to object to the mecting, on the ground that there was no quorum. After some discussion the Chairman (Mr, Starr) decided that there was a quorum, Alter the read- ing of the minutes Mr. Forrest renewed his motion that that part of the minutes coming after the word “five” instead of “six,’? be dispensed with. Mr. Kauimann said that if there were no quorum atthe present meeting they could not reconsider any formerly illegal matter. He therefore moved to deier the matter. Mr. Forrest said he simply wanted to put himself on the record as disapprov- ingof any meeting where only five werepresent. ‘The minutes were approved. Reports of the com- mittees were then read and approved, The Clerk then read & report irom _ the Superintendent that a little girl named Mary Mekvoy, aged twelve, had disappeared some five days ago from Castle Garden, She was going to be delivered over to her parents, hav- ing just arrived on the steamship org Wg] She wandered out of Castile Garden and has not been seen since. The police had been notified and are making researches. Mr. Lynch said that last week he met one of the employés walking on Broadway with a child that answered the descrip- tion of the missing one, The man has since been discharged, and, while he is a good man, it would he well to make inquiries. It was decided to ascer- tain and make all possible research. It was re- ported that the Superintendent had dismissed Jon C. Smith, Chief Boarding Omicer, for alleged intoxi- cation, on the compiaint of Dr. Vanderpoel, Health Oticer. After some discussion it was resolved to notify Mr. Smith of the charges against him, and so give him an opportunity for deience. The Casule Garden Committee were given charge of the avair. THE AMATEUR REGATTA ON SARATOGA LAKE, SARATOGA, Sept. 2, 1873. The entries for the Amateur Regatta on Saratoga Lake, September 11 and 12, closed to-night with tue following entrie: Argonauta Rowing Association, Bergen Point, N. J.; Atlantic Boat Club, Hoboken, N. J.; Duquesne Boat Club, Alleghany City, Pa.; Grand Haven Boat Club, Grand Haven, Mich.; Pape Barge Boat Club, Cincinnati, Ohio; Potomac Boat Club, George- town, D. C.; Columbia Boat Club, Brooklyn, N. Vesper Rowing Association, Yonkers, N, Y.; ‘Union Springs Kowing Club, Cayuga Lake, N.’Y., Beaverwick Boat Club, ‘Albany, N. Y.3 Mutual Boat Club, Albany, N. Y.; Baliston Boat Club, Ballston Spa, N. Y.: Friendship Boat Club, New York city, N. Y.; Nassau Boat Club, Harlem, N. Y.; Harlem Boat Club, Harlem, N. Y.; Argonaut Boat Cidb, Toronto, Canada; Saratoga ‘Rowing As. sociation, Saratoga, N. Y. For the four-oared race seven boats are entered; for the single scuilers’ race, fourteen boats; for the pair-oared race, two boats; for the double-scullers? race, three boats, The junior scullers’ race isopen for entries until September 6. This wili be the largest regatta ever heid in this country, COMPTROLLER'S RECEIPTS. Comptroller Green reports the following amounts paid yesterday into the city treasury :—From Bu- reau of Collection of Assessments—Assessments for street openin, improvements and interest, $31,963. Bureau of Arrears—Arrears of taxes, as- sessments, water rents and interest, $5,896. Bu- reau of Water Registrar—Croton water rents and penalties, $3,846. Bureau of City Revent ‘House Trent, market rents and fees, Mayor's Second Marshal—Licenses, $68. City Courts—Fees from Fifth Judicial District Court, $38. Total, $42,460. THE TORONTO PORT OFFICE ROBBERY. ToRoNTO, Ont., Sept. 2, 1873. The registered letters stolen from the Post Office some weeks s.nce have been found hidden in the woods on the lake shore, near Lumber River. All the letters with dra(ts and checks were recovered, bay Ro mynex. THE SCRANTON SCHOOL ROW, Another Struggle Between the Rival School Boards. A Disgraceful Scene Before Children—The Citi« zens Undertake to “Run the School” Them- selves—A Fist Fight Between a Fro- fessor and a Commissioner. Scranron, Pa., Sept. 2, 1873. The scenes enacted in and around tie Centrat School butiding of this city this mornmg by the rival school boards completely eclipsed those of yesterday, reported in this morning’s MERALD, and) directors, principals, pupils and the public seemed to be imbued with a more intelligent spirtt. Pre- cisely at half-past.eght several school directors of the two opposing boards, togetier with their principals, assembled in the direct ’ room and chatted apart in subdued tones, so that it was evident a storm was brewing. The children aasembled outside in large numbers and gave voice to their happy hearted enthusiasm, and a large number of citizens congregated on the law awaiting anxiously the result, At length the third and last bell was rung and the children poured into the large building and occupied their various departments while the members of the rival boards proceeded up stairs to the grammar department accompanied by their two principals, and followed by the reporters and a large concourse of citizens, Passing through tne various rooms it was remark- able to note the spirit of courtesy and friendliness‘ evinced by the members of the rival boards towards the teachers, with whom it was evident they wishedi to maintaim the most friendly relations, Hand- shaking was at a premium, and pleasant remarks about the weather were indulged in to an extent! that would annoy Old Probabilities for half a days: Atlengththe grammar room was reached, and am immense concourse of citizens thronged the roomy and corridors in every available space. BIBLE READING AND PRAYER BEFORE BATTLE. Professor Hawker, principal of the Blewito Board, arose and said, “We will now come to order,” and then read from the Bible the fiftm chapter of Mark, descriptive of the casting out of devils by our Lord. Icould not help thinking wha@ an appropriate prologue this was to the business! of the day, were it not for the utter mockery of in-' troducing lessons in the midst of alot of men more? Teady to fight than to pray. Alter reciting the chapter from Mark, the Professor gave out the, Lord’s Prayer amidst the most profound silence,, and at the conclusion proceeded to the business of the day, stating that his trade was to educate and not to stir up turmoil; that he had been en- gaged by the Blewitt Board, and meant to main- tain his position until ousted by the law. Colonel! Royce, Secretary of the Lynde Board, here inter-:+ rupted the learned Professor, saying, “You have no business here, and if you persis® in remaining in this room we shall disiniss the school.’ Mr. Blewitt, President of the opposing Board, retorted, ‘You cannot dismiss the school. We shall conduct it. We came here to educate the children, and we shall do so despite opposition; so all that wish to receive an education can remain; all who do not can go.” None went, however. Several persons made A DECIDED DEMONSTRATION unfavorable to Protessor Hawker, One got upon bench—a gray-headed oid man—and with his voice and frame in a tremulous condition exciaimed :— “if the Boards don’t rum the schools, we'll rum ‘em ourselves.” This remark was loudly cheered by both pupils and public, and several suggested the formation of a citizens’ committee to take the matter out of the handsof the rival boards and have it adjudicated amicably at court. Professor Hawker essayed to speak, when his: voice was drowned amid a@ perfect torrent of hisses, and several voices cried, “PUT HIM OUT |” The Professor was on his dignity, and said, ‘TF would like to see the man that could put me out. Let him come forward and doit if hedare.” A citizen in the body of the room cried out, “It makes no difference to us who conducts the school; but tt has come to that point now that we will not stand this conduct any longer.” (Loud ghepre.) Professor Hawker here expressed his desire for the meeting to be conductéd like gentle- men, when several citizens exclaimed, “Let us have a regular meeting and appomte chairman.” Colonel Royce (to the scholars)—You are dis- missed for to-day. President BLEWITT—You are not. We will teach all who remain. At this juncture the citizens adjourned to an ad- joining room, organized a citizen’s meeting and appointed G, B. Chase as chairman, when it was, on motion, unanimously resolved to appoint a com- mittee of five to transact tne My business of the School Board and bring the disputed ques- tion of the rival boards before the courts for settle. ment. The utmost excitement prevailed, and pee! prominent citizens denounced in strong. rms THE SHAMEFUL CONDUCT OF THE OPPOSING BOARDS in carrying their rivalry into the school room and wrangling before the children, Messrs. J. C. Platt, W. R. Storrs, R, A. Squires, S. T. Bunker and Hon. Lewis Pugh were appointed a committee to conduct the schools ad inéerim and independent of both boards until the question is amicably adjusted, Meanwhile the Superintendent of the Lynde Board, Professor Roney, is to remain in charge of the educational department until the decision is given. STRONG LANGUAGE AND HARD BLOWS. After the meeting had adjourned a wordy passage at arms ensued between Professor Hawker and Mr. Black (the latter of the Lynde Board) which led to blows, The Professor made some uncompli- mentary remarks towards Black, and said, “Gray as you are, you are stiil an old fool.” Upon this Black rushed at him and they were kept apart by the reporters. Both parties then left the building and stood talking on the lawn in front when Mr, Black, again growing wonderfuly excited, rushed at the Professor and dealt him a stunning blow on the right ear. The belligerents were separated, and in a few moments this most disorderly meeting of representative gentiemea broke up. Popular feeling has been worked up to a very high pitch, and the citizens are determined that >cramton shall be disgraced no longer by two bodies of men who, however good in other respects, have misused the trust reposed in them, and brought down the opprobrium of ail respectabie communities on this growing, prosperous afd populous town, MUSICAL AND DRAMATIO NOTES. Apropos of Sothern, his season at Wallack’s wit begin on September 29 with a new play representa- tive of Dundreary among his friends, and beariug asuficiently indicative title, We understand that the play will allow the principal actor to make @ burlesque dash at one or two well known Shak- spearean rdes, Mr. Sothern will be followed by Mr. Watlack, who has not yet decided in what character to reappear. Every one who remembers the character of Chris- tian Goefle, in “L’'Homme de Neige” of Georges Sand, will probably feel some curiosity with re- spect to the exhibition of marionettes whictt is to begin next Monday evening at Rebinson Mall, Bast Sixteenth street. A first class fantoccini show, such as this promises to be, is unknown here, and, since it is harmlessness itself, deserves the support of precisely those ciasses of people by whom it will be countenanced—namely, families and children. Mr. Macdonough, one of the managers, isan ex- perienced purveyor of public amusement, aud has acquitted himself fairly in almost every grade be- tween classic tragedy and travelling shows. The, lapse of more than a quarter of a century hae not taught London manavers that Lord Byron’s plays are suitable for tie closet, not the Stage. We read that the verston of “Manired’” now being played at the Princess’ Theatre, Lon- don, is produced with magnificent scenery and ac- cessions. Thisintormation alone is enough to con- vince the experienced theatre-goer who cherishes @ high ideal that the whole spirit of the original must have been violated, since the essence of the drama’s interest is to be found in the lurid exhibl- tion given of the hero's character, wholly inde- pendent of mere physical surroundings, however enchanting. ‘The need of a good leading lady was never sorely telt by the Wallackian management than present, in view of the pending season. Not of the actresses who, in that position, have at ine tervals won pubiic favor, 18 now available. It was hoped that Mr. Sothern would be able to visit Lon- don long enough to observe how the histrionio Jand lay, and make his selections accordingly, but the attractions of San Francisco were too strong to leave him this leisure, and, so far as the choice of leading lady at Wallack’s for next season is cerned, the management is in a state of indecision, — from which we should augur fll did wé not have confidence in the discrimination of the ruling head