The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-02-21
AN INTERESTING DAY
In the kelley-Cotts Murder
Trial at St. ClairsyilIe.
MURDERER ON THE STAND
Also Ills Wife and DauEhtcr-C0tts'
Relations with Mrs. Kellcy-Ilcl.
Icy Loses His Tcmpcr-Argu.
ments to be Heard To-day.

Yesterday was the second day OF the
kellcy.Cotts murder trial ut St. Cairs.
vile, and the proceedings were full OF
interest. The principal witnesses OF the
day were Kelley, his wife and his
daughter, Ella. Kelley ws OH the
stand over two hours and his wife
nearly that long. Kelley, during his
cross.examination, lost bis temper and
became quite angry four or five times,
during which times he spoke very free.
ly, too much 30 for his own good, it is
thought.
What the verdict will be no one knows
oil course. Tho majority OF those who
know the circumstances OF the shooting
aud who have attended the trial thus
lar, think that Kelley will be convicted
OF murder in the second degree; the
ouense Of which he stands indicted.
Others think he will get Off for man.
slaughter and occasionally a man is
found who says he will be acquitted on
the ground that he shot Cots in self de.
Tense.
Hon. Lorenzo Danford, attorney for
Kelley, said yesterday when some OBJ.
lection was made to Mrs. Kelley giving
certain testimony,that they expected to
show that there had been improper rela.
tons between Cots and Mrs. Kelley,
and that man had a right to 20 across
the street and see his wife If he knew
she was with paramour. The State
calls the case murder and the defense
homicide.
The morning session opened at 81
O'Clock and the swearing in OF the wit.
nesses Tor the defense was first in order.
The first witness was DR.. y. 0. Walker,
OF st. Ctairsyille, who testified az to the
action Of the heart. A number OF wit.
nesses were examined as 10 the reputa.
tlon and character Of Kelley as a peace.
iul man. Mrs. Kelley was the next wit
ness called and the iact caused consider
able surprise.
She said: We have been married
eleven years; at one time we lived in
one-half OF Cots house on the corner
OF Second and Hickory streets. 1t was
in Cots house | became acquainted with
him. He visited our house in Clark's
addition, but never came inside. One
Saturday evening when he saw Mr.. kel-
ley coming, he ran though the hall in
our present house On Carlyle street.
In telling of the shooting, the witness
said that she had been talking to Cots
for about fifteen minutes. She wore an
evening dress and had q shawl over her
head. Cots had his hand on her shoul-
der when her husband stepped up and
said Nov I've caught you, YOU - II
-" Cotts caught Kelley by the throat
and lively scutlle took place, during
which several blows were struck. Wit.
ness saw Colts take something from his
pocket, which she thought was knife,
and called to her husband to look out ior
him. Then shot was fired and she
ran away. Cots had written three let
ters to her which she burned. She told
Cots to remain away from the house rs
she did not want anything to do with
him. Colts told her it was none OF her
husbands business if he did talk to her
and made threats about Kelley, saying
once that he would kill him.
Continuing witness said: zone Satur-
day night Cots called at the front door,
asked me to put the children to bed and
50 down to the Cottage House where he
would get room for US. Our meeting
on Fourth was accidental"
Cross-examlned, Mrs. Kelley said.
"Cotts told us he wouldn't charge us any
rent when Kelley was not working.
When Cots asked me to 70 to the Cof.
tage House ! told him l was not that
kind Of q woman"
In the afternoon, Ella, the daughter,
was put on the stand. She was with
her mother when the shooting occurred
and corroborated her mothers testimony
so far as she knew about it. Saw and
heard Cots rap on the front window:
found q letter in the coal house from
Colts and gave it to her mother,
Kelley in his testimony said: Am sol
years old. While living in Mr.. Colts
house ! saw him rap on the windows
time after time. Have seen him at
every house l have lived in and run into
him in my back yard, and he ran away.
When he ran out l said: Oh, know
you, Mr.. Cots, and you had better leave
ny property alone, to which he replied:
"You 80 to hell"
He told about letter he had inter-
cepted from Colts to his wife. He cor.
roborated his wifes account OF the shoot
ng;he said he did not know the revolver
was loaded until it went OF. Did not
intend to hurt Cots, but have an un-
derstanding with him and my wife.
Herbert Brooks testified to having
seen Colts throw gravel on the roof OF
kelley's house and tap on the windows.
At last evenings session the e1amina-
ton Of the witnesses was concluded and
an adjournment had till this morning