The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-23


hours were bringing nearer and nearer
to him. Even walking past the window
in the district court room accompanied
by deputy, with the rude shed and
stout gallows in plain sight, he gave
no sign that he saw either.
In the temporary cell built just off
the court room referred to, the con-
demned man sat reading or chatting
lightly with his death watch deputies,
NJ. f. Vaughn and John A. Johnson,
who have been with him since he was
brought from Saltwater on Saturday.
The quaint frame court house stands
facing the main street of Center City
on the northerly end of a dignified lit
tie peninsula from any point of which
one can hurl a stone into the waters
of picturesque Chisago lake, or it's
several SlOughs. Kelly was cheerful
when he reused himself at 1880 from a
night of undisturbed rest. He exchang-
ed good wishes for the day with
Deputy Vaughn, and called for his
breakfast which consisted of a gener-
Gus portion of steak, boiled eggs, toast,
coffee and plate of steaming hot pan
cakes.
He has by his quiet easy demeanor
won the friendship of his guards with
whom he converseS freely on all topics,
save his crime and history When he
had finished his breakfast he laugh
shave he had received in st. Paul on
Saturday would have to do. He talked
books to Vaughn and Johnson, and the
G o e reporter, to whom he expressed
a preference for Mark Twain. Rough
ing IT, and "Hucklebery Finn" he was
especially fond of. He made no denial
that his real name was not Kelly,
but expressed much thankfulness that
the grave would draw the final curtain
on his record which he did not wish
to reach the ears of his family. He
disclosed his real name and residence to
a confidential friend, but was given a
promise that both be kept sacred. 1t
is learned that he came from the South,
where also belonged Bob" Wilson,
who was killed by the posse. Wilson
is also fictitious name, and was taken
as a convenient one by the dead man
who was a horse jockey and a short
card man who was from the South,
and a pal for some years of Kelly.
Kelly rose from his cot to greet Rev.
z. c. Nelson, who has a mission some
four miles from Center City, and who
called about the middle of the morning
to see the murderer. The deputies
withdrew, but the clergyman did not
remain long. When he had gone, Kel-
ly remarked: II haven't much time
for the ministers. / am not convinced
that there is a hereafter. l would like
to believe all these pretty little stories,
but / have never been able to do it,
Urged to speak of his crime the pris-
Oner declined, save to deny that he had
ever confessed. He was wrath at the
statements made in some of the Twin
City papers, which were shown him
purpOrting to contain his admission of
guilt.
Il admit having been where the shoot
ing was DONE" he explained, 'but l
say again as 1 testified in court that
Wilson is the man who had the big
revolver and who did the shooting.
l have not made any confession and
I do not mean to-"
The deputies to whom, during the
past few days he has recited odd dis
connected bits of his history, say that
Kelly was widely travelled both in the
southern and western part of this
country and knew much of the ter
ritOry through which he had gone.
They gathered that he had spent con-
siderable time in Mexico and further
although he made only Indirect al
lusions-that he had been guilty of a
number of offenses. only a part of
which he had ever paid the penalty
for. He had formerly learned and fol-
lowed the trade of tiler or mantel
maker.
The warm sun without shed a glow
alike on the snow covered ground and
the quiet court house. A loving ray of
sunshine fought its way through the
small latticed window and bent itself
on the dingy wall. Noticing this, the
unfortunate man looked up, smiled
rather pathetically, and, as his eyes
rested uron a solitary crow perched
outside on one of the bare limbs of
a tall poplar, he remarked: There's
the first crow I've seen. 1t must be
almost spring" He grew thoughtful
but said nothing and seemed glad when
a deputy changed his train of thought
by bringing in a substantial lunch Of
roast mutton, macaroni, baked beans
and milk. Kelly topped this off with
a generous slice of cranberry pie. The
afternoon hours dra gged slowly enough.
Kelly, who hRs shown the most mark
ed nerve Without particle of bravado.
gOsSipped with the members of the
watch or dictated portions of his life
to the friend mentioned above AL
though there is the well grounded feel
ing in Chisago county that Kelly was
given a we'll merited reward for his
! horrible crime, there has not been the
slightest excitement or cause for alarm,
and the several rifles, shotguns, cart
ridge boxes, etc. which adorn the room
just outside the cell room are in sharp
contrast with the almost funeral still
ness which hangs like a pail over the
peaceable little neighborhood.
1t was the first hanging in this
county since Anders G. Anderson has
been sheriff and he did not look for
ward to the task with undue glee.