Evening journal., 1897-09-10
KELLEY IS INDICTED
The New Hampshire Murderer
Tells a Strange Story.
CLAIMS THE DEVIL As A MASTER.
Bartered His Soul to Him For Term
of Years, Which VIII Expire
1909 Confesses lie Killed
Cashier stickney.

Dover. n. H.. Sept. 9.-An indictment
charging murder in the first degree has
been found by the grand jury against
Joseph =. Kelley, the young Amesbury
man who killed Cashier Stickney of the
Great Falls National bank at Somers-
worth and robbed the bank last spring.
The date for Kelleys trial has not yet
been fixed, but it is thought it will not
be begun before several weeks.
Joseph Kelley has made a remarkable
statement in the Dover Jail to a news
paper man.
In substance Kelley says that his mis-
deeds are wholly and entirely due to a
compact made with the devil when he
was a few years old to serve his maj
esty until he reached the age of 25, and
he declares that he expects and wants
to be hanged for the murder OF Cashier
Stickney. He asks. however, that his
execution be delayed until Jan. 16 1899.
Under the New Hampshire raw man
convicted Of murder cannot have the
sentence Of death executed until year
and a day from the time of passing the
sentence. AS Kelley will probably not
be tried before Nov. l. he could under
no circumstances be executed until
about Nov. 10. 1898. and all he wants Is
his lawyers TO see that there is a stay
of about so days beyond that date.
His reasons are that at midnight, Jan.
10 1899. the day he is 25 years old, BE
VIII be freed from his compact with the
devil, and ne can go to his death feeling
assured that he Will not be compelled to
settle with satan in the other world
How did this devil happen to get
hold of you?" inquired the reporter
1 oil I
silver watch and hid it," said Kelley.
Il thought 1 was safe, but in day OF
two the devil came around to me and
told me l was going to be caught Well,
of course. that frightened me terribly.
A Modern DIR. Faust.
It said to him that If he would save
me from getting caught for stealing that
watch l would serve him faithfully un-
til I was 25 years old. He said. All
right. and l was not caught for steal
ing that watch
What had he to do with the murder
of Cashier Stickney?" Kelley was asked.
Nothing, except that by stealing ev-
erything 1 could was serving the
devil, and 1 knew that If / did that job
he would be pleased"
Didn't the devil suggest 1t to you?"
seen him at that time. You know.
used to meet him once in a while. and
used to run away from him. He had
not been around TO me much for a long
time until 1 got TO Great Falls.
"Then he used to come where I was
once in a while. and I knew that he was
there to remind me that there was
! something 1 should do for him. Several
times I ran away from him in Great
| Falls, and ! knew a place where 1 could
so 20 see a young woman where he
would never come. but he would always
get around the next day and remind me
to do something.
zone time he came into my room al
! Somersworth, and / thought I could gel
| rid of him by knocking him down. So
drew or and gave him a biff, there be-
ing force enough in the blow TO KNOCK
Off some Of the plaster where I strucl
the wall when 1 hit at him. That seem
ed to scare him off, but he came arounC
in a day or two.
Il saw him right after I had killed
Mr.. Stickney. You know the door tina
lets you behind the counter in the bank
Well, 1 was back of that door, picking
up the money and putting it in a bag
Then 1 looked up and saw him at tn
door.
Satan Held the Door Closed.
"When I got ready to go and lifte
the bag up, I noticed that he had hi
hands on the door and was holding
tight. I walked toward him and trie
TO open it, but he looked at me. laughin
as hard as he could, and try as 1 Nigh
I could not pulf the door open.
"Then I stepped back step or tw
and with an awful kick broke that bi
square of glass. put the bag through
and after breaking away some of tn
rough edges 1 crawled through myself
"All the time 1 was doing this tn
devil was holding the door and laugh
ing as hard as he could, but when
stood up outside he started away.
Il admit I murdered Cashier Sdckne
I shall not quibble about details. SO fi
r as 1 am concerned, I am ready TO SO
. simply that I did It and let It go at tina
Now, with all that, is it any mo-
] than fair that the state should go to Il
extent Of allowing me about so da,
more Of life than I could ordinarily e.
}, pect?
MY devil won't bother me then, aft
J I am In another world. OF that 1 a
quite certain. I only want to get avs
from, the hold he has on me on tn