The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-13

Eurther Oeta1hS OF the luFuer-E1Q"l
Kelly In Critical COndttiOn-Tosti-
mOny of Samuel shaTpley and Others,
Etc, Etc.
From the ~ Y. Com. Advertiser of last evedin0.
The condition of Edwin Kelly, one of the
victims in the desperate affair in Twenty fourth
street, yesterday was this morning considered
highly critical. The bullet, which lodged over
the lett temple, still remains in the wound, the
operation of removing it being very delicate
one. He was somewhat "highty," both from
tie exciting circumstances of yesterday and the
irritation of the wound.
The remains OF Thomas Sharpley still remain
at the Morgue, where an inquest will be begun
tomorrow morning. We give some further de-
tails of this tragic affair in addition to those
given. 1t appears that strong feeling of
rivalry has existed between the parties in the
affray, growing out of the competition In their
business; Kelly & Leon being the proprietors of
the establishment OF negro minstrels, No. 72l
Broadway, and Samuel NJ. sharpley,, the pro-
pretor of the Theatre Comique. The feeling
became embittered ON the side of Sharpley who
had been told OF a statement said to have been
made by Leon some time ago in Boston, to the
feet that he (Sharpley) was bankrupt, and who
thought Kelly had dealt in an underhanded
manner in engaging certain dancers.
Yesterday the parties met at the matinee at
the Fifth Avenue Theatre, accidentally, and
Sharpley determined, after the performance, to
bring Leon 10 account for the alleged slander
upon him. The audience had nearly dispersed
when the parties left the theatre, and Sharpley,
who had been joined by Allison, the Treasurer
of his establishment, accosted Leon and de-
manded retraction of his statement about
Sharpley's credit. Leon denied having made
any such statement. Sharpley then gave Leon
the lie, accompanied by eXpeuves of still
more offensive nature, and at the same time
striking him with his tist. Leon is slightly
built man, while SharpIey is robust, and Kelly
intertered to defend his weaker companion.
He was struck by Sharpley and knocked down,
and, according TO one statement, kicked in the
| face while down.
The brother 0i Sam sharpley, Thomas Sharp
| ley, appears upon the scene at this Juncture,
| apparently as an assailant of Kelly, who states
| that the brothers Sharpley and Allison were
| all striking and kicking him at the same time.
Leon does not appear to have taken any active
part in the affair after his first encounter with
| Sam.
Kelly, having regained his feet, drow re-
| volVer and fred three charges into the GRO Wd
| OF his assailants, one OF whom, Thomas Sharp
| ley, fell dead on the first discharge. Sam
| Sharpley seeing his brother fall, and Kelly, as
he states, firing at him after falling, also drew a
pistol and fred at Kelly, the ball taking effect
in the left side OF the head, above the ears, and
lodging in the left temple. He was about to
fire second shot at Kelly, but his arm was
| caught by officer Freese, and the ball struck
| the foI e6nger of mis- left hand. Thomas Sharp
| leys body was removed to Bellevue Hospital,
| and Kelly had his wound dressed in a drug
| store. Sam Sharpley and Leon were taken to
| the Station House. .
Thomas Sharpley was thirty-oue years of age,
| anu leuNe5 u WluOW anu Two CulluF6ns Ills
occupation does not seem to be clearly known,
but it Is stated that he was part owner of a faro
bank in TweDty'Hfth street. He lived in
Twenty-seveDth street, near Fifth avenue. The
matter will be the subject of rigid lnvesti-
CATION. ..r
Samuel NJ. ShaIpley, brother of the deceased,
| made the following statement before Judge
Dodge, at jefferson Market, this morning: Il
reside at the Revere House, corner of Broad.
| way and Houston street; on Wednesday after.
noon my brother, Thomas Jefferson Sharpey,
| was violently assaulted by Edwin Kelly and
| Francis Classy Leon; my brother aud were
| on the sidewalk In front OF the Fifth Avenue
| Theatre, on Twenty.fouTth street, near Broad
| way, when we met Leon and Kelly; Leon and
| myself had some words, when Kelly interfered;
both struck at me, and Leon ran across the
street, followed by me.
My brother, Thomas Jefferson Sharpley, was
standing near Kelly, who Immediately drew a
! four-barrelled revolver, which was loaded with
| powder and bah, and pointed ID at my brother,
and discharged it deliberately, the first shot
| striking him on the head and causing him to
fall on the sidewalk with his head partly in the
gutter; and Kelly then deliberately fred two
shots while my brother was PROSTATE, one
taking effect in his left breast and the other in
| the right side. My brother was then picked up
and carried to the vestlbule OF the Fifth Avenue
| Theatre, where he died In a few minutes of the
wounds inflicted; and charge that Kelly dis
charged the pistol for the purpose of taking my
| brothers life.
Officer Daniel Freese, of the Twenty.ffth
| Precinct, deposed that about A O'Clock In the
afternoon, while on the corner of Broad way aud
| Twenty-fourth street, he saw Francis Classy
| Leon running through Twenty-fourth street,
pursued by Samuel M. Sharpley; that Sharpley
said, ARREST that mani" that witness caught
Leon and took him and Sharpey to the Fifth
Avenue Theatre, where there was great crowd;
that witness heard pistol shot and saw Thomas
| Jefferson Sharpley, the brother of Samuel, fall
| on the sidewalk with his head and shoulders in
| the gutter; that while prostrated, he saw Edwin
Kelly advance and discharge pistol, delibe-
| raley firing two shots.
Officer Kenny deposed that after the fatal oc-
| curIence, he arrested the prisoners in the drug
! store OF Casswel Il Mack.
Leon and sharpley were committed.
| ELL nrrzcc r,rI,r1. m, r,r.r- M $4,000