The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-04-24
KELLY SAYS GUILTY" /"
Dramatic Scene at the Ar
raignment Of the New
Hampshire Murderer.

SOMERSWORTH, N. H, April a. 1897
Joseph E. Kelley, charged with the muir
der of Cashier Joseph A Stickney, of the
Great Falls National Bank, of this city,
pleaded guilty in the Municipal Court,
before Judge Knapp this morning.
Everything connected with the hearing
was of a most dramatic description.
Kelley, who had only a week ago called
every one in Somersworth his friend, and
had been on the most intimate terms with
local people, was this morning apparently
without a friend in the world. His father
who had been expected to be present at
this hearing had not come, neither was
there counsel or friend to appear in
kelley's behalf He was absolutely alone
and apparently bowed down win g4lef
and remorese while shaking like child,
he was utterly oblivious of the surround
ings.
The hearing was held in the little town
hall here where every class of meetings
|<afe held from caucuses to lectures and
ptbanqaets. tba lt This morning at the front Of
the scenery of the last performance
Saa: Swhieh :;f was was given e'Hands Across the
which attended the hearing was = very very
large. The doors were opened at eight
clock and there was grand rush up
placed about % eet oM in fTen o tRe steee
1nakitng an enclosure in which were a
number of other settees and chairs fol
Inis a anelosuns vas quickly surrounded
Im5essas sts a 4 Shs proceedings. were re,
into the hail and after forced passage
snr4ugh sn9qed "a the throng of spectators he was
on the floor Of the hail. Behind him
We're Sheriff Hayes and the other officers
VINO mad been closely connected with the
Az two minutes past nine. County So
llcitor Nasen moved that Kelley be ar
ra1gned. Judge Knapp arose and pro
Geeded to read the warrant charging Kel-
ley with having murdered. on April 1e,
Joseph A; Stickney, by hitting on the
head and cutting his throat" AS KEEL
ley stood during the reading, he seemed
10 be very weak, so much so that he
partially fell forward on the table and it
was only by great exertion and by a firm
ciutch on the table that he finally was
able to stand up.
"a His 81, head was bowed on his breast, and
Tor two minutes he stood motionless AS
the Judge, in reading the warrant,
reached the words, with a policeman's s
billy, did hit him on the head, and with
a razor did cut his throat Kelley began
to break down. and before the Judge
finished was sobbing like child. He
seemed to be completely unnerved. AS
Judge KNAPP asked the question. Are
you guilty, or not guilty?" Kelley's head
dropped lower and his sobs grew louder.
The Court was obliged to repeat the aues-
ton three times, when by a great effort
Kelley answered the one word, Guilty .
SO low that only those in the immediate
vicinity could hear him. His voice was
hoarse, and he appeared to be chokine
as the word was uttered
There was no confusion or outcry as
kelley,s unexpected plea was made and
the Court then announced to the prisoner
that he would be taken back to the C;oln-
| ty Jail at Dover, and held for the next
session OF the Supreme Judicial Court in
September.
eos,zLll Allnost lminedlately Sheriff Hayes went
forward and took Kelley by the arm as
the prisoner seemed to have no control
over himself, and with the aid of Con
stable Bartlett, took him back through,
the gorgeous scenecy to the street.
where he was placed in a carriage, driven
back to Dover and again given into the
custody of Sheriff HAYES