The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-17
HE WAS In ANACONDA
J. r. Kelly Spent His Last Day on
Earth Here.
IN THE SLOUGH OF DESPOND
Friends Are Sorrow Stricken by
His Untimely End = Converse
lions With significant Mean
ings-His Pledge.

The news which flashed over the
wires from Butte yesterday morning
telling Of the suicide OF j. +. helly'
was a shock of sadness ana surprise 10
his friends in Anaconda. HIS circle VI
friends and acquaintances includes al
most every business man in this CITY
All had known him with respect ahu
honor as a gentleman and man Oh
business. 1t was in Anaconda that ny
snent his last night on earth. He had
been in town since Tuesday and IN
way unusual for him had been drink
ing and gambling.
At first. so IL is said, he won 500 and
then lost that and several hundred
more. Wednesday night he seemed 10
have awakened to a realization OF what
he had done. and was stricken with re-
morse and shame. He SO expresses
himself to a group of friends In Nose
by & Lowery's place on Main street
which he was making his headquar-
ters. He told several of them that ne
had been making a fool OF himsell.
Then he seemed respondent about his
business affairs and talked to them
about his insurance policies, saying ne
had more than $4,000 worth, and that
there was but one way to beat the
game" he said significantly. He acted
strangely, too, and on three occasions
went into the rear room of the saloon
and turned out the light, sitting alone
in the dark. Mr.. Moseby followed him
in and always found him awake, but
evidently thinking deeply.
He drank no liquor after supper, but
when others drank took creme de
ninth.
Joe Hutton. of the Fulton market, In
passinR by met Kelly standing in the
oxford door. and was invited TO nave
a drink"
No" says Joe, II don't drink, but
I'll have a cigar with you"
You don't drink" exclaimed Kelly
mo, not for several years"
what a grand thing that is to be
free from drink; l am going to quit
myself"
i've got an order for you; why didn't
you come and see me?" asked Mr.. Hut
ton.
well, I'll tell you. l am not fit to
ask a man for business, and l haven I
the face to go into a store" he SAID In
a sorrowful. penitent way.
"Since you feel so then, I'll give you
my orders right here" answered Joe,
and he did so. while Kelly made notes
and then. as they parted. he said;
Joe, I'm glad you don't drink; don't
forget: mind what tell you. and don't
you ever touch It,"
He had given out his intention Of
going to Butte on the b., A. 4 II. on
the . O'Clock train, but in chatting and
talking did not notice time as II
passed, and the train went without
him.
After the train had gone he seemed
more anxious than ever TO get TO Butte
and made inquiry at l.. A. Kings about
the trains. No one was able to tell
him there owing to the change of time
card, and IL annoyed him. Then when
joked about his appearance seemed
sensitive and his friends ceased.
About 10 o'clock A. c. McKinnon and
a party met Kelly on Main street. He
called Mr.. McKinnon and persisted In
a request for $50 as a loan, saying he
had to be In Butte Thursday morning
and wanted the money to pay for a
special train. At first he was not be-
lieved, but his evident sincerity Sc
cured the money and then he prevailed
upon McKinnon to accompany him &c
the depot.
AS warm friends often do. they
linked arms as they walked along. KEEL
ly's mood was changeable. At times
ne laughed gayly and chaffed about
his special" how proud he was &c
be escorted thus TO his train, like a
railroad magnate." Then his spirit
changed, and as they sat together In
the car ne talked OF his drinking, and
of his business.
why don't you quit drinking. You
are a shrewd business man, and car
make money" counseled his friend.
II have quit. Mac; I'll never take
another drink on earth" said he sol
EMMY.
No heed was paid to the word which
now have another import as at that tim,
IL was thought he was only swearing
Off He promised to send a check fol
the $50 the next morning, but Mr. Nc
Kinnon told him TO credit IL on accoun
and let II go at that. He urged his
friend to go with him to Butte. bu
McKinnon declined on account Of be
ing tired. Then they parted forever
The conclusion is told in the Butte
pages how Kelly kept his pledge.