What Stocktonites Were Doing 98 Years Ago
Kansas City papers contained lengthy articles concerning the mysterious death of Dr. J. B. Kelly. Dr. Kelly, for many years, was a resident of Stockton, and his death was a great surprise to our citizens. Being reared and educated in Stockton schools, he was generally known by all, and the accounts of his death, which are shrouded in mystery, gave vent to various opinions. Possibilities of a suicide planned carefully and clearly, or of a murder surrounded by dark mystery are offered in the finding of the body of Dr. Kelly. A baffling element is added to the theory of a suicide plot by the family to discover a strong motive for insurance. The murder clue leads back to his past when he was a good record in the Army under an assumed name. Four hotel towels, wet with chloroform, were wrapped around his face. Around the towels was a blanket wrapped loosely. On the dresser was a pint bottle, one-third full of chloroform. Dr. Kelly was fully clothed except that his coat had been removed. A billfold in the pocket of the coat bore his name. He was lying in the bathroom. The bed in the room was undisturbed, and there was no evidence of a struggle. The door was closed and unlocked when the hotel detective went to the room. Dr. Kelly’s wife confirmed the identification. A man who gave his name as Pat Henderson of El Paso had rented the room in which Dr. Kelly was found. Mrs. Kelly said Dr. Kelly had recently received a letter from Pat Henderson, postmarked from Kansas City. He said Pat Henderson was a man he knew in the Army. The next day, a man called the apartment and asked for Dr. Kelly. He didn’t give his name, but he gave the number of a room in the Hotel Baltimore for Kelly to call. Before he left to go to the hotel, Dr. Kelly handed his wife a government check for $50.00. Her husband had endorsed the check. It was explained it was regular compensation from the government. Dr. Harvey E. Moss, coroner, said Dr. Kelly had been dead about ten hours when he was found. Dr. C. S Nelson, deputy coroner, had established that Dr. Kelly had $7,000.00 life insurance, noting that Dr. Kelly had only carried $2,000.00 life insurance with Modern Woodmen for several years. Mrs. Kelly said her husband had done reasonably well in business but sometimes seemed a little discouraged at the lull in business, but always laughed it off. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly were married for three years.
Last week John Schneider, a farmer living a mile and one-half northeast of Laton, left his home to go to that of a neighbor, Elmer Else, to rent some land. He took along his gun, having in mind to shoot rabbits while crossing his pastureland. His faithful dog followed. Mr. Schneider did not return at the time he had told his wife he would do so, and she continued her waiting until the darkened hours began to fall. The dog returned home late by itself, and this gave rise of worry to Mrs. Schneider. She started a search by calling the assistance of a number of neighbors, and it was about midnight that the body of Schneider was found in the pasture. It was feared at first that he had met with foul play, but examination of the body proved that death was due to natural causes. It was little known outside the family that Mr. Schneider had heart trouble, and his untimely death was the result.
Edgar Case expects to leave this week for Garden City, having accepted a job with a grocery store of that place. Edgar is a good up-to-date business fellow and a thorough believer in printer ink. He was instrumental in promoting many of Stockton’s Dollar Days and other special sale days. Too bad we could not keep him home.
The Cooper Meat Market has made another nice addition to its equipment in the form of an account register and money drawer combined. The register is very fine and fireproof.
A three-cornered trade deal was made last week between the parties of Bert Felible, John Thompson, and C. N White. In the agreement Bert got a half section of land in Prowers County, Colorado, John got the city residence from Charlie, and the latter received a bunch of mules and a cash consideration.
Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Sweet are confined to their home with an attack of the influenza.
Ace Hammond shipped a car of mules the latter part of the week to the Wichita market.
Howard Fisher went Friday evening to Colby, where he has accepted a position with the Boerner & Troutfetter Department Store.
From the Woodston Argus…..Tuesday evening a farewell social was given in the Methodist Church in honor of the Charley Gillilan family, who expect to move to Manhattan in a short time…..Ray Snavely received a telegram Monday that his father, who lived in Iowa, had been killed by a train. He left that evening to be present at the funeral…..Will Shepard received a half dozen money makers in the form of thoroughbred Leghorn chickens from Indiana the fore part of the week….. Preston Thogmartin, who has been attending the Chillicothe Business College at Chillicothe, Mo., returned home for the summer on account of the college burning down.
