Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-12-22
THROUGH THU HEART.
A Terrible Tragedy at Martins Ferry, Last
Evening.
"DICK" Colts BY ". KELLEY
Jealousy the Cause Of the Awful
Crime.
FULL DETAILS OF THE SAD ARRAY.

Richard Colts was shot through the left
breast, Just at the top of the heart, which
organ was penetrated, by Walter Kelley,
and the victim WAS dead in less than two
minutes after the report of the revolver had
died away.
The terrible ARRAY occurred just at the
corner of Fourth and Walnut streets,
about half-psst six o'clock, and it being
just at a time when the streets were
crowded with people, the widest excite
ment was created.
In very short time the news spread to
this side CT the river, and as both men
were well known in this city, where Colts
was born and raised, there was much en-
quiry as to the details and great sorrow
expressed for all concerned.
The story of what at present appears to
have been deliberate attempt at murder,
although the defendant claims that his fin
ger was not upon the trigger of the revOl.
yer, and that he Cannot account for its dis
charge, is particularly pathetic one, in
several of its phases, and will awaken the
sympathies ofall.
About a quarter after six o'clock last
evening, Mrs. Kelley and her little dsugh-
ter, aged about twelve years, left their
home, and walking along Fourth street,
met Mr.. Colts, few yards south of We'll
nut street, and near the Presbyterian
Church building They stopped, and be-
gan to talk, and while thus engaged
Kelley walked up, and applying an un-
mentionsble epithet to Kelley, drew re-
vOlver Colts ran a few steps, and was
pursued by Kelley, who struck at him,
and almost Immediately the pistol was
discharged. Colts fell, and pedestrians,
who were Immediately attracted to the
spot. picked him up and carried him TO his
home, only few doors away, on Fourth
street. He died before the house was
reached.
Kelley was very much excited, and run
to the corner of Second and Hanover
streets, where he met Officer WestwoOd,
whom he requested to lock him up, he ex-
planning at the same time to the officer
that he had shot Dick Colts.
Officer Westwood complied with Kel-
ley's request and few minutes later a
REGISTER reporter visited him in the
lookup.
In reply to questions Kelley said he had
suspected his wife and Colts of being IN
duly intimate for several years, and that
Cots had been "a TOO frequent caller at bis
house during his absence. He said:
KELLY's STATEMENT.
81 followed my wife along Fourth street
till lost her in the darkness at Walnut
street. did not care 10 come upon her,
so I asked Charley Woods who was pass
ing to cough II he saw a man and woman
on the Opposite side of Walnut street
Woods coughed and l supposed the couple,
which I could see family, was my wife and
Colts. LoriDg HOBBS came along and l
asked him who the couple were, and he
replied that the man was Dick Colts and
that he did not know the woman and little
girl"
At this point in the narrative Kelly be-
came much excited, and could not tell IN
detail Just what had happened. He said,
however, that he went across Walnut
street 10 where they were standing and
asked for an ex 2lanatioD, whereupon
Colts drew back to strike, and he struck
AZ Colts with the revolver. He said he
did not have his finger on the trigger aud
that Colts must have struck the hammer
with his hand and knocked it back far
enough to cause the discharge. Kelly said
further that he and his wife had not lived
happily together for some time pact, and
intlmated that the trouble was caused by
him being jealous.
MRS KELLY's STORY.
Mrs. Kelly was seen later. She
vas heart broken over the occur
renee, and was sobbing bitterly when
the reporter entered. Beside her we're her
two little girls, pretty children, about
twelve and eight years old, respectively.
When the reporter stated his business, she
expressed her Willingness 10 tell the true
story of the occurrence. She said:
81 used to live In the same house with
Mr.. Colts and his family and we have
always been good friends. My little girl
and l were going down Fourth street to
store and met Mr.. Colts, by the merest
accident.
TALKING OF SANTA CLAUS.
He was always fond of the little girl,
and he stopped, and putting his hand
on her head, asked her II there
had been any Christmas at our
house yet. The little girl replied in the
negative, and Mr.. Colts asked if Kris
Kinkle had made mis- appearance yet.
The child said, then, that Kris Kinkle Is
all fOOlisbnese, and that papa and mother
are Kris Kinkle. The conversation then
| turned, and Mr.. Colts told me his wife
had been sick and asked me to stop In as
passed. I replied / was in hurry and
would come up some night next week.
At this iuneture Walter appeared, and
with an oath SAID to Colts: 4 have
caught you at last; what do you mean
standing her talking to her. pointing to
me. Colts made some reply, l can't tell
what. because it all happened so sudden
lv and l was SO excited. Walter then
pushed Colts and the little girl away and
fred the shot Mr.. Colts raised bis hand,
but Walter knocked him down. l came
back home, and Just heard a few minutes
ago that Mr. Colts YVES dead.
DOMESTIC TROUBLES.
Mrs. Kelley said further that she and
Kelley ran off from home and were mar
ried in opposition to her parents wishes;
that they had not lived happily because he
could not get along with her family and
would frequently leave her and stray
around several weeks at time. She said:
HE is intensely Jealous, and gets into 8
passion whenever I speak to d man with
whom am acquainted on the street. He
has spoken OF Mr.. Colts before, but l
thought it so foolish thst paid no atteu-
ton toit."
Kelley has been boarding with his
mother for some time, and only came back
home a short time ago, when his child
was sick with typhoid fever.
A TOUCHING SCENE.