Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-08-08
MAXWELL.
The Shooting Of John Kelly.
{ From the Jefferson Banner.)
wood


Last week the Banner contained a
short notice of the shooting Of sup
posed cattle chief by John Helm, living
some three miles from the village.
Since then we have obtained more facts
in the case, and will give them as they
have been represented to US, and with
the desire to prejudice public apinion
IN no way,
1t seems that some time in the fore
noon Of the day Of the shooting, which
was on Wednesday, the 25th Of July,
man was seen lettering about the
premises Of Mr., Helm, and acting in
such manner as to give Mr. Helm the
idea that he was awaiting an opportu-
nifty to steal something During the
afternoon the family of Helm kept a
lookout for him. but toward evening be
was lost sight of until about half past
ten o'clock, when young Helm. aged
about twentv-one, told his father he
theAzl.t he heard some one down near
she barn, and his father took a shot
gun and started thither. There was a
wheat field near the barn. and Mr..
Helm saw man walking around in the
grain The night was moonlight, and
the man could be seen and his actions
noted as plainl as though it were day.
Shortly after Mr.. Helms arrival at the
barn the stranger went into the barn
yard, and walked around among the
cattle, and while he was so doing,
without giving him any warning, tie
farmer fred upon him Thirty four
shot, probably No. 5 size, entered his
right arm and breast. The wounded
man ran some ten or fifteen rods and
fell, and where he fell he remained
until Sheriff Newton brought him to
the Jail here, about 6 clock the fol.
lowing morning. After the shooting
the groans of the wounded man were
distinctly heard by the family of Helm,
but through fear, as they state, that he
might be "playing 'possum" and have
a pistol with which to salute them if
they went near him, they offered him
no assistance. About 5 o'clock
Thursday morning, Heia came to town
and told the Sheriff Of the shooting,
aud that officer went Immediately to
the place aud found the man suffering
terribly from his wounds and the thirst
they had created. He had lost large
quantity of blood, and was very weak.
He was brought to the Jail, and has
continually received at the hands of
Sheriff Newton and DIR. Reed the
kindest attention. At this writing he
is getting along quite WELL and bids
fair to recover
From the actions of the man, or
rather from his con versation since the
shooting, the idea is pretty strongly
impressed upon the minds of some that
he is not in his right mind. He gave
his name to the Sheriff as John Kelly,
and said he had no family. He is a
man about 55 years of age, about 5 feet
10 inches in height. and was we'll
dressed, with black coat, pants aud
vest, white shirt, and fine new under
shirt His left arm is somewhat
shorter than the other, which was oc-
casioned by an injury he received from
a runaway. He had IN his possession
three ropes and an oil-cloth oversuit
stained SO as to present the appearance
of blood. He also had money, we don't
know how much.
Mr.. Helm was, Of course, arrested
but his examination is postponed until
Kelly gets better or dies 1t has been
stated that the man started up couple
Of heifers, and started to drive them
away before Helm fired. How far he
had gone toward stealing the cattle
when he was shot, the examination
will no doubt disclose. Those who
allowed him to suffer all night, hearing
continually his agonizing cries for
"Water Water!" and making nc
effort to relieve his wants, must possess
! rather rocky hearts.