Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1837-01-28
STORY OF MICHAEL KELLY.

NJ AN OCGICER'S WIDOW.
sPoor Kellyv calculated Captain Melville,
% be returned one morning from parade, and
threw himself despondingly on the couch in
the drawing.ro0m.
.What Of Kellyy" enquired; for had
entered Immediately after my husband, and
had overheard his exclamation.
~He is disgraced," he replied, in q voice
that betrayed extreme emotionl "te IS dis
grsced, and the ncbless fellow in the reg'-
meut must be tied up and logged like a
slave.'
sYou are aware" continued my husband,
in answer to my further inquiries. "that the
man who was yesterday convicted of an as
sauIt on his superior officer, was TO have stuff
cred to-day. Atan early hour this morning
il was discovered that he had escaped; and
EQUALLY evident, from the circumstances Of
mart Of . crow-bar, with which the grating Of
the condemned cell had been wrenched away,
having been left behind by the prisoner in his
fight, that the sentinel must either have con-
nived at his escape, or, contrary to strict Or
ders, have admitted to him some person who
had furnished him with the means Of liber-
alton.
~lmmediately on the discovery, the whole
Of the men who had mounted guard during
the night over the condemned cell were sent
to confinement. Kelly was among the num-
Der; and, a. he passed me, on his way to the
gsnrd-room, feeling . conviction Of his inno-
cence, spoke to him in encouraging terms.
The poor fellow shook his head despondingIy,
and thanked me in q manner which convin-
ees me Of his having some knowledge Of the
transaction. What it may be, ! shall proba-
bly, soon learn, a. an investigation 10 now
about to take place, at which have orders
to be present. II Kelly proves seriously in
I'LL L. A~AA =.
but for his own detection could freely have
answered for his entire innocence"
Having partaken Of . slight refreshment,
my husband left me to attend the examina-
siou, IN which he felt peculiar interest, as the
whole Of tho men who had mounted guard
over the prisoner were ofhis own company,
shs--th regiment having been at that time
on duty.
II was subject Of pride to Captain Mel
vile, that the conduct Of the officers and men
ofthe corps to which he belonged, had long
bssn such rs fully to maintain the high repu-
tasion it had acquired in the service. Il may
be readily conceived, therefore, that 4 case
like the present was productive Of the most
poignant regret; in the present instance +,
was doubay painful, as the offending party
was one Of the most deserving men in the
regiment. Always foremost In the hour Of
peril, the name Of Michael Kelly was connec-
Ted With instances Of personal bravery that
would have done honour to the most exalted
character; while in his intercourse with his
comrades his conduct had ever been irre-
preachabae. Did an officer require any ser
vice q extraordinary difficulty, or Q eomrade
an once Of confidence and friendship, Mich.
asi Kelly VAS the man applied to; bis influ.
aneo,w hseh WAS considerable for his situation
80 hSs purse, slender ~ it was, were evel
accessible toa companion in diA6culty: and
neves Vas known m instance Of 4 comm;se.
Soo having been neglected, or . trust abused
y h'm. Generous and high mindsd,yet een.
ue and unassuming, the man Vas looked nm
- By his eomEades a. q nodel of d;sc;nj;nS
AID By Bic ofIcsrs esteemed less an infsr;o,
than friend.
Inere was, moreover, . circumstance al
c3ser interest connected With the name Of