The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-06
The KELSEY FUNERAL.
A Large and Impressive
Display.
The Country People on Hand in
Numbers.
Great Grief of Miss Charlotte
Kelsey.
Feeling Sermon by the
Pastor.
GOSSIP OF THE VILLAGE.
A Settled Belief That Kelsey Was Saw
agely Murdered.
Feeling Sermon by the
Pastor.
GOSSIP OF THE VILLAGE.
A Settled Belief That Kelsey Was Saw
agely Murdered.

OF the country mas ever Witnessed passed through
the main street OF huntington from the Second
Presbyterian church to-day to the Presbyterian
Cemetery, on the edge of the town. The frag-
mentary remains OF Charles G. Kelsey were thus
honored, chiefly by reason OF a profound sympa-
thy for his family as well as OF pity for the
strangely shocking fate which the majority Of
people now believe beien him. There was still
another cause which helped to make this funeral
memorable In the annals of Huntington-a desire
to express the popular feeling In regard
to this Kelsey affair-and the serious
and earnest crowds who filed the church
edifce and overlooked into the street
told plainly of the abiding belief in the public
mind that Kelsey was cruelty murdered People
came from long distances to attend-frOm Port
Jefferson, Babylon, Islip, Oyster Bay, Locust VAL
ley, Syosset and numerous other places. They
came by railroad and all sorts OF cOnveyances, and
early In the afternoon the large yard OF the SUI.
folk House was packed with horses and vehicles.
Under a line Of old chestnut trees, opposite the
second Presbyterian church, scores OF wagons
were drawn up, giving to the town more than
usually animated appearance. wagon pulled
up at the Suffolk House about two O'Clock in the af
ternoon and four ladies' all in deep black, aighted
therefrom. They were young and attractive,
and on inquiry found they were distant relatives
OF the Kelsey family. This exhibition Of the apparel
that denotes sorrow was very noticeable In the
church. The number OF
LADIES IN BLACK
was strikingly numerous. They appeared to come
from the country around Huntington, and EVIL
IDENTIFY belonged to the wealthy farming class. On
the piazza OF the Suffolk House, which is the head
quarters OF the anti.tar men, large number col
lected from time to time throughout the day. They
talked OF nothing but the Kelsey mystery.
They said outright the man was muir
dered, that he suffered q Dameless out
rage before he was tarred and feathered,
and that to hide their crime the murderers cast
his body in the sea, where 1t was buried beneath
the waters by an attachment OF heavy weights.
They
Il TALKED ANGRILY
OF District Attorney Down ming, who yesterday took
the place Of the peoples prosecutor at the inquest
in oyster Bay. He was denounced as seeking to
thwart the ends Of justice and while acting for the
people was secretly plotting for the defence.
The Second Presby terrain church Is an ample and
respectable edihce. built Of wood, painted white,
and having an airy and cheerful interior 1t stands
prominently on the principal street Of Huntington.
The trustees having decided to yield the church for
the funeral services 1t was thrown open early,
without rule or reservation and its large area
began to ill. until the aises we're laid under con-
rribution. and finally the vestibule had to accom-
modate the many who came late. 1t was o pro-
foundly silent and attentive congregation. Every
mind therein was absorbed by one subject alone,
and when Rev. Mr.. Knox robe to his feet from be-
hind the plush-covered desk the stiffness Of the
grave prevailed.
S0RROwFUL SIGHT.
Just before the services man was observed
coming down the centre aisle, from near
the communion table, with q lady, shrouded
in mourning, leaning upon his arm.
He was rather tall, bronzed man, dressed In
black down to his gloves. the lady he supported
was weeping amid hysterical sobs. She looked
faint and weary, and the tail, anxious man was
bearing her with rapid yet gentle steps out TO-
wards the open air. She reached the church door.
and there the noodgates Of grief seemed to give
way, and she burst into q strangely pas
sionate cry Of agony. Tears streamed down
her cheek and her whole frame shook
convulsively. This was Miss Charlotte Kelsey,
sister OF the man alleged to have been murdered.
She was leaning on her brothers. arm, and he with
tender sympathy bore her for a while away to
place Of rest. As looked at this spectacle and
remembered the cruel notice some Huntington
backguards afllxed to tree, calling this earnest
ceremony at the church 'tne funeral of Legs"
wondered II the goddess cities had not after all
more humanity among them than the country,
where all the virtues are supposed to reside.
Just before the Kelsey family entered the church,
the organist, Miss Frances Smith, began q dirge.
The intermittent rustling Of fans and the murmur
Of whispers were now hushed, and all again be-
came as silent as the grave. The
SLOW MEASURES OF THE DIRGE
noated over the heads OF the congregation, who
bowed down and remained bowed until the dirge
was over. few minutes after the music ceased
the family, all in deep mourning, came into the
church in order-Henry Kelsey and wife, Mr.. Will
let's and wife, william, his sister Charlotte, and
his wife. Mrs. willetts had her little son with her
From his seat on the kneelng bench he looked up
inquirngly IN his mothers face, unable to divine
looked upon his upturned inquirIng lace, her tears
broke out anew.
THE SERVICES
From the pulpit came story OF sorrow and
regret at the violent rupture between the families,
the churches and the people Of the sequestered little
and regard eacn other In the light of family folk.
II was truly sad to see the weeping OF many at
this sad state Of affairs. Within the church the
violent prejudices which political Issues and
anlmosites had engendered were forgotten, and
all minds were free to think of the happiness that
How sad the reflection that this division might
be perpetuated by succeeding generations
whose tod o
the violent struggle OF outraged sentiment and
Christian meekness going on within. The words Of
the services were over better state OF feeling pre-
vailed.
TO "THR OLD BURYING HILL
From the church the gathered hundreds wended
their way to the "oid Burying Hiil," where lie
entombed the forefathers OF Kelsey for 1--WE genera
tons back. Slowly and soiemnly the funeral
procession, In couples and families, marched up
tue old hill, passing In the journey over the graves
Of those who departed old Huntington $50 years
ago. The Kelsey lot u In the centre OF the ground
and on the summit OF the hill. For nearly nifty feet
around the tomb stones are inscribed with the
name or Kelsey, some OF brown stone covered
thicky with lichen. The immediate friends OF the
family collected around the grave. The usual
Presbyterian burial service was performed, and the
corpse lowered down to It's last resting place. ac-
companied oy the loud sobbing OF me poor ais
REV. Mr.. TERRY's SERMON.
the services at the church were opened BY
short prayer by Dr. Terry. In the prayer the
Doctor asked for blessing for those who felt that
they mad sustained loss and for the happy unity
OF tue now disrupted people of the village. Aver
the prayer Dr. Knox read the Nineteth Psalm be-
ginning "Thou hast been our dwelling place y
alter which Mr.. Terry made the following re.
markQ.- -~--~"~~0 "