The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-12-05
Ex-Cor0nor K.lIv Trie, to Explain.

Ex-Coroner Kelly Tries to Explain.
In response to communication from
the committee on Coroners' bills, John
K ely, who for brief time held the
Office of Coroner, appeared, on Tuesday, al
the offices of Charles K. Chambers, sole
itor of the Board of Freeholders.
Messrs. Lambert and Williams were the
only members of the committee present,
but the Mount Holly newspapers were all
represented. the reporters having been
invited to come in.
Kelly was the first to open the sub
ject. He said that there might be some
mistakes in the bills He had been
guided in his actions by advice from one
of his predecessors. He had taken ad-
vice and had come to the conclusion that
he had better withdraw the bills and put
in others, corrected, and in legal shape.
Whatever he had done, had been in
good faith and not for the purpose of Sc
curing fees illegally. If it was agreeable
to the committee he would withdraw the
bills and would then explain.any Ques-
tons proposed by the committee.
Mr.. Williams thought that the.explana-
tons should be made before the bills
were withdrawn. Mr.. Lambert conceded
with this view, and the investigation
proceeded.
The Stillwell case was the first taken
up. Kelly said that somebody told him
OF Stillwell's death, and he at once went
to the home of deceased, where he saw
Mrs. Stillwell, whom he aided in prepar-
ing the body for the undertaken. He
asked Mrs. Stlllwell what she thought of
the case, and whether she wanted an in
quest. She said she did not know, and
remarked that she had noticed that Mr.
Stllwell seemed melancholy at times.
Kelly then went back to Bordentown
and traced Stillwells movements. He
admitted that the latter appeared to be
in good health and spirits when he left
Flynn's store, and that he was attacked
with paralysis or something of that kind
not more than square from that place.
Mr.. Stillwell had been to DR.. Tebo's
house, and that physician was with him
when be died, but Kelly did not call up
on DR.. Tebo to get any information.
While he had charged. flor number Of
witnesses, also for issuing subpenas. and
qualifying witnesses, he said in fact that
he had not issued a subpoena, nor sworn a
witness, and he could not even remem-
Der the names of the latter.
Another case was that of Emma Ga
briel, who died near Georgetown. THE
people of the neighborhood," Kelly
said, thought there were suspicious of
poisoning in this case, and there was SO
much talk that I thought the case de-
manded Investigation On this Thought"
notwithstanding the fact that the girl had
been buried some time, Kelly went on
his tour of investigation, and presented a
bill to the county.
The sudden death of Peter Mumm was
investigated in the same manner. Mr..
Williams, of the committee, said that he
had taken the trouble to ascertain some
of the facts in this case, and he had come
to the conclusion that Kelley was not
justified in any of his actions, and it was
doubtful if he had legally conducted any
investigation.
In the case of Mrs. William J. Bruce,
the ex-Coroner's methods were made
more plain. He heard of this death in
some manner, but was not sure how /;
perhaps he saw it in newspaper"
Then he went to Burlington and saw DR..
Pugh, who had been attending Mrs
Bruce, and who was with her when she
died. The doctor told Kelly that there
was no need whatever of any inyestiga-
ton, but in spite of this, Kelly went in
to bar rooms and barber shops talked to
this one and that one about the circum-
stances, then charged for qualifying wit
nesses, issuing subpenas, etc, and swore
to his account.
This ended the investigation, and the
comrnittee decided not to return the bills
to Kelly, but to hold them until the
meeting of the Board IN February.