The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-09-18
Is Said to Have Been in Three
Days Trance Before.
DR.. Lewis, on Examination, De-
cIares Life Extinct.
HAD BEEN AN INVALID
But Had Enjoyed Good Health
For Some Time Past.
A Small Gasoline Fire Caused
Her Fright.

Mrs. T. P. Kelly this morning died
from fright at her home at 30 Harri-
son street. DR.. ]. P. Lewis pronounced
her dead. The family, however claims
that Mrs. Kelly is in a trance The
body lies in the second room al the res
idence gradually cooling and the feat
ures have assumed the unmistakable
appearance of death.
This morning at 9:35 o'clock. Mrs.
Kelly and her two daughters, Mrs. My
ron Hammond, and Mrs. Dell MCGEE,
were at the Kelly home, a cOzy house
at 80 Harrison street.
Mrs. Kelly had lighted the gasoline
stove to do some cooking, but too much
gasoline, escaped and there was an ex-
piosiOn. Mrs. Kelly screamed for help
and her daughters ran to her assistance
They procured cloths and were smOth-
ering the fire when they saw their
mother wheel suddenly and fall face
forward to the floor.
There was a small sharp stone on the
floor which Mrs Kelly's chin struck a s
she fell. She never uttered word and
before she could be carried into the bed
room her lips had turned black The
gasoline fire was extinguished.
DR.. J. p. Lewis, who lives near, was
summoned. He made an examination
and pronounced Mrs. Kelly dead. He
found a small bruise on her chin which
had been made by contact with the
sharp stone.
To a reporter he said:
1t is hard TO tell just what was the
cause of her death. She is large heshy
woman and appeared to be in good
health 1 found that she used to be IN
i'll health. She may have died from
fright and she may have died from
break king a blood vessel. cannot fully
determine The only exact way to de-
temine that would be by a post NOR
tenn"
At the Kelly residence the sudden
death had caused great mourning Mr.
Gtr
kitchen overcome with grief. His
daughters were weeping and neighbor
women were present to give sympathy
20, she was the best woman ever
knew" said Mr.. T. p. Kelly. I have
lived with her 16 years and she always
had a kind word for everybody. She
wasR 63 years old. She was an invalid
for 25 years and had had heart trouble
some, but she has been so well late
A svmpathizer nearby suggested:
Don't grieve Mr. Kelly, you know she
is not gone, she will be with us every
day
Spiritualist circles, the deceased haV-
ing been a medium
AS the group of mOurners sat in the
kitchen someone ran from the room in
which Mrs. Kelly's body reclined in bed
and announced eXcitedly that Mrs.
Kelly was not dead. She is alive yet.
I saw her breathe and l saw her eye
open and shut, announced the one who
had just entered. There was sudden
rush for the bedchamber. Mr. Kelly
went to his wife's body which lay rigid
on the bed and placed his ear at her
breast.
An excited group stood around the
bed.
Il feel sure she will come back to life
for she was such a good medium and
the spirit guides will surely be with
her" said Mr. Kelly. Women wrung
their hands and dramatic scene fol-
lowed. The body lay motionless with
out the least sign of animation. The
husband and two daughters knelt at
the bedside working with the body of
slight signs of life. After several min
utes they gave up the effort.
Mrs. Myron Hammond, daughter OF
Mrs. Kelly, said: She is in a trance
am sure. Four years ago she fell over
in a trance and remained in it three
days She looked just ike she does
now. Father sat beside her all the
time. Then she opened her eyes and
asked for a drink of water and said:
Why did you wake me up, [ have been
TO the most beautiful country you ever
saw She is in trance 1 am sure
feel that the guiding spirits will bring
her back. She is such a good medium.
Whether Mrs Kelly is really dead or
is in a trance is not at present positive.
The physicians and almost everyone ex-
cept the immediate family agree with
the physicians that death has come,
while Mr.. Kelly and his two daughters
think there is yet life in the body
which has been gradually cooling.
Mr.. and Mrs. Kelly have been at
tending the Spiritualist campmeetings
a the fair grounds and have been
greatly interested No arrangements
have been made for the funeral as it
will have to first be determined whether
or not Mrs. Kelly is in a trance No
embalming will &c allowed by the fam
lily and within short time the true
state of the case can be ascertainad.
LATER-The family of Mrs. T. p.
Kelly of $40 harrison street have be-
come satisfied of the fact that death has
ensued and funeral arrangements have
been made A powerful electric battery
was applied to the body but no signs of
life appeared and unmistakable evil
dences of death appeared The fu-
neral will be held on Monday morning
at 10 O'Clock at the Spiritualists' hall