St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-27
OWNS THE W0RK'US.
Something About. a Local
Character Who Is a Real
Character.
"Workhouse" Kelly, Who Has
Hobnobbed With Emper-
oPS and Princes.
Rev. G. L. Morrill, Defends the
Law Which InflictS Capt.
tai Punishment.
Rev. VIM. wilkinson Says the
Church Has Partly Failed
Stunning Again.

Workhouse Kelly was arrested again
yesterday and locked up in cell Is, at
central station. PatrOlman Malchow
performed the act of arreSting Kelly,
and thereby he won his everlasting
friendship. Kelly was on his uppers
when arrested, and had gone the entire
rounds of free lunch counters. lie had
dined at the Last Chance" and, had
he remained at liberty one day longer
he would probably have been forced to
go to work. Kelly has horror OF work.
and he has often remarked that hewould
sooner die than soil his bands with
plebian labor. Than Kelly there is no
better known character i'll police circles.
He carries the palm; in fact, the laurel
encircleS his brow; and until death
claims him, no one will wreSt his honorS
away.
Kelly is all lrishman, as his name in
dieateS. He is nearly sixty years old,
and has lived here about twenty Of
them. He has not done a stroke OF hon
est labor for ''yeahS and yeahs," but all
the time has lived fairly we'll and
walked about with full stomach. He
was the first prisoner TO occupy cell III
the Minneapolis wOrkhouse, and has
been guest al the institution for from
ninety days to six months out OF every
year since. 1t was the frequency OF his
presence at the workhOuSe that gave
him the sObriquet OF 'NorkhouSe
Kelly" 1t was tackled on him by po-
lice officer, and will last until the grave
claims him for its own.
When Kelly is away from the work
house he is miserable. He feels lost
and lonely, and he always manages TO
get back again as quickly as possible.
He considers it felicity to be arrested,
and when the disgrace of his position Is
mentioned to him he laughs uproar-
iously, as if pleased at magnificent
Joke. He's a "rara avis in terrlS, this
same Kelly.
He was in the best of spirits yester
dav. and stood up in his cell with his
hands clutching the iron bars of the cell
door. singing like a trOubadOur and tell.
ing stories in the felicitouS manner of
an old-time monk. He entertained the
other prisoners. save one, and caused
the officers at the station to hold their
sides with laughter. The one prisoner
who did not find Kelly's happy mood
diyerting was big bully, arrested for
disorderly conduct. When Kelly sang,
he cursed. No attention was paid to
MN. however. anu llC EOk hOhiAAe
cnrSas in return for his pains. The
prisoners wanted to listen to Kelly, for
his singing and his stories made them
forget for the moment their unhappy
condition.
Kelly at one time-sOmewhere III the
fifties-Was a sailor, a member OF the
limited States navy. He is, in conse-
0uence, as full of yarns as the poop
deck of a vessel sailing on the Medlter-
ranean is of the pestiferous mosquitoes.
"Fye seen and talked to all the big
fellows of the world" said he TO Jailer
McKenna, yesterday afternoon. as the
latter handed a cup of water to him
through the grating. Il don't bat any
"What did Emperor William say to
you when you approached him, Kelly?'
asked McKenna.
lie didn't say a word until ap-
preached him." answered Kelly. linen
he told me to Keep quiet because the
president of France was listening 10
our conversation. didn't care On
for the president of France, so said TO
Militant; He can't bluff me. Let him
listen. It's horse apiece, for I'm the
king of China When L saw the Prince
of Wales | asked him for chew OF to-
baccO. and kicked because 1t wasn't the
brand | was used to chewing. lie tried
to get back at me by saying no man OF
nv nationality and name could talk
back to a peer of the realm. l SAID 10
him: Come off de perch. You want
do see?'
"The last time l was sent up" con-
tinued Kelly, giving a few bars OF a
breakdown with his broken shoes, Il
had to laugh. Just think Of being ar
rested and sent up to my own mouse.
went to the Judge and told him ne
would do me a favor if he could make
the time ninety days. but he only gave
me thirty. | didn't feel justright when
1 got out again, and, as the weather was
getting cold, just walked up INTO the
office of Judge MahOney. L saw MIN
sitting in chair i'll his room reaQlIlg
great big book. Said l to him: Judge,
old boy, Pm broke; Will you lenu lei
low dolIar?" lie didn't produce right
away, so | took another tack ana asked
him to give me ticket of admlttance to
nv own house-the WOrkhOuse, you
knoW-thats mine. He slapped me on
the shoulder and said: How much time
do YOU want? aud l just gave MN the
tip for ninety days. lie couldn't see IL,
though. and gave me only thirty again.
Pm getting sick Of moving III ana out,
and must have talk with these legal
fellows"
Kelly kept up this chatter all day
long. When finally everybody grew
tired of his song he sang to himself, ana
when he fell asleep bis snore was inter
mingled with a musical whistle. Even
in his sleep he WAS bound to snow MS
neighbors that he was thoroughly
happy. and that his condition was III
&tnrmnnN with his sentiments.