The New York herald., 1873-10-24
THE KELSEY MYSTERY.
A Search for facts at Huntington by an Aida
dc-Camp Of Governor Dix.
COLONEL De KAYs Reconnaissance
He Interviews the Community, Examines the
Coroner, Conversss with usrgymsn, In
terrogates Justices and Surveys
the Neighborhood = The In
quest To Proceed To-Day.

Colonel Sidney De Kay, Aide e-de-camp to Cow
ernor DIX, has arrived at Huntington to make an
ofhctal inquiry into the facts and circumstance4
connected with the Kelsey outrage and suspected
murder, and the village is quite excited ON tho
subject tonight. Colonel De Kay comes here Il
inquire into and report the facts ascertaned I'd
the Governor and, beyond a doubt, the Governo1
will take action in the matter as has been already
suggested by the HERALD, with q view to securing
the detection and punishment OF the guilty pert
sons Since his arrival Colonel De Kay has beef
busily engaged in making inquiries OF largo
number OF persons, officials and private citizenQ
and. with the Aid OF light wagon, has visite&
Oyster Bay and the residence OF one or two perS
sons situated several miles from the viIlag8
Among the parties whom he has called upon ard
the Rev. DR.. Carter, pastor OF the First Presby1
terian church, OF which DR.. Banks, William u
Wood, John Mckay. Caudius B. Prime, Jame4
Mckay, Julia Smith Sammis and Charles G. KelseyE
as well as other persons involved in the crime5
are, or were at that time, members. asa a
The Colonel also made inquiries OF the Rev.
Moses Scudder Methodist clergyman, and
presiding elder Of the Bridgeport Conferencey
The probable motive in visiting this latter gentle<
man was to obtain statement OF the case, az
nearly every man, woman and child in Huntington
has opinions strongly inclined to one side or tho
other OF the question.
COTOner bdyusS OI QueeuS County, TeSluluB AZ
Oyster Bay. before whom the inquest has prQ
gressed so slowly, and is to be resumed tof
morrow, was also called upon for some Of the data
on the subject of the tragedy. He furnished
minutes in abstract from the Official record OF tho
testimony thus far developed.
Returning to this village, Colonel De Kay called
on Thomas Young, one Of the counsel who haA
been called in to aid the District Attorney In con1
Quoting the proceedings before the Coroner. II
is understood that this visit was made with vieW
to ascertaining the legal aspects OF the mattera
and visit with similar object was next made t0
Henry Clay Platt, who Is also engaged In the egaE
conduct Of the inquiry. "A
tngs were had last fall in reference to the tarrn@
and feathering, and upon whose official commits
ment indictments for riot and assault were found
Sammis, was consulted In regard to that phase OF
the case, as well as the proceedings before him inI
September last, upon winch young Prime was CONS
mitted for alleged perjury committed az the
john Mckay. one Of the tar party and who fC
assembled s there to 0 see TX Kelsey p' uncad save
was visited BY Colonel De Kay. John does not bes
lieve that Kelsey is dead, and doubtless took parS
% that concinson we'll as the I theory that that
body was obtained and put into Cold Spring Harbo9
aDd has for its object the planting OF the crime oA
murder upon the best citizens in the place.
VEST aeck ~ m tSe town Of and who
subscribed to the citizens fund for the prosecu5
tion Of the inquiry, was also called on. Mr.. WOOD
may be fairly looked upon as an impartial gentlel
man, as he has never participated in the case fur.
ther than the lending Of his sympathy and paying
detected and brought to punishment. SO That tha
community might be relieved OF the odium whick<
tieman residing on the road leading to Lloyd'k
Beach. and who has already testified to hearing the
wagon pass along that road on its way TO the har%
that dark November morning was consulted. Mre
pecuar pas IN n Smse Of All ne
vfous developments in this very complicated and
mysterious case and IN analyzing their relative
importance to each other and TO the general chain
OF the evidence. 4t@1
District Attorney Tuthill arrived from Riverhead
sultation was had, In which Messrs. DeKay, Tut
HILL Young. PIatt and Montfort participated. Tho
who was some years ago resident or oyster Bays
takes peculiar interest In the case and cOn}
the he has hsa ae
the opinion that he has surpassed any newspaper
reporter In existence IN the number OF persons nG
has interviewed in the time he has been here. H6
will attend the inquest session at Oyster Bay to-
morrow. and in the evening he will proceed
consultation with Attorney General Barlow In ref-
erence to this and the Phelps defalcation cases.
roteD pair a legs Mhc ound in
Bay, which seems to indicate that he does nosl
think they were specially planted there, and his
report he will make to the Governor.
AN UNSPEAKABLE SECRET. (,
Colonel De Kay further stated this evening that
In the course OF his inquiries statements had beeM
made to him In strict confidence by members OF
both the tar and antttar factions which he coul6
not communicate to any person save the Governor.
not even to the Attorney General ConsideringI
the circumstances under which the disclosures
were made to him 1t is extremely df1cult to un-,
derstand the true meaning OF this remark unless
1t indicates that the whole thing, as 1t has already
been limited az. Is political conspiracy.