The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-11
The Two Men Had Quarreled
At an Early Hour in the
Evening.
KELLYs RAZOR WAS USED.
When Arrested he Was in Bed, but
His Hands Were Blood.
Stained.

Joseph E. Quinn, private in Battsry E,
Fifth Artillery, was murdered last night
at Fort Mason by a companion.
James Kelly, member of the same COM
pany, is under arrest. No cause is known
other than that Quinn and Kelly had quar-
rel early in the evening, which, however,
was supposed by their friends to have
been of no more than passing moment,
and it was thought that the men had re-
sumed their former friendly footing.
The killing was of rather remarkable
character, Quinn's head being almost
severed from his shoulders by razor cut,
So far as known there was no witness to
the affair, although a. private named
Kampsmith, being arrested, laid the crime
at once to Kelly.
The crime was committed at about IL 10,
when the men were responding to the
'call to quarters"
At that time Kelly and Quinn were re-
turning from walk outside the immedi-
ate grounds of the fort. They both slept
in the same barracks but in different
rooms.
Something of struggle was seen in
front of the barracks and the circumstance
was reported to the sergeant Of the guard
by Private Mills.
When that officer got to the place he
found Quinn prone upon the ground and
in his death struggle, his throat cut and
blood pouring from the wound in stream
Post Surgeon G. w. Wells called and
the body-for life was extinct-was carried
into the hospital and laid upon the floor
Captain Vogdes was notified, and he
made rapid tour of the grounds and bar
racks.
He encountered Private Kampsmith in
the grounds and asked him what he was
doing there at that time.
Kampsmith replied that he was there
ION pass"
This being contrary to regulations the
captain ordered Kampsmith under arrest.
In the guardhouse Kampsmith, without
any question being asked. volunteered
the statement that kelly did it."
Leaving him there" said the captain,
last night, "I went to the battery office
and confined Private Mills, who had been
reported to me as having had row with
Quinn early in the evening.
'sThe doctor and / then went hack TO the
quarters and woke Private Kelly up. The
doctor examined his hands and found
them stained with blood.
~ then confined Private Kelly and went
to the place of the murder. and found a
hat belonging to Quinn and cap belong
ing to Kelly lying on the ground.
kelly was reported to have had razor
in hi pocket early in the evening, which
could not now be found.
1.-THE doctor and then searched and
found razor, which two witnesses testify
as being kelly's, on the ground about
forty feet from the place of the killing.
Private Quinn was never able to speak
after being found"
The parties who identity the razor as
being Kelly's are Sergeant Smith and
Corporal Collins, the latter having made
Kelly present of it.
Captain Wedges says there is no doubt
in his mind that on their way to their
quarters Kelly slipped up behind Quinn
and drew the blade across his throat.
Quinn, the murdered man, bore an ex-
cellent reputation. He was good, steady
soldier, something of an athlete, and was,
therefore, in frequent small but semi-good-
natured ouarrels.
He was born in Chicago, where he has
relatives. Kelly is somewhat older. He
refuses to talk about the matter.
Being asked how his hands became
bloody, he said he did not know.
Kelly was taken to the City Prison this
morning by Officers Conley and Herring
ton.
The Coroner brought the body to the
Morgue and an inquest will be held this
morning.
When brought to the City Prison Kelly
refused to discuss the murder and
denied any knowledge of it. He said that
ne had been drinking at "The Canteen"
during the evening and got full.
He went to his quarters and retired. The
first he knew of any trouble having &C.
Cured. he declared, was when he was
awakened and told that he had killed a
man.
Kelly is % years of age and a native
of Ireland. He has been in the service
two and half years.