The evening world., 1894-09-15

others. He was told he was vagrant
and had to sleep at night In the chaii
which he sat In during the day.
Il was hoping even them said Heely
chat some doctor would examine me
and have me sent to the hospital, but
during all the time ! was there ! never
got particle OF medical treatment, al
though j was In torture
Rescued by Missionary stephens
Kelly was in such ptlable condition
and looked so out Of place in the prison
with his Grand Army button and blue
Mr.. Stephens. the missionary. The latter
who attends the Tombs almost daily,
heard his story. and became Interested
and resolved N possible to get him out.
He began a search OF the records, but
could find nothing showing that the
man had actually been committed as a
vagrant.
Learning the name and number OF the
Post to which the man belonged. Mr..
Stephens visited Adjt. Thompson. The
latter was thunderstruck.
why" said the Adjutant TO the re-
reporter yesterday, "Comrade Kelly was
one Of the best. men In the Post. and is
a past officer of II. He is a steadygolng
man, and has an excellent record The
vagrant nearly took my breath away
when ] heard it."
Mr.. Stephens kept at work on the case
perslstently, but he did not seem able to
time, had written to his daughter on
Staten Island. and she came up to New
York to demand an explanation from the
man who had sent her father to prison
as Vagrant, when even II he had no
money, she had a comfortable home for
him. She saw Justice Burke, and was
amazed when the latter said:
Why, my dear woman. your father
Anyhow, he gave her an order for her
fathers discharge. That was Wednes-
day. last. and Kelly, who had then been
When thu reporter called at 3ii West
One Humble ed and Forty-hfth street yes
terday Kelly was at first not inclined
II know what these fellows are" he
said, land II they found out ! was talk
ing about my case they might try and
have me put out OF my position, and
day morning; You. can't tell what kind
OF a charge they might make against me.
But II is an outrage to say that ]
asked to be committed. I am ready to
swear that all I asked Justice Burke for
was a few lines to some hospital
Il have got d want Of the law. but
II does strike me that II was 4 funny
wa b to t cDntr MN WI r't bis NE
who are now running things were hiding
at home"
Justice Burke was not at the Harlem
Police Court yesterday. but Chief Clerk
John McCabe, who is also Secretary to
the Board OF Police Justices was. When
the story of Keely's trials was explained
to McCabe he looked incredulous and
said:
II cannot believe that Justice Burke
would hold any man unless he actually
asked to be committed, or had been ar
Then he went over the records and
found under date OF Sept 6, the follow
Ing entry:
Mans; 49, Address. Charge. pIsp'n.
tHL KA
That entry shows" continued Mr.
that he had no home Furthermore, he
must have been perfectly sober at the
time. That In not what we call commit
ment. In the latter case a man is sent
up to the Island for six months or so.
In Keely's case he was simply re-
ferred to the Commissioners OF Charities
and Correction: II lay with the latter
They could discharge him in day, or
2 week, or send him to the hospital.
Just as they saw At
=, AS to Kelly's statement that he asked
me Justice to send him to n hospital
don't clearly understand 1t. / was not
here at the lime. ] do know that If
the Justice really thinks man In a sub
J i9r hospital he always rings up an
Warden O'Brien. OF the Harlem Prison,
showed the reporter the plank bed which
keely complains Of. The bed" consists
side. about seven feet along, making
what mi ght be called a bench. The lat,
ter is placed on an incline. so that the
head. which rests against the wall,
foot" A long board also forms the
pillow. The room, which sometimes ac-
thirty or forty prisoners, is
windows.
What do they want?" said Mr..
o. Rrien as he showed the reporter out,
Feather beds and pillows? That is
much better than they can get outside.
Why those boards are swept down
every day"