The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-27
LAID IN WAIT
FOR HIS WIFE
AND SHOT HER
James Kelly Behind
Prison Bars.
WOUND MAY NOT PROVE FATAL
AN ACTION FOR DIVORCE WAS
THE CAUSE.
First Shot Fired Was Effective, but
Murder Was Prevented by the
Brave Action of Motor
man Tibbitts.
AN ACTION FOR DIVORCE WA:
THE CAUSE.

James F. Kelly. weigher for the Pa
ctfic Coast Coal Company, made DELHI
crate attempt to murder his wife, Flor
ence Kelly, at Third and Brannan streets,
yesterday afternoon. He would probably
have accomplished his purpose had II not
been for q faulty weapon. which permitted
of the prompt and effective intervention
of NIotorman I. B. Tibbitts.
Kelly and his wife have been separated
for the past fourteen months, which time
the wife has spent in Honolulu with her
father, Thomas Taylor, who is black
smith. Accompanying her on this trip
was their only child, Charles Francis
Kelly, a lad 3 years of age. According
to Kelly's statement, it was the loss OF the
lchild, as well as his wife's action for dl-
Vorce, which prompted MIN TO the deed
Mrs. Kelly returned to San francisco on
the last trip of the Australia and lmme-
diately commenced an action for divorce
against her husband. The specined ground
was failure to provide. The papers were
served on Kelly, and when he learned
that his child mad been left In Honolulu
he was furious.
casion 10 visit the Mail dock. She was ac-
fcompanied by a lady friend, and ahghted
from q car at the corner OF Ihlrd ana
rBrannan streets. Kelly, who was stand
ing at the corner, saw her approach, ana
when she stepped on the Sidewalk deilo-
seTately drew revolver from ms POCKET
land hired at her while her back was 10
ward him. The bullet entered her neck
and she fell TO the sidewalk with q snrlek
ROT pam. Not satisfied with the work ne
fhaQ already accomplished, the anSered
bhusband pulled the trigger sec
-cnd and a third time, out the car
ftridges failed TO explode. Then II was that
Sh1oJOrman TibbittS leaped from car 1IoI
.of the Third street line ana bravery
brushed to the woman's rescue lie was
EARNED with a brass controller handle, ana
when he reached Kelly ne dealt MIN d
sstlInning blow on the head, knocking MIN
fdown and intiicung a wound on the scalp;
,OniCer James OCOnnor by TINS time hdu
tarriyed on the scene, and dlsarnihs the
man took him in charge
At Mrs. Kelly : request a hack was sum
.rnoned ana she was taken to ST. Mar!
EI4ospital Kelly was taken 10 the Ike
sCelVIng Hospital, where ms WOUNDS We're
dressed by Or. ClunesS. Later ne was
F1aken 10 the Central police station ana
:boOked for assault 10 commit murder. de
IDS ~ years OF age. and his wife Is ten years
iyounger The couple were married IN TINS
Fcity about fifteen years ago. Mrs. Kelly
las native OF Hull, England. She is stop
sping with Mrs Beahaln at 43 valley street
Kelly said that he got a letter from a
friend in Honolulu that some one there
was putting up the money for his wife TO
obtain the divorce from him. She left
him fourteen months ago to visit her par
ents, and the understanding was that she
was to return in a month. but she seemed
10 have made big acquaintance there and
STAYED on coming back TO get divorce
from him. He had been unable to pro-
vide for her, as she had been stopping
with her parents. He felt her treachery
keenly, more particularly as she had left
their boy in Honolulu. He hoped she was
The bullet entered Mrs Kelly's neck
in the back and lodged under the inferior
maxillary on the left side, where IL will
wound is not considered serious. After
the affair she talked but little, simply
divorce had prompted her husband in his
act.