The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-04-26
KELLY THE BrM. g

1t may be remembered that Kelly was ta-
ken from here few weeks ago to testify in
the Sharpe murder trial. His evidence was
as follows:
He was sworn aud then went on to say that
he met Sharp in Wilkes Barre in 1868. They
knew each other as Buck-shots. They had
exchanged signs with each other, aud had
been in each others company with their body
master frequently. He then said ~ met
Fat. Gallagher and Charley Sharpe in Pat
Curry's saloon We sat down to have a So
cial drink, and Gallagher began talking about
old times. Sharpe said, 1T was good thing
was there the night Smith was shot. If |
had not been the Fiz--- girl would have
| fixed you Gallagher said that It was
good thing Sharpe cleared out South, or they
would have sworn to the very clothes on his
back. Sharpe then said to me that if he had
not been present it would not have been n
clean Job aud only for his getting on the
stairs they would have had a hard time of it.
THIS took place in the Fall of 1865, in Cur
ry's saloon, in Wilkes Barre"
On cross-examiuation the "Bum" wavcrcd
very much from his direct examination. lie
could not remember what else was spoken Of
at the time. He could not tell how old he
was when he came to this country. He went
| w
while there twas induced to 20 TO Boston
Run to kill man, "but did not do it. He
ravclcd about while, and then went TO
Canada to fight with the Fenians He came
back, wandered about the coal regions for a
while, until he stole watch from Abel White
and was sent to the Schuylkill county prison
for two years. After serving out his time he
again tramped around until he fell in with ;
man who had a bad character. The two were
t arrested, and Kull's companion squeacd on
him, and had him convicted of breaking int
shoe store For this he was sent up for three
years. While serving out this term he wa
pardoned, and acknowledged his guilt in the
+ murder of Rea. He was in Jail at Wilkes
Barre for robbing an old man of some mon
~. ey. The man thought he had made mis-
take and got the Bum" off, who in tel inl
of it, chuckled when he said the old man haC
c made mistake, but it was not the one b,
r thought he had made. He got into dispute
with lady, and she sent him to jail for rape
but he denied the charge. Tom Waldron, o
Pottsville had him put to jail for an assault
and battery, but as Tom and he were fellow
members, he paid the costs and was released
Father Bridgeman thought the Bum wa
i one of party who broke in the windows Of
d the Catholic Church at Girardsville but a
l. the time that attack was made he was in the
. Pottsvie prison. He was in the lookup
= and jail frequently, He was often in tightinl
o scrapes. He beat John Chalu and Hugh Nc
a Donald at different times, He changed hi
= name to Dan. Kelly in 1867, because he wa
- afraid the police would find him. He let
n Wilkes. Barre after the Rea murder wit
i Tuly and McHugh, taking their clothes ou
: board bill unpaid. He helped rat neestS
+. steal three barrels of whisky, and got sixt,
yer urfu orf1cfs wnrn tfiey y-pear .rfctfee. nj
helped TO drug man in Wilkes-Barre in or
der to rob him. He and Charley Sharp robb
s ed man or attempted to, of pocket book
e a discussion opened the proceedings at the
afternoon session. The Court House wa.
illled with people, number of ladies from
Maueh Chunk, Weissport and other places
7 occupying. seats inside the bar. Kull on di
rect examination gave the practices of the so.
ciety In regard to keeping the secrets of mem.
hers. On cross examination he denied Ger.
tam beatlngs and other crimes of which he
was asked. He said he ond Sharpe robbed
man after the conversation he mentioned.
He said Sharpe once struck him and then
run away, and he got no chance to strike
PACK. lie and Sharpe were good friends
however and Shapes friends were at him
since he had been in jail here not to squea
kelly sadto Mike Campbell that he would
e lcE Sharpe first chance he got. Campbell
told hlm to do nothing about it. that Sharpe
was the best man at the mountain end.
; Q-i ou are reformer now? A.-Wel
yes, l believe so. | haye repented good
Q.-Te whom did you repent? A.-Tc
the man above.
Q.-You are known as Kelly the Bum
are you not? A.-Yes, since the Shenan-
doah Herald got hold of me.
Il about this time Joe Powell resembled q
piece OF highly colored flannel, and remarked
soto roce, that the Bum" was a perjureI
J and squealing liar). Bum defed Ireland
Scotland and America to prove against him
any crimes which he had committed and had
not confessed. He said Sharpe in the jail
wrote on a slate the names Of half dozen
parties who were prese Mt at the Smith muir
der. This was done in the presence of Mr..
rmbruster, the under-keeper and Sheriff
Raudenbush's son, On redirect examna-
tion he testified that he had interfered and
saved mems lives. He testified that Mrs.
Pat Hester was jealous of Mrs O'Brien, and
she sent some men to cut the hair off one side
Mrs. O'Brien's head Mrs. H. offered wit
ness 500 or 500 TO cut off Mrs. OBrien's
ears, or throw her under the train as it came
along. He did not do as Mrs Hester want
ed him TO, but he broke the windows in Mrs.
O'Brien's house. He was present at the
burning OF the engine house at Mddleport.