The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-03
THE FATE OF KELSEY.
The Remains Found in Oyster Bay a
Subject Of Discussion.
Evidence Produced at the
Inquest.
FEELING IN HUNTINGTON.
Interviews with the Indicted
Parties.
A SHORT TALK WITH MISS SMITH,
Curious Stories About Kelsey's
Disappearance.
The Justification for Earring and
Feathering.
Alleged Obseenity of Kelsey's Core
Interviews with the Indicted
Parties.
A SHORT TALK WITH MISS SMITH.
Curious Stories About Kelsey's
Disappearance.
The Justification for Tarring and
Feathering.
Alleged Obseenity of Kelsey's Core
spondence.
HUNTINGTON, L l., Sept, Q. 1878

HUNTINGTON L l., Sept. Q, 1873.
Who tarred and feathered Kelsey9 That is the
question OF which it is so hard to find satisfactory
solution here. 1t is vain suppose he did it nim
self. Some person or persons out OF an eccentric
benevOence must have provided him with suit Of
tar when he stood naked and shiverlng in the air
the night OF the Attn OF November. Whether the
tar was hot or cold is another of the questions
nobody can answer. mat he was tarred and feath-
cred is beyond dispute. cloud of witnesses
testify to having seen him in his habiliments Of
disgrace, but nobody knows who did it,
and that may be reckoned very
strange fact indeed The finger of suspicion point
ed to over half dozen leading citizens of the
village, Dr. Banks, Claudius b. Prime, John Mckay,
Royal Sammis, A. T. Hurd, Deacon Wood and 9th
ers yet person acquainted for a brief time with
any one Of these who have been suspected would
be slow to believe him guilty Of an Improperly 50
great as that which was committed, ana certainly
he should hesitate long before tolerating the belief
that men of such responsibility, so sober and re-
ligiously given could be guilty Of murder.
The people have mentioned declare they had
NO HAND IN THE TARRING AND FEATHERING
OF Kelsey. They saw him after the deed was done,
not before AS l cannot find, after diligent
search anybody who played the part Of furnishing
That the job was performed by some rough and
ready people from the rural neghborhood, or that
professional artists were brought all the way from
the congenial soil of Tennessee or Arkansas But
tnat would only be foolish speculation. No doubt
exists of this fact-that when the town learned as
It did before breakfast next morning, what had
happened to Kelsey, the general verdict was,
Starved him right" Huntington, living to
itself like family in wild wood, thought
any discipline that might be administered
to one OF It's hayward members was something the
world could never know and had no business in
quring about. A day OF calmer reflection came
and Huntington felt ashamed-felt like wearing
sackcloth and ashes for the deed done in moment
of thoughtless impulse. There was general dis
av0wal all round, and here, think, the ringlead-
ers in the performance made mistake. am as
Stunning that those who tarred and feathered KEEL
sey citizens of Huntington, who must have
known what they were about and been aware that
they could remain unknown but very short time
In SO small place cOncealment was out of the
question. Now, however, comes the query, Did
Kelsey deserve to be tarred and feathered9 Well,
candidly think he did-tarred and feathered, and
nothing more. But 1t should have been done in
broad daylight, without disguise and without any
unnecessary cruelty.
A SUBSTITUTE FOR TAR.
DR.. Banks who s the most prominent among
those who lie under suspicion in the eyes OF the
law as being concerned in the AFFAIR, states that
another mode of punishment was suggested to
him a month before the tar and feather climax.
This to elevate Kelsey on the back OF an extra
large and powerful man. divest him OF his neither
garments, carry him at MONDAY through the
streets of the town, and ply him schoolboy fashion
vigorously with a bunch Of hickory switches. This
would have been abundantly eflicacous for the
victim and a cheerful entertainment for the citi-
zens. Why did Kelsey deserve all this ? Well, he
was
A STANDING ANNOYANCE
to the rising generation OF the young ladies' Of
Huntington. A dozen had causes OF complaint
with him, but it was against Miss Julia Smith, who
had no big brother to take her part-no male
friend in the world-that he levelled Tor eight
years his most unpleasant attentions. l think
one month OF such course as ne pursued towards
Miss Smith would have entailed personal DAM
age on him in any other community They are q
meek people in Huntington. Hall their lives are
spent within the shadow OF the churches, and IL
must be a very desperate case indeed where they
Overleap the barriers OF law and propriety
This was not, as l was led at first to believe,
young man. His age was forty, period OF life when,
as rule the amorous currents OF the blood are SUBJ
dued and the restless and minimizing lust OF youth
gives way to sober and well regulated confluence.
A STRIKING CONTRAST.
He was grown to manhood when Miss Smith was
little schoolgirl. 1t is as needless as 1t Is unin-
terestng to narrate all of Kelseys doings during
his acquaintance with the young lady. 1t will an
swer Tor the purp0se-the explanation OF why
think this man deserved to be tarred and leath-
ered-to state that for q tweivemOnth alter Miss
Smith was engaged to be married to Mr.. Sammis,
Kelsey in the habit Of sending her letters full
or that character of lewd composition which, when
in printed form is forbidden transmission through
the nails and not alone letters, but cares de CtSte
sized chromos picturing the worst conceptions Ola
prurent and blackguard fancy Into this part OF the
subject 1t would be indicate to proceed, but
enough is here stated to give notion OF the man:
The letters alluded to were all signed 'Cartholo."
Those of q different character In which he felt
conscious there were no lines OF indecency, had
his genuine signature no oe sat'snea ne g was
necessary to note the fact that when
he wrote over the signature Of "Cartholo"
q proposal to meet Miss Smith at some
hour alter dark IN the basement OF her house, he
was invariably on hand outside the house, which
he was never permitted to enter. He was shrewd,
too, alter his fashion. Though the lady never
wrote him line, he would send letters by way OF
answers to suppositious letters OF hers, relating
the JOY tsensually expressed) he experienced at
their Last meeting, when no meeting ever took
place. When the first two
OF Kelsey's were received and the handwriting
recognized .,:. Mrs Oakley the grandmother OF Miss
else in kelsey's handwriting from the Huntington
POST once SO there they accumulated for
letters ana SS msed he Ney Y aa% ans
traband entry into Miss Smiths house. This also
failtd. great pile or correspondence gathered
until time arrived when Mrs Oakley was urged,
TO have legal proceedings taken against Kelsey to
stop not alone his plague OF letters, but his mid
night prowlings about the ladys demic Tne
District Attorney Mr.. Tutte, ADVISED that
Post once, as 1t might furnish evidence
20 help in securing Q conviction or the
offender All this time Mrs. Oakley a noble.
looking OLD lady with the silver frost OF seventy
winters whitening over her calm and coorless
forehead, expressed her utter aversion to having
anything to do with the law courts. She was never
among them, and her granddaughter, Miss Smith,
petite, gentle girl, timid and bashful a fawn
was horror stricken at the thought OF having to 20
into court aud have all the haowed privacy OF her
Innocent and domestic course or life made public.
Had these guileless, helpless people any wise male
adviser TO interest himself In their behalf much OF
rhelr subsequent mental suf1erings might nave been