Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-12-08
MURDER N GRANT COUNTY.

The PIattoyille Witness says that
Christopher Kelly, living about mile
and a half east of FairpIay, in the
southern part of Grant county, was
murdered Monday night, the 10th ult.
His wife did not report his murder I'M
til Tuesday evening, when she went to
talrplay and informed the authorities.
From her statement it would appear
that on Monday night some one came
to the house after all had retired and
called for her husband He got uD
and went out. She then fell asleep and
slept till morning, and when she got up
they foaed him lying outside the door
with he back part of his head smashed
IN. The Dubuque Herald gives the
following details obtained from Daniel
Kelly, son Of the murdered mar,
living in Dubuque:
Christopher Kelly, man ffty-two
years of age and an old well known
citizen, lived in small house two miles
east of Fairplay, and had small farm
of forty acres. With his wife he came
over to Dubuque ON Sunday the 18th to
make a visit TO his son and returned
o. Mondayssthe day following. He left
Dubuqe about 10 o'clock A NJ, on
the 18th, and went to his home near
SlnsinaWa Mound, where he arrived
between three and four o'clock on the
evening CT the same day. He was seen
doing his chores that night, when he
was in good health ; he's was also seen
in bed by neighbor, between 8 and
10 o'clock at night lie was found
dead about 7 o'clock Il next morning,
within about six PAGES of the door. He
had four large gashes in his head, and
his skull was completely smashed in;
a scratch, supposed to have been made
By a hand, was seen extended down
the right jaw. He was completely
covered with snow, indicating that the
murder had been committed before the
snow storm came on, there being heavy
snow that night His wife states that
she awoke in the night feeling cold,
and found that Kelly was missing
Thinking he might have gone and slept
in another bed, there being two beds
in the same room, she went to sleep
again. Upon waking between six and
seven in the morning, she got up, and
started out to feed the stock, but had
hardly proceeded as far as the corn
crib, probably ten PAGES from the house,
when she discovered heap on the
west side of the house, about six PAGES
from the door. She went up to it
s ooped down and took hold of it, and
found it was the body Of her husband.
She then went,5o her sous house, John
Murray, about quarter of mile dist
ant, to get some help. Murray re
turned with her and removed the body
into the house. They then went out,
shut the door, and returned to her
son s house.
Kelly was rot supposed to be worth
much IN actual cash. He had no land
ed property said his son, and had moth
ing more than about $500 worth of
personal property. The general pre-
sumption at the present time is against
John Murray, who it is believed had
some spite against him It appears
that Murray had two little pigs, weigh
ing about fifty pounds each, which were
running round the old mans place and
eating his chickens, which annoyed
Kelly, and he told Murray he would
kill the pigs if they were not removed.
Murray was heard to say a few days
after this that if the cid man crossed
his path he would kill him.
After the murder bloody hammer.
an ak with a short handle, covered
with hair and blood, and bloody shirt
were found slowed away in one of the
chambers. Murray is a son of Mrs.
Kelly by former husband, and is
man thirty-one years of age, He and his
wife live in small house on the other
corner of the forty acres He has not
been upon good terms with the old man,
though there is no difference except
some Of the trivial matters already !
mentioned. He and his wife are known
to have been at Kellys Monday eve
ming.
Murray and his wife and Mrs. Kelly |
were all arrested Gu Thursday, after the |
coroners inquest, and were held for ex-
animation. which commenced on the
next Wednesday, at FairpIay, before
Justice Henry Mann. After patient
and full investiga ion, the two women
were discharged and Murray was held to
bail in the sum if $4,000 to await the
action Of the Grand j ury AS it is not
at probable that he can obtain bail
to that amount, he will be lodged in
Jail. There seems to be little doubt in
the public mind OF his guilt.
The manner Of the killing was so
barbarous and demoniacal, Kelly's head |
being completely hammered in, that
the whole community were Mortified at
the event, and the excitement during
the preliminary examination was very