New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-30
SUICIDE AFTER MURDER.
AN OLD CLERKS DOUBLE CRIME.
NE KILLS HIS CoMRADE IN A BROADWAY STORE
b AND THEN ENDS HIS OWN LIFE

AND THEN ENDS HIS OWN LIFE.
su.micidal mania seems TO be the only eNpla-
.tion of the murder yesterday OF Miles Kelly by
C,lliom W. Reynolds. The murdered man and
a. murderer were over fifty years old, and were
~armlv attached to one another and so far as
l,ovn had mover Quarrcled. But early in the
.renius Reynolds crept up behind Kelly and sent
:. bullet into his brain. As Kelly fell TO the foor
Aead the murderer sent second bullet into his
avn head, dying later at Chambersst Hospital
For many years the two men had done good
.eryice in tho house of Hartley u Graham dealers
q, sporting goods, at No. 3l5 Broadway.
n.ynolds who had been employed by the firm for
,h;rty years, had charge of the export depart
maut Kelly. two years his junior, was head
bsskkeeper, and had control Of the clerks In the
counting house. BY all the clerks employed oy
ths firm Reynolds had always been looked upon
a quiet man Of good business ability About
three months ago, however, he became greatly
troubled He grow fretful and irritable Mis-
,akrs. too, were found in his books William ).
Ruff, general manager Of the house, know all this
and thousht he knew the cause of the trouble
Revuoldss mother was lying ut the point OF
death. nursed by his wife in their home at No.
,s5 Hewesst., Brooklyn. Bruf tried to cheer
him. and begged him TO take a rest, but Reynolds
remained at work. When Kelly was ill at his
rooms. No. s57 Amsterdam-ave., few weeks ago,
however, Reynolds found time, even in his own
trouble, to so to his bedside.
When the days work began yesterday every
one in the store became aware Of remarkable
change which had come over Reynolds The sullen
bumor of the last few months had vanished. he
seemed cheerful and himself again. His manner
had never been brighter. Mr.. Bruf, when getting
rrady for the close Of thc working day, Just
after O'clock spoke to him about some ousl-
ness In the export department. "Oh, attended
to that hours ago." said Reynolds, with laugh
The store is always closed for the night at
$3.50. II was :25 as Mr.. Kelly, buttoning MS
oyercoat, stepped out Of the rear office and walked
down coward the front door. Mr.. Bruff at this
moment was in his room John L. Allager, a
clerk, stood outside the counting house Drushlhs
his coat Wade, the porter, came into the door-
way from the street as Reynolds, who had oecn
leaning over a showcase with his head resting on
his hand, rose up, walked out on 20 the mann
floor and quietly stepped up behind Kelly. kelly
less than eight feet from the door, stopped
moment. and in the same instant felt revolver
muzzle pressed against the lobe Of his ear
second later shot rang through the room and
Kelly fell over dead. Reynolds, with the smoking
revolver in his hand, turned, walked few PAGES
10 the rear and raised the pisto 70 MS neal lnere
was a second shot and lie too dropped TO the
ground.
AS his body touched the floor the spell of horrsr
which had held the spectators bound and helpless
was broken MI Bruf and Allager ran TO Kelly,
and tried to lift him. Wade called policeman and
then hurried to the Leonarl-st. station. Within
FIVE "f t6s was at tile store
Reynolds's sister Mary. riding uptown on. a
Broadway car, saw an ambulance, in front Of the
store and fearing that an accident had hap
pened, alighted. and stepped into the doorway
just ~ tho wounded man OH the litter was lifted
up As her eyes fell on the face she screamed,
to the rear Office Mrs Kelly and her son William,
boy Of sixteen, reached the store in
response TO telegram. Mrs. Kelly was met at
the entrance by Captain Cross who, leading her
away, gently and delicately told her the story
How Reynolds obtained possession Of the re-
volver-loaded in four chambers-is not known
In all probability, however, he had watched his
chance, and drawn it from the showcase as
Kelly walked out to his death.