St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-06-02
Death at New York Yesterday Afternoon
Of John Kelly, the Noted Demo
cratic Politician.
Tammany's 0hieftain for Many Years Sue
cumbs After Protracted Illness of
Seven Months.
His Demise Thought to Have Been
fastened by the Receipt of
Threatening Letters.
Sketch of His Remarkable Public and
Private Career His Unostenta-
ttous Charities.
J ohm Kelly Dead.

e'AOh Will ttu dttdCh VI ldlutiuS, dllu D6-
came weaker afterwards. Monday he was
worse, but this morning an improvement
was apparent. Atnoon, however, he began
to sink, and the approach of the end was
realized. He died at $3.50. Mr.. Kelly's
death was painless. though he was con-
scious to the last. Only Mrs. Kelly and
her two children were present when the
patient passed away. Mrs. Kelly was
Frustrated by the blow, and is too ill to see
anybody. No funeral arrangements have
as yet been made.
1t was not for several hours after Mr..
Kelly's death that the fact was generally
known throughout the city. In fact,
prominent leaders of Tammany hall were
not aware of it until they were informed by
reporters. AT $50 p. IN. Police Justice
German, treasurer Of Tammany hall, and
one OF Mr.. Kelly'S Oldest and closest per-
sonal and political friends, who lives only
two blocks from the late chieftain's
residence, did not know that Mr..
Kelly was dead. When the confirmed
news spread throughout the city, it was too
late for Tammany hall. or any of the dis
trict associations, except that Of the Fourth
ward, to meet and pass resolutions of re-
greet. During the early evening there were
Among those who did call were Grand Sa-
chem and Ex- Congressman P. Henry Du-
gro. Police Justices Duffy and German and
Commissioner Brennan will superintend
THE FUNERAL ARRANGEMENT.
for the family. The sexton of the Fifth
Avenue Roman Catholic cathedral took
charge Of the body. Mrs. Kelly and Mr..
Kelly's sisters had been in careful attend
ance upon the sick man for a long time aud
Mrs. Kelly was thoroughly Frustrated by
the final event. Late this evening Mr..
Brennan announced that the funeral would
take place on Saturday at the cathedral. A
solemn requiem mass will be celebrated
gan, who called at the house
during the evening, will probably
officiate. From Mrs. Kelly Commissioner
Brennan learned the incidents marking Mr..
Kelly's closing hours. He knew that he
was about to die. and was perfectly re-
signed. II have always tried to live as
good Catholic" he said, land l wish to
die good Catholic. wish for the services
of the church when / am dead, but I want
no demonstration, no display. l want my
funeral to be plain and simple" Undertaken
Hart will embalm the remains and they
will be buried in Calvary cemetery in the
plot where lie the remains of Mr.. Kelly's
first wife and the children of whom she
was the mother. Dr.. Edward Reyes, who
attended Mr.. Kelly throughout his illness,
said tonight that his patient had been in
failing health for two years. The nerve
forces were impaired and all the functions
were deranged in consequence. He made
strong efforts to regain his health, but they
were all futile. He finally acknowledged
that it was useless to hope for recovery
and for six or eight months past he had
confessed he was dying. At times he was
much depressed in spirits, but at no time
was his intelligence impaired. He retained
that throughout.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
John Kelly was born in New York city,
and was the son of poor, hardworking Irish
parents. The poverty of his surroundings
prevented the boy from receiving more than
a brief term at the public schools, which
formed the basis of his later greatness. He
drifted about the city and learned to ''put
up his hands" in the matter of boxing.
Afterward he learned the trade of crate
setter, and made good deal of money in
legitimate business. When Tweed was at
the elimination of his criminal career
Kelly was travelling in Europe, where he
spent year or two and learned French and
German with his wife as teacher: and he
came home in time to find an honest leader
wanted. He completed the rout of the ring
and wheeled Tammany hall into line with
the reform element. In 1876 he became
comptroller and reduced the city's debt for
the first time in its history. From 1860 to
1876 the debt of New York steadily in
creased till it had reached the enormous
sum of $112, 000,O 600. Kelly increased
revenues and reduced expenses, and during
his four years term he actually diminished
the debt of the city no less than $12, OOO,-
900. His lecture on the Catholic missions
has brought in 100000 to charities. He
was frank, aightforward, downright
speaker, and his earnestness always inter-
ested his audience. The first Office Kelly
held was that of alderman, and he was
elected as a ''reformer." Then he beat the
Mike Walsh for congress, serving
one term. Then he served two terms as
sheriff. He was worth at least 81, 200, 900
and received more applications for private
charity than any other New Yorker. The
in uptown real estate in New York. Mr..
Kelly was close and studous reader. One
of his oft-quoted sayings was uttered in a
speech to Tammany: Study the charac-
ter and methods of Thomas Jefferson, and
pay less attention to Pat Rooney"
IN APPEARANCE
John Kelly was not unlike Gen. Grant.
Like Grant he had square face, square
chin, square, broad head, square Shout
ders, and cropped close his hair and beard
like Grant. His manner Of speech. slow
and deliberate, also was Strikingly like that
of the dead general. Mr.. Kelly, as a
man, was very little known ex-
cept by his most intimate friends, and yet
the New York Star was the organ of Tam
many hall and one OF the greatest political
machinerieS ever known to history. If he
had not been born politician he would
have been a great editor. All the time he
could spare from his political duties
in guiding his party in New York
was devoted to his paper. Mr.. Kelly was
bitterly opposed to Cleveland on purely per-
sonal grounds, and the columns of the Star
reflected his opinions. Though the Tam
many organization was supporting Cleve-
land for the presidency, it was not until the
last week Of the campaign that the paper
had n ything save abuse of tn g Democratic
candidate. Kelly's friends frequently re-
with him for this and he al
ways replied that the paper belonged to
him and he would do as he pleased with it,
The evening that Cleveland was nominated
Sanderson was in state of mind bordering
on distraction. Kelly was in Chicago and
he did not know what to say about the
He knew that
THE PAPER OUGHT TO SAY soMETHrNG
and he waited in vain to hear from Kelly.
Finally in despair he telegraphed to him:
what shall we say in the morning?" The
answer was characteristic of the man.
"Say nothing" The leading editorial in
the morning was sober article on The
Concord School of Philosophy, that had
been lying around the office for months.
That was the policy pursued by the paper
for overa week, while the country waited
for Kelly to say something. He did say
something one morning, and the Democracy