The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-12-23

opinions concerning the character Of
the former landlord, and was not sur
prised to hear that he was a shrewd,
business-like man, who was now rich
and influential citizen. DIR. Charlie
waited day or so, then he conversed
with the men at the post Office con-
corning the death of the stranger so
many years ago, and heard their opin-
ions, individually and collectively,
about it. The strangers death had
been an unusual event in the village
and had furnished food for talk for
long time. 1t was still fresh in their
memories.
| DR.. Charlie was in due time intro.
duced to the rich former landlord, and
telling him that he was about to locate
in their beautiful village as their ply
stefan, he was invited to visit him at
his fine place. Mr.. Kelley was very
proud of bis worldly goods, and often
remarked how providence had blessed
him. In his house Charlie had leisure
to study his character for himself, and
it needed only a short acquaintance to
convince him that James Kelley was a
villain, and desperately slick villain
of long standing. The bright young
doctor was careful to praise everything
about the place, and he artfully drew
Mr.. Kelley into conversation, until he
felt that he knew his man.
Remaining there until he obtained all
the knowledge he could upon the case,
DIR. Charlie babe Mr.. Kelley and the vii
layers farewell and returned to town.
He carried the skull with him. He
went to New York, where he consulted
famous detectives, and two of the most
noted ones were put to work upon
the case. A very clever young lawyer
was also employed, and each in turn
visited the village and inspected and
interviewed to their hearts content.
AT last, although the evidence was
purely circumstantial, the former land
lord, James Kelley, was arrested upon
suspicion and carried away to Jail. 1t
created wonderful sensation in the
village. No such excitement had been
known since the assassination of Presi-
dent Lincoln. Many witnesses were
subpoenaed in rapid succession.
Great anxiety was manifested
throughout the county when the case
came up for trial in the criminal court.
Mr.. Kelley was very gravely apprehen-
sive from the first, and when in court
he was confronted with the ghastly
skull with the telltale nail still clinging
to it he turned so pale and trembled so
violently that he was obliged to sit
down. All who saw him felt sure of
his guilt. He was thoroughly fright
ened. and, giving up all for lost, he
confessed that he did murder the
stranger. He said he was hard work
ing, industrious man, and providence
was not kind to him, and he had to |
struggle hard to live. One night when |
he was so desperately in need of money |
that he was discouraged, a stranger ar. |
ri'ed at the inn and foolishly placed |
in his keeping large amount of money
in gold. This the stranger had received |
from sale of property, and was on his
way to the city to invest it. Not dar-
ing to travel with so large a sum in |
cash alone at night, he had sought shell
ter at the village tavern. The poor
landlord had been sorely tempted by
the sight of the gGttering gold and
had put laudanum in the strangers
coffee. Then he had gone in the night
to his room, where he found him Sleep
ing soundly, and had committed the
murder by driving a fence nail into
his head. He had washed the wound
very carefully and covered it with hair.
He took from the dead man everything
that could in any way identify him.
put was careful to leave his watch and
| little money in his room. The next
morning after he. had prepared for
him nice breakfast he went up TO call
aim, and he discovered that the
stranger was dead. As an unknown
md apparently poor man had suddenly
lied in his house, he took charge of
he remains, and no one had ever sus-
'ected him. But he had always been
vretched and had never enjoyed his
ll-gotten wealth, for his conscience had
roubled him sorely. He said he was
lad some one had discovered the truth
t last. for he felt relieved upon con.
essing. He could never bring himself
o destroy the papers and deeds he had
ound upon the dead man, but had care
ully hidden them. He told where they
'ere and they were produced in court
James Kelley, former landlord and
murderer, had the services of a clever
ttorney, who fought his case brayely.
rst introducing somnambulism, but
'ithout avail; then he tried to prove
lsanity for his client, but his brilliant !
forts were unsuccessful. He could
OF save the prisoner. The jury brought
the verdict and he was condemned,
'und guilty and executed.