The Irish standard., 1890-02-08
TO MURDER A GOOD PRIEST.
That Was the Purpose Of an Unknown
Rufian in Oneida, Madison
County, N. Y.
FATHER KELLY THE VICTIM,

The Would-be Murderer Puts Arsenic ID
the Sacramentl Wine, But is
Not Successful.
Brief mention has been made in these
columns of two deadly assaults COM
mitted or attempted upon Rev. Jas. A.
Kelley, pastor of st. Patrick's Church
in Oneida, N. Y. Oneida is quiet
town in the northern portion OF Madl.
son county. It is the home OF the
famous Oneida community. 1t has a
population of thrifty, prosperous pee
ple and has never figured in the county
courts as place afflicted with ruffians,
footpads or assassins. But it has within
a few months been aroused from its
dream of fancied security and freedom
from crime by the actions OF an un-
known fend who seems bent upon TAX
ing the precious life OF Father Kelley,
by some means or other. 1t is difficult
to fud motive for this heinous and
brutal purpose. The good priest who
has been selected as the victim is very
popular with all classes OF the COM
munity. He is a Young man with a
brilliant record az pastor and preach
er; charitable. kind and lndulgent to
his flock and ON excellent terms with
those in the community who hold diff
3erent religious beliefs from his. He
was born in Waterloo, N. Y, in 1850.
He received his early education in The
public and select schools of Syracuse,
spent year in the College of Our Lady
of Angels at, Niagara Falls, and was
graduated from st. Johns College at
Fordham. Upon being elevated to the
priesthood at st. Joseph's Theological
Seminary, Troy, N. Y, in 1874, he was
sent to labor in the Adirondack region
of northern New York. He worked
there for nearly eight years, chiefly at
tending to the erection of churches.
i've of which he brought to completion.
Then he was transferred to the PASTOR
ate of St. Mary's Church at Baldwins-
vile. He remained there for four
years and half, remodelled and en-
largei the church edlfice, and was
prominent in numerous works for the
welfare and advancement Of his cou-
gregation. Four years ago he was
assigned to duty in Oneida. He made
a most favorable impression upon the
people of all classes in the community.
He soon began to build church to
take the place of the one he found in
use ON his arrival, and which was Who'll
ly inadequate to the wants OF the
parish. Protestants as we'll as Catho.
liCs contributed to the building fund,
and the new structure was finished and
is now occupied as a place OF worship.
It is credit to the congregation and
valuable and graceful addition to the
architectural beauties of the town.
The first attempt TO murder the Young
and popular pastor was made Oct. s,
1889. The congregation worshipped at
that time in building known as the
rink. 1t had been leased bv the com
m1ttee and had been fitted up with es
p3Cial reference to its use as a tempo
rary church. An impr0yised sacrlsty
had been set off where the sacred yes
sells and vestments were kept. On
Sunday Oct. 6, the pastor announced
that he would celebrate special high
mass for the Rosary Society connected
with the church on the following
Tuesday. At 6 O'Clock Tuesday morn
ing young woman, who volunteers 10
keep the sanctuary and sacristy clean
and tidy, went into the rink and swept
and busted as was her custom. She
also filled the cruets with Wlhe and
water aad set them out for the altar
foys. The sacrlf1cial wine was kept Ill
8 large bottle in the sacristy. Ihls
young woman, Mary Stisser. declares
that she saw no evidences Of any per-
sons having tampered with the doors OF
windows, and vet somebody must nave
been there between Sunday night and
Tuesday morning with the fiendish pur-
pose of n
NUMBERING THE PASTOR,
as will appear. Trained detectives
have gone to work upon the mystery.
and the statements here arranged were
in the course u the prelimIlinLl- q
ary inquiry. On Tuesday morning
Father Kelley arrived at the rink g lit I