Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-05-04
discovery of the Body Of Isaac ID.
Kelley.

The profound mystery which as hung
like an impenetrable veil over the fate OF
Mr.. Isaac D. Kelley has at length been IN
a measure unraveled. The circumstances
of his mysterious disappearance, which
have excited deep interest in our COM
munity, are perhaps familiar to all, but
we will briefly reiterate them. On Fri
day evening, March 31st, about seven
o'clock, he took an affectionate leave OF
bis. wife and child at the house OF his
brother in. law, MIR. Nathaniel B. Lewis,
on Elm street, with the intention of going
to see bis mother at the residence of Mr..
Smith T. Kelley situated about two miles
southwest of this village. Since that
hour up to yesterday morning, no trace of
the unfortunate man could be found.
But the certainty of his uatimely end is
now clearly established.
About eight o'clock yesterday forenoon,
as young man named Henry II. Foster
was out shooting pickerel near the site of
the new bridge over Otter Greek, at the
extension of River street, he discovered
the dead body of man floating in the
water about twenty-five feet from the
eastern shore. AT once suspecting that it
was the remains of the missing man, he
called for the assistance of some workmen
on the new bridge, when the body was
brought to the shore by means of boat.
Notice was slse sent to Mr.. Lewis,
brother-in-law of Mr.. Kelley, when the
Selectmen were apprised of the fact
of the discovery of the remains. They
at once repaired to the spot, accom-
panied by Justice Martin G. Evarts, who
acted as coroner. The services of Drs.
Fox, Haynes and Paul were secured,
when a thorough examination of the
body was made with view to ascertain
whether death was caused by violent
means, and the body then thrown into
the water. On removing the clothing,
the body was found in good state of
preservation, but the head was swollen
discolored and partially decomposed. The
initials of the unfortunate man, marked on
the arm in Indian ink, were plainly visi-
bic, SO that had other evidence been
wanting, the Identification was complete.
After a careful examination, the surgeons
were unable to find any indications OF
violence on the body, although from the
decomposed condition of the head, the
evidence of superficial injury would not
be revealed.
The body when first discovered was ly.
ing upon the face, the head and shoulders
only visible, and it was held in position
by one of the feet becoming entangled in a
snag. The face and hands were covered
with the sediment at the bottom of the
river, showing that the remains must have
recently come to the surface. The news
of the discovery of the body was quickly
circulated about town, and quite num
Der of interested spectators were gathered
at the scene of the examination.
After the examination, the remains
were taken in charge of Mr.. FRANKLIN
Billings, one of the selectmen, and after
being properly enclosed in a coffin, were
conveyed to the house of Mr.. Lewis, or
Elm street. At half-past three O'CLOCK
funeral services were held, Rev. ]. Gibson
Johnson officiating. The remains were
then deposited in the Village Cemetery, 6
considerable number of the relatives and
friends of the deceased following them in
mournful procession to the last resting
place.
Mr.. Kelley was about thirty-seven
years of age, and leaves a wife and young
daughter, who are plunged in the deepest
grief at his sad and untimely end. He
had returned to this town from Fon du
Lac, Wis, few months since, and was
esteemed as an amiable and industrious
man by all who knew him.
Various copjectures are rife as to the
manner in which Mr.. Kelley come to bis
death. Many of his friends have be-
lieved ever since his disappearance, that
he was met by an assassin at the Billings
bridge, while on his way to Mr.. S. F,
Kelley's, and foully murdered, and bis
dead body thrown into the stream, from
which point it is conjectured it must have
foated about mile to the place of dis.
covery. As Mr.. Kelley could have had
no enemies who entertained murderous
designs against him, it is thought he may
have been mistaken for his brother,
against whom it is known threats of vio-
lence had been made. Certain marks dis
covered on the bridge, as though body
had been dragged with the feet on the
ground, and which lead to near a hole in
the bridge, are taken as evidence by those
who maintain this view of the case.
Another theory is that Mr.. Kelley may
have wandered from the road and fallen
into the Creek in a state of partial uncon-
seriousness resulting from kind of faint.
ness to (which he had been more or less
subject fora number of years, and which
sometimes resulted in complete state of
insensibility, from which it was difficult
to restore him.
Other views of the circumstances at
tending his death areiadvanced, and amidst
the various statements, it is difficult at
present to come to satisfactory conclu-
sion, if, indeed, the precise facts can ever
be clearly established.
An examination of all the'circumstances
bearing upon the case will be held before
the Coroner, Justice Evarts, this forenoon
at ten o'clock, when it is to be hoped de-
velopements will be made that will shed
light upon this melancholy affair. We
understand there is an insurance of $4,000
upon the life of Mr.. Kelley.
OLD FOLKS CoNCERT-"A peep at
the future" or, "a few minutes at the
Old Folks Concert of the Second Rutland
Centennial Celebration in 1870" will be