Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-12-30
Confession of a Murderer.

Some time since three persons were murdered in
fiat boat the Ohio river near Troy Indiana One Of
the supposed murderers Robert Kelly arrested and
is now confined in the Madison jail The Banner Of
the Bath gives the following confession:
Having learned that Robert Kelly, who is imprisoned
IN our county jail, charge Of MURDER had confessed
10 the part he took in tie awful tragedy which hurled
three human beings into eternity We made arrangements
10 obtain true statement Of the confession la
sation with two gentlemen, in the Jail, young Kelly
stated that he raised in the vicinity Of Versailles,
In this State, where his parents reside He went
10 Cincinnati, short time ago, his own Ian
guage, to make a raise" Soon after he reached Gin
cnnat he and his brother Moses shipped on a haboat
belonging 10 Messrs. Gardner & Miller. The boat was
laden with potatoes, apples &c, aud designed for
the Southern coasting trade Three other men shipped
on the boat as hands. Thus manned, the bost with
Gardner and Miller board, started down the river
When some eighteen miles above Troy, Indiana,
the boat was landed in consequence high wind, and
two OF the hands ashore for the purpose Of taking
a hunt. The evening being calm, the boat turned
INTO the river and hoated down the stream leaving the
two men ashore. Shortly after the boat lett the shore
the prisoner states that Moses Kelly has brotho told
him oil his intention 10 murder the proPreors Of the
boat Tor their money This, he states the hst in
tmation he had received from his brother OF bis muir.
derous intentions. His brother had no enmity what
ever against either Of the deceased and committed th
bloody deed solely for the purpose Of obtaining their
money
About two O'Clock the next morning he was called
from his bed by his brother and told that the time had
come when the other men upon the boat die
They were Gardner, Miller, and hand, by the OF
Frank the prisoner having forgotten his surname
He went upon the roof of the boat for the purpose he
says, Of keeping lookout and his brother went below
and murdered the three He says he heard blows
and groans, but refuses state any Of the particulars
OF the horrible, tragedy On being asked il he saw the
men after they were dead he replied that be did, bur
refused TO say anything more upon that point. The
bodies oil the murdered men thrown into the river
through III, scuttle Of the boat and their spilled blood
wiped from the floor by the brothers. Upwards
of thousand dollars 10 money taken from the
murdered bat the prisoner refused whether
or not he shared il with his brother.
The two Kellys left the boat morning and went
to Evansville, Ind. At that place Moses Kelly took
passage on the John Simpson for ST. Louis and the pr
returned 70 the residence of his father The bro
Their Of Gardner, Of the murdered men, examn-
ing the boat discovered the envelope of letter address
ed TO Moses Kelly. This caused suspicion to upon
him Of the Learning that Kelly lived
near Versailles, Mr.. Gardner made arrangements to
find where he The wife of Kelly received letter
from him, postmarked ST. Louis, and Gardner proceed
ed procure his But the for ner being aware
that the St. Lous Police were on the lookout Tor him
eludsd their search and returned 10 his home He
NAMED there about three hours and then left for parts
unknown. Up TO that time suspicion had not rested
upon the prisoner. Although be at bis father
house at the time Gardner Versailles cnd1avor-
ing to lay plans his brother one thought
him guilty Of murder. But Gardner, subsequently,
learning that he absent from his homo az the time
the murders were committed induced tvso gentlemen,
who resided at North Bend Ohio at which place GAR
nsr Miers fatboat stopped take some rei chr
to visit Versailles On seeing the prisoner theJ recog.
nzed him Of the hands the boat. Re was i'm
mediately arrested, examined before Justice of the
peace, and committed to Jail, to await his trial
Robert Kelly, the prisoner, is youth about seven
teen years of aye He sparebuit has blue eyes and
light hair. His countenance IS not good, yet he has
none Of the villain in his look Ii almost noredi-
bic that one so young and who has been reared
away from the temptations Of city life, should be base
enough TO be accessory TO such crime the one 10
which he has confessed. But such is the fact