St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-09

Michael Kelly, the Slayer of Bar
ney Lamb, Pardoned by Gov. Nc
Gill.
Saturday evening, at o'clock, the
rusty iron doors of the Saltwater peni-
tertiary, that had changed behind him
fourteen years ago, were thrown open,
and Michael Kelly walked forth free
man. The crime for which Kelly re-
eeived a life sentence was pefpetrated
Aug. 8, 1874. The tragedy, which re-
suited in. the death of man named
Barney Lamb, occurred in this city near
the intersection of Rice and Viola
streets. The ARRAY had it's origin
ina family quarrel. The families of
both parties lived within short dis
lance of each other. 1t appears that
Lamb had learned from his wife that
Mrs. Kelly had accused of her keeping
adisreptuable house, for which insult
Kelly took his wife over to Lambs to
settle. Words passed between the two
women, and Mrs. Lamb made some
tanning remark concerning Mr.. Kelly's
Mrs. Kelly retorted that it was better
than to get drunk, as she (Mrs. Lamb
did. This enraged Lamb, and he forth
with put Mrs. Kelly out of the house.
Lamb had been in the habit of taking
water from Kelly's well, but after the
rumpuS was forbidden so to dO,sswith
dire threats if he did. This was
on Sunday evening. Monday night
Lamb took small tin pail, to which
was attached cord. over to Kelly's to
draw water, when Kelly came out.
Words ensued and Kelly was struck
over the head with the tin pail in the
hands of Lamb. Kelly thereupon went
into the house and secured short
sword, and during hand-tO-hand con-
flict thrust it five times
INTO THE BODY OF LAMB,
once near the heart and about the alb
the head Lamb fell where he was
wounded and was taken to his home,
where he died soon after. At the adj
vice of his friends Kelly gave himself
into the custody of the sheriff immedi
ately after the tragedy. Lamb left a
wife and five children. Kelly has a
wife and four children.
The prisoner was tried at the next
term of court, the jury disagreelng and
at one time standing eleven for man
slaughter and one for murder in the first
degree. On the second trial Kelly was
found guilty of murder in the first de-
gree and sentenced to Imprisonment for
life.
Some months ago Kelly created quite
sensation by writing letter to lgna-
titus D0nnelly, in which he stated that
the murder was committed by his wife,
and that he had stood the odium of dis
grace to shield her. This prejudieed a
great many people against the pardon
Of Kelly who, up to this time, had fa
vored it. However, there were many
who believed that what Kelly said
was true, and the actions of
his wife towards him, in strongly OPP
posing his pardon. gave strength to this
belief. A few months ago Mrs. Kelly
was prevailed upon to Withdraw her OBJ
jeetions to her husbands release, and
this, with the strong influence brought
to bear ON Gov. McGill by some of
Kelly's friends here in the city, together
with his good record during his confine
ment in prison, brought about his par
don.
Kelly was about the city yesterday
shaking hands with his old friends. He
intends turning over new leaf and liv
ing a sober and upright life in the
future. He is a cooper by trade, and
will go to work as soon as he can secure
employment.