The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-10-31
THE ROCKPORT TRAGEDY.
The Murderer of Old Man Arnold Makes a
Eufl Confession.

!
Fun Confession.
Evansville Journal:
Yesterday morning Marshal Hugh IIales
arrived in the city with the perpetrator OF
the horrible murder of the old man in the
fish boat, between Rockport and Grandview.
nearly month ago The boy-for such he
isis hardly more than seventeen, of very
gawky appearan &c. and without any trace
of brutality though ignorant. His name is
francis }. Kelly He confesses 10 the COM
mission OF the crime and tells his story in a
simple manner. He lived in Harrison
County, ia this State. until recently, when
lac went TO New Albany to live with his
father. There he met the man he killed,
Il. 7. Arnold, the owner OF fishing boat,
then lying at the New Albany wharf.
lie formed old'sacquaintance while loaf
ing about the wharf, Arnold had a woman
with him lac passed for his wife. who really
was only his mistress. The boy engaged
with the man to 90 down the river with
him, and started away after n brief farewell
TO his father and sister They tished and
sold groceries to the farmers aud log men
along the river. The trip not as pleas
ant as Kelly had imagined, nor yet of eX-
ceeding hardship He had several quarrels
with old Arnold. and the latter threatened
several times TO shoot him. Al Alton. =
small river landing, Mrs Arnold" deserted
fioated down until they reached that point
where the boat was tied the night OF the
tragedy.
Still ingenious and simple the boy con-
tinues his tale-telling without q suggestion
of fear of the consequences the story of that
awful night. Arnold had been drinking
heavily, he said, and he was more Yio-
lent than ever and had threatened TO do
many things bad to the boy. After much
abuse he dropped asleep, and the boy made
preparations to leave. He knew that Ar
mold had some money, and he thought he
had right to some OF 1T as recompenSe
Tor his labor. Yet he could not get it with
out silencing the old man. His wrongs
worked up his Imagination atrd fortified a
resolution to kill his prosecutor. The money
was in Arnold'S pockets.
The arms on the boat were a gun and a
revolver The gun hung over the door OF
the floating house. and Kelly cautiously
took it down. 1t was always loaded. Ar
mold was sleeping heavily in one corner OF
the room on pretence for n bed. He
raised the gun cautiously, and then aiming
at the victims head fired. The effect was
terrible, tearing of one side OF the sleep
eTs head, and OF course killing him in
stantly.
Il fired two shots more with the pistol at
him. said the boy calmly.
why did you do that; the man was dead.
was he notG'
Il 'spect he was. but / wanted to he sure,
and then | was mad.
What did YOU do next?''
IL pulled the money outn his pockets. I
got $50. what that man what arrested me
has got. Then ! took the lamp what was
Albumin in the boat and flung it inter pile
OF trash. She blazed up an" got inter the
skift and pulled away"
He rowed 10 Rockport, slept in car al the
depot all the rest OF the night and came to
this city the next morning From here he
went to Kinmundy, ILL.,, where an old-time
friend OF his lived. She was a farmers wife.
Mrs. Brogs. He told them where he had
worked and kept his own counsel regarding
the crime. The lady writing to friends in
Harrison County told them Frank is here"
They informed his relatives in New Albany.
1t was thought in the latter place that lac
had committed the crime and Mr.. Kelley,
his father, thought fit for hfm TO deny the
rumor in the papers, saying his son was in
kentucky and he had heard from him. This
communication was read by Marshal Hales
and he went to New Albany 20 look for in
formation He got there in time to learn
Franks whereabouts, the information
spoke of arrived about that time. lie imme-
diatelv left for kinmundy.