The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-29
THE MISFORTUNE
OF 4 TALL MAN.
THOMAS KELLY UNDER INVESTI-
CATION AS TO THE STAGE
MURDER.
FOUND IN AN OPIUM RESORT.
He MEASURES SIX FEET EIGHT
INCHES IN HIS STOCKING
FEET.

Thomas Kelly, whose real name is Will
hams, has the misfortune to be a tall man,
a very tall man. He acknowledges him
self that he is six feet eight inches in his
stocking feet. He is not only very tall, but
thin, which is accumulated by his tallness.
Ever since the Stage murder men who
combine tallness and thinness have been
looked upon with suspicion, and Kelly,
alias Williams, came at once under the ban
of the police.
On Saturday night Sergeant John Mar
tin and posse raided a lodging house on the
corner of Dupont and Pine streets. They
arrested six men and took them to the City
Prison, where each was booked on the
charges of vagrancy and visiting an opium
place. They gave the names of John An
derson, John Bunnell, Charles Ellis, George
Wilson, Thomas Kelly and Edward Will
liams. They were released on $500 bonds
on the vagrancy charge and 500 bonds on
the other charge.
The cases came up in Judge Campbell
court yesterday and the Judge increased
dered them into custody. The Judge was
asked why he had taken such action and
he said it was at the request of the police.
Captain Lees was seen, and in reply to
questions said that Kelly, whom he always
knew as Williams had been under investi-
cation in connection with the Stage MUIR
der, but he did not believe he had anything
to do with it. He was so tall that his iden-
LITIGATION would be easy. With linen
buster on he would look like sycamore
tree. To set all doubt at rest he had sent
word to Lee, the colored man, and the
others who were in Stages bar when the
murder took place, to come to the prison
and have look at the giant and his COM
panion, George Wilson, who is about the
height of the smaller man.
Detective Bohen had talk with Kelly,
alias Williams, and Wilson. They ad-
mitted they were together on the night of
Stages murder. Kelly said they went to
bed at II O'Clock, but Wilson thought it
was two hours earlier.
The giant was born in this city, but has
spent most of his years since he grew to
manhood In different parts of the CONT
nent. He says he is drummer" by oc-
cupation.
Kelly said last night that the idea of
suspecting him of the Stage murder was
too absurd to be seriously thought of.
The only thing that hurts me-" he said,
as he gradually lowered himself till his
face was on level with his auestioner, sis
that l am suspected of being an opium
fiend. / have never used opium and de-
spise any one who does. On Saturday
night I went to the house on the corner of
Pine and Dupont streets to see a friend,
and happened to be in the room with the
| others when the police made the raid.
II am not vagrant, either, and the po-
lice know it. They have seen me every
day for some time going to and from bust
ness houses, and if they thought l was a
vagrant why didn't they arrest me before
[ decline to give my real name or where ]
have been staying at present for reasons
| which are purely personal. But if they
should charge me with this Stage affair
then l will make a statement.