The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-21
KELLY, THE MOTOR MAN.
His Alleged Invention and His Abil-
ity I'm Deceiving Scientists.
Pittsburg Dispatch.

Aty IN OeccANAnB ScACAAASNss
Pittsburg Dispatch.
John Ernst Worren Kelly. of ''KeeIy mo-
tor" notoriety. died on Friday at Philadel-
phia- Outside of a few meager points Mr..
Keely's early life appears to be as mys-
ferrous as his motor which, it has been re-
marked failed to mote. In sketch of him
by H. o. Ward the writer says:
John Ernst Worrell Kelly was born I'm
Philadelphia on the Sd day of September,
1887. His fathers parents were German and
French, his mothers were English and
Swedish His early life was devoted to the
study of romance, music and higher laws OF
''the sympathetic forces,'' as associated
with the mental organism in it's control
over the physical. His whole life, in fact.
has been devoted to that particular study
of the conditions governing sympathetic ma
tuTe and all its developments
His grandfather. Ernst, the composer, was
leader of an orchestra at Baden Baden.
His father, who was born in Delaware
county, was a worker in iron and artifcer
in other metals. often employing his leisure
hours in the study of Bible history
a Philadelphia Capitalist says that If the
true life of Kelly could be written it would
prove to be one of the most romantic stories
several years ago, when Keely'S great
claims began to be talked about in Phila-
own satisfaction into Keeiys past. He
thought that he could judge better by his
record as man than by trying to talk
with keely about his mysterious motor.
He found that just before coming to Phil
adephia he was performer in circus, and
that he had nearly all of his life made q
precarlous living by performing Sledght-of-
hand tricks
He says that Kelly had very skillfully
learned the jargon of an extensive scientific
vocabulary He had about eight hundred OF
these words and phrases at his tongues end
and could turn the head of the average
scientist by the rapidity and certainty with
which he tossed these words and phrases
into his general conversation
Keely was a swarthy man. with a weak
ness for very large and brilliant diamonds
which he displayed in an open and gener-
ally dirty shirt front. His hands were re-
enlargement and maformation of the
knuckles. When not tinkering with his
machine, Keely could generally be found
playing checkers with griny fingers on a.
grimy board with grimy draughts.
In his early life Keely was cabinet
maker and musician by turns Dueing the
autumn, winter and spring he worked at
his trade in a little shop on Market street,
Philadelphia, and in the summer he prac-
ticed his profession by leading small or
chestra which contributed to the pleasure
of visitors at a Pennsylvania resort known
as Latonia Springs.
In 1873 Keely came to believe that he HAD
discovered a new and powerful sort of en-
CINE. He did not then claim that he had
found a new force in nature. The contrty.
in a bathtub and run by stream OF water
which passed through goose quill. lie
called it hydro pneumatic ". yac , ma, ma
which the world afterward christened the
"Keey motor" The claim was made. for
1T that it produced power from the vibra-
tory qualities of air and water.
Before the public heard of the new inyen-
ton the attention of a number of New York
1gko1fr 4 20 nd
Quested Charles b. Collier, a well-known
and highly respected patent attorney, or
Philadelphia, to examine 1t ana no, make a re-
port. He requested an exhibition, and on
Nov. TO- 1874, the first public demonstration
OF the workings of the Keely motor was
made in the presence of Mr.. Collier ana ten
other gentlemen. These gentlemen met In
the Fffh-avenue Hotel, New York, with SID
ney Dillon in the chair. They listened quiet
ly to Mr. Golfers report, which had been
made in writing The next day they gave
the Philadelphia attorney their check Tor
$1,000 in purchase of stock OF the keely
Motor Company, which sum was intended
to pay the indebtedn, IS keely had incurred
in the construction of his machine. WYNN WYNN
two hours after the inventor had received
that sum every penny of 1t had Deen eA-
pended for the purpose for which II was III
tended by the subscribers. The New York
capitalists were also given an option for
$4,000 worth more of the STOCK, the opton
to be kept open until an opportunity W %Sr
given to receive further continuation VI "AA'
Meanwhile that gentleman had negotiated
sale OF the Tgnts 81 q sO @ the purchasers
to invest $5O0,OO0 to introduce the lnyenIon
and then to pay over another S2oV l,Ss. : "
the benefit of both bodies or investors
nuhlic exhibition was given in Philadelphia,
which was attended by three hundred per-
sons, including the most eminent engineers
from all parts of the country. ,..
The next day the two bodies OF eapltailsots
HANGED over their checks for 5000 az ana SOW,
GOO respectively, thus making $lVO,VOO IN al
that Mr.. Collier had raised. That was the
public beginning of the Keely motor.
1t was thought that the sum n me. no, -
completion and success, but the proJscloVaIs
had not reckoned the full nature q the
task. The first large machine Wnlcn w VS.
Constructed took three years of time ana the
expenditure of 900 to build II, ana tne l
it was found to be practically WORMS rs p
claimed, being an improvement on It's prede-
cessor until finally the generator was
discarded and new p5 e Known as the
sIfberator," was the next product Oh TIC
experiments 1t had series OF large t laiss
forks, with the vibration OF Whlch neeay
claims to disintegrate the air ana release
an etheric force which is rivaled IN strength
oi Fva py few years Keely would give an
exhibition to a few invited guests In 1880
he announced that he had attained the 90,
iect of his life" In 1888 he was committed
to Jail for contempt OF court on reiust tIls
10 explain to a committee or experts tHe
working OF his machine. .
Ten years have elapsed but MS lnVentlon
has not been matured. The last sale OK
Keely motor stock took place March 3 1897,
az Tn ia three years ago Mr. Kelly enjoyed
robust health and spent from twelve 10
fourteen hours a day in his work shop.
About two years ago he was run over by a
team of horses. He never recovered fiom
the effects Of the injury, constantly COM
planning of ailments resulting from the accl-
dent. During his illness Mrs. Kelly was
constantly at her husbands side ard was
alone with him when the end came. she
is now FRUSTRATED with grief and cecinss 70
see anybody. -.
A few weeks ago Mr.. Keely told the Dis
patch correspondent that within six montns
from that time he would demonstrate mo
utility of his invention by placing on the
market a machine that would accomplish
everything he claimed for 1t. model OF
the machine was shown, which was
operated by unison of symphonic sounds.
He claimed that he had overcome all din
culties and had secured complete control
Of the machine.
As to Tesla.