The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-17
Butte Department.

snail do the best that their Judgmen
dictates in regard to winding up anc
disposing OF my estate and that they
shall sell and dispose Of my persona
and real estate in any manner which
may seem to them to be best
Il hereby subscribe myself TO this my
last will and testament with the honest
wish that the foregoing suggestions
commands, shall be carried out, as
nearly and as consistently as can be
done. In witness of all the forging ]
hereby attach my signature.
John Flintoft Kelly.
Butte. April Is. go"
| TIE above letter was written appar-
emily with steadiness and without
erasurcs or changes. In one place there
is n repetition of the word who" and
| In another a REPETITION Of the word
be Apparently IL had been written
ten rapidly and had probably not been
re-read by the writer.
The only thing which would indicate
that the writer's mind was confused
was the fact that he mistook the name
/ OF his chum, Hank Bartlett, with whom
he was probably more intimate than
with any one else in Butte, and whom
he had called Hank" hundreds OF
times.
Mr. Kelly was last seen in Butte
early Tuesday morning. He slept Mon
day night with his friend Hank Bart
lett, and expressed to him fear lest he
might not catch the morning train for
Anaconda. He seemed. Mr. Bartlett
says, perfectly rational at that time
He caught the train for Anaconda
tuesday morning and was there all
day Tuesday and all of Wednesday, at
tending to his business affairs, MAX
ing collections, etc. Late Wednesday
evening he hired a special engine on
me H., A. p to take him to Butte,
and paid $50 for the service Whether
he had been drinking in Anaconda or
whether anything had happened there
TO make him in such haste to reach
Buote, and close up his affairs, is not
known.
Kelly arrived In Butte on the special
TRAIN about midnight Apparently he
went at once to his office with the fixed
intention Of ending his life. The let
ters that he wrote, the will, etc. could
scarcely have occupied him less than
two hours, and ii was probably 3
O'Clock when he finished his writing
ana, with the utmost deliberation set
tied himself in his easy chair, took a
hand mirror to see that his aim was
true and ended his life. The gun used
was a cheap one. for which he paid
HANK Bartlett at the Bee Hive IS. He
bought 1t two or three weeks ago. |
When he bought 1t he told Mr. Bart |
lett that there was an Italian who had |
been working for him who had been TO |
the ONCE several times making a dis |
turbance and threatening him, and he |
was afraid of him. He said he want
ed the gun as a protection.
Mr.. Kelly often spoke to me Of sui
cide, said Mr. Bartlett. He talked |
ABOUT IL on several occasions, saying |
that he was not enjoying life, that il |
did not seem worth living, and he had
a notion to end II. i never thought he
meant 1t, of course. Mr. Kelly mem
toned his insurance In connection with
suicide, and said that his policies
would be all right to take care of his
people in case of suicide"
Mr.. kelly's life was insured for $685.
OOO' all in favor of his estate" One
insurance policy was for $4,000 in the
Mutual Life OF New York, taken out
when he was first married. Another is
FOR $4,000 in the Masons' Fraternal as
ISOLATION, taken out also several wears
ago. Another insurance for $50, 900 was
taken out about a year ago in the Mu-
tual Life of New York.
1t was supposed by many that flnan-
,ial troubles may have caused Mr..
Kelly TO desire to end his life, but II
vas probably a combination of finan-
'lal ana domestic troubles which led
him to the conclusion that life was no
onger worth living. The intimate
friends of Mr.. Kelly insist, however,
nat while not as well off as he was a
ew years ago, he leaves ample outside |
" MS insurance to pay up everything |
he owes, and probably a good balance.
Few years ago he had $4,000 in cash
n the bank, besides about S25, 900 worth
# real estate, and a good business. but
ately he had not been so prosperous.
lie erected large brick block in East |
ark street, calm git the Reginald, af- ,
In h.. mi l
otal cost of this block was $33. 900. and .
o build 1t Mr.. Kelly sold all his other {
cal estate. few business reVerses
anne also, and there were many de- ,
hands on him for money, and the !
lock was encountered with a mortgage :
SS5,OOO. Mr.. Kelly considered IL was
Torth $4,000 and offered IL for sale for
$4,000. but did not succeed in selling IL. q
he mortgage on the block is held by ]
he First National bank The bank !
'as not pressing Mr.. Kelly for the 1
honey, but on Monday Mr.. Kelly noti- 7
ed the bank to foreclose the mortgage. 7
hitch was not done, however One of | +
he letters left by Mr.. Kelly was ad- r
ressed to A. ]. Davis, cashier of the :
'irst National bank, and was as fol-
'ws, Mr.. Davis consenting to the pub q
cation of the note to him:
"A. j. Davis, Esq, Friend Davis-The =
train Is too great. and / quit Do all =
on can to help out Bartlett and my !,
rother in winding up my affairs. 1 y
your kindness. Yours truly, =
+. Kelly. 9
p. S.-Remember me to Dellinger. -
e Is good fellow, and treat him as \,
pod as you can. ]. F. X" =,
Mr.. Davis said yesterday to a Stand =
I'd reporter: Mr.. Kelly was not in ~
I'D shape financially, and was certain -
able. with what he had. to pay every =.
mt he owed. He often had from $4,000 -
100000 deposited to the credit of his a.
'mpany. His property and business :.
ould easily pay all he owed" ~ ~
Mr.. kelly's debts, IL is believed, were -
Try few outside of the incumbrance ~
the Kelly block. Last night, after a,
aching Butte from Anaconda. he ~
ent up to Masonic hail. called a mem %
n out OF the hall. and paid him a -
'bt of considerable amount which he IA
we'd him. taking the note held by the al
Irty. He seemed anxious that all his ~
lanCfal phliCaf iOpQ cbnul1 h. | 10