New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-10
THE HUNTINGTON HORROR.
KELsEYs PERsgegToRs DESCRIBED.

Kelsey resumed at Oyster Bay, yesterday, and the
size OF the audience indicated that there dimnu
ton OF the interest the Kelsey tragiy Much specu-
ation had been INDUCED in to whether DstrictAt
orney Downing would be present and assist the Coro-
ner, and the impression prevailed that az he was still
employed as counsel for Samms. Prime and Banks he
would not again appear. He was present however. at
| the opening OF the inquest.
He had he said, TO help ferret out the perpe
traitors OF the crime alleged committed
| Kelsey. On arriving he addressed by Messrs
Young and Patt who said they would retire, he was
the prosecuting ocer Of the county He replied that
he was willing to aid all he coald in the investigation
and neither OF the gentlemen saFd word him about
his Withdrawing from tho defense of Banks Sammis
but did communicate with the Coroner and the Coroner
with him. He himself had then replied that he should
require them to say that they willing 90 inves-
gate this matter fairly. without desire TO hold DIR.
Banks and Sammis TO the exclusion Of the guilty per
sons He did not believe it possible, II professional
skill and detective ingenuity were combined, that q
crime Of this magnitude could have been committed in
quiet village like Huntington without being found
Since the last adjournment persons had ct TO
fame the public mind by spreading the base SANDER
| that he wished those who charged With
| participating in the outrage upon Kelsey. Believing
that the community ought TO look with confidence upon
the result OF these preliminary investigations he would
not allow breath Of suspicion TO remain that this In
vestigaon not OF the fullest character and there
fore he had written to the DlstrctAttOrney OF Suffolk
County to him and take charge OF the investga-
ton. In recent interview he had promised to be pre-
sent on this occasion. He himself had the fullest
hdenee that the jury meant ascertain II
possible. the authors OF the As for himself he
fully believed II this crime had been committed the
| guilty would DO brought TO justice
During the examination Of the first witness, District
Attorney Tuthil of Suffolk County entered followed by
Messrs Platt and Young who had withdrawn from the
inve
Attorney Downing. The latter withdrew from the
| case.
TESTIMONY A. HuRD.
Arthur j. Hurd, who appeared on Thursday, testified
left my house about o'clock the evening OF Nov T.
and while passing Mrs. Oakey's my attention was
attracted by the appearance of man coming from her
house with lantern; passed through the gate and
along passage which 1 suppose a gravel path
know there cump OF bushes evergreens south Of
the house. and beyond there open space after the
man was tarred and feathered in this space,
the southwest corner Of the house, testified
Thursday, he was pushed against me. and I put up
my hands to receive him; on the night in
question 1 came home from New-York, took my
tea went down to the Post-Ohice. and visited two
OF three in the village; the night was moder-
atey dark and there considerable dampness in the
air the form Of person could probably have been dis
upgished at a distance OF 20 feet recognized
the man coming ont with a lantern as Dr. Banks; my
self had neither mask nor lantern was not spoken to
by any person the premises that evening; have
seen the body found In Oyster Bay, hut have serious
doubts Of it being Kelsey the reason doubt his iden
hty H. that the pail containing the liquid would not
contain over quart the operation occupied not more
than Ave minutes the liquid put hurriedly. and
the upper portion of the body received 1t mostly the
lower limbs being covered with blanket; am quite
positive it tar, but other mixture with
which the body covered; also saw Kelsey walk IN
manner that would have been impossible had he been
| had ba1v ~ fha pxVhn ha1
been feathered seemed of yeliowish color, whereas
| if covered with tar it would have been black;
| early in the evening had returned TO my home and
changed my coat at This time saw group OF men on
little hill near my house this at about $40 D.
thev were moving south and attracted my attention
sunnnsed them party OF drunken and entered my
house Kelsey might nave been with the party OF men
| started toward MIR Primes, walked distance, and
| then proceeded IN an opposite direction 10 the
| center Of the village had on previous occasion
been one OF a party attempted TO arrest Kelsey on
Mrs OakleyS promises We had intended 10 arrest MN
for trespassng ne appeared tnat evening anu an az
tempt was made 10 8rres him, though ana not Know II
At the the man whom saw on % oSnS a .S
thew were probably emitting OFF his hair be was clothed
ana could not have been nutllated at mat le as ne
1,ersrd stood on his feet for several mnutes ne
| stripped and arred; did not leave my house until
about 1880 D. think there were no nights used by
the Marty who tarred Kelsey; the operation took place
probably IS or feet from the house OF Mrs. Oakley
his clothing entirely removed and the last cav OF
| him he ad nothing except the sack or blanket;
it was my impression that slight blood mark was on
frightened when in the hands of the men, but could
not opinion whether he was gagged OF not ne
nut out ny hands which struck his back "a ne was rail-
Inc against me | was officially informed that We
had right TO arrest him. but had been told that the
most direct OF bringing him TO usJice would be
seid ~ me the ictAttorney mad spoken TO hlm 10
| that effect DR.. Banks aferward sald that Kelsey
| would probably DO around Sunday morning-the
| sunday preceding the tarring-and asked me TO be
present and assist in arresng him was watching Tor
Kelsey on only occasions George and john Mckay
| and DR. Banks the only persons i saw on
| the premises either OF the occasions on which an
| atteIunt nj arrest made; on the second Occa-
sion Dr. Banks in the house while myself was on
the stoop; was not disguised oat had wnte hana-
kecnief thrown over my face ana my Collar tured up
when saw the on the ground ne was dressed, ana
apparently on his knees supposed MI 10 DC hSy ds az
ersed with black cloth; have never stated thit hd
o fisi whether they we're all disguised in the
manner they raised the man on the ground 20 ms IGet
and at once began 10 strip him wben lie let nc au MS
ciothing IN his arms front OF him, and was going
| through the south eide OF Mrs oikleys ioIi Ihe
nrohably Dr. Blnks's-antern; after the tarrlng ana
f.atbeTing was finished thu men ted their victim to
While saw him those whom / saw in MIS-. odkley's
ward were about feet from the highway at tne time
Eelsev was stripped there was no lght thrown from
Nrs Oakeys house in that direction; 10 the hah1lng
OF Kelsey the treatment was NOT Iougn Gi
tered my mind; did not positively khO" ~ wac helseS
1U o e near enough to recognize II he had been
acquainted with me; 1t appeared that ne came 70 see
Authenticated my name to his companions; don't know
nat saw him again they took no notice whatever OF
nv remark, You'd better let him go;| had those VINO
we discussed been win whom was very wen
ocnUsnteI i could perhaps have recognized them II
thew had had any striking pecuarltles OF gait OF ior
one of the men who spoke TO companion had voice
winch sounded like that OF tOrelguer probably an
freshman my impression was that II Kelsey had eAered
| himself be mi ght scattered his assaiiants.
TESTIMONY OF A. W. PRIME
Arthur W. Prime testified live at Huntington and
knew Charles q. Kelsey by sight; do not remember
when last saw Kelsey onNov. went TO my shop at
about 7sO D. M and the usual hour about dusk
NV shop about two or three minutes walk from Mrs