Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-11

The police yesterday made the fourth
arrest in connection with the killing
of Patrick Sweeney on the river shore
in the North End nearly two weeks
ago. All who were in any manner
connected with the crime are now in
custody.
Yesterdays capture was the most
important of the quartette. In fact
1t is not thought that "Parkersburg
Mike" Cavanaugh, who was arrested
by the Pittsburg police, and brought
to Wheeling by Lieut.. Michaels, had
any connection with the crime. 1t
was only because the Pittsburg officers
said he made partial confession that
he was held on the charge. The fourth
man is Burt Kelley, who is charged
in the statement of the other men now
in custody, as being the person who
fired the fatal shot. Kelly gave his
age as % years, but looks to be 80,
and his home as near Parkersburg, w.
Va
Yesterday morning Lieut.. Devinney
received letter from Chief Clemans,
followed a few hours later by a tele-
gram, asking that the warrant for
Kelly be sent to him Immediately. 1t
is presumed that the Chief learned
that Kelly had gone up the river on
a boat, and desired to arrest him upon
his return. Yesterday afternoon, how
ever, the police were given tip that
Kelly was on the Queen City, which
was lying at the wharf, where she had
stopped to take on freight for Cincin-
natl and intermediate points. Lieuts.
Michaels and Devinney and officer Nc
Guigan went down to the landing
shortly before six o'clock. The Off
Ger, who was in uniform, was station
ed on Water street, and the lieuten-
ants, dressed in citizens clothes, walk
ed down the wharf.
Kelly was in the act of picking up
some metal to carry on the boat, when
he was tapped on the arm, and Lieut..
Michaels snapped the handouts on
him. He MADE no attempt to resist,
and said nothing.
The Sheriff was present when Kelly
was VI OuSuI ll1IO JAIL anu Sb1hNd D44iA
if he knew what he was wanted for,
Kelly replying that he did. Jim Willis,
the man who was taken from the Key
stone State a few days ago, and sub
sequently made a full confession, was
brought into the jail Office, and asked
if he knew Kelly. Yes; that man is
Burt Kelly" he replied. Kelly said he
had no statement to make, and was
promptly locked up in cell.
Burt Kelly, Jim Willis and Henry
Campbell are the three men who are
said to have accompanied Sweeney on
his walk up the railroad track before
he was shot. Willis and Campbell
confess they were present Kelly
says nothing Wills and Campbell
charge that Kelly Quarreled with
Sweeney about a money transaction
two years ago, and that Sweeney
threatened to strike Kelly with a beer
bottle. This is the only provocation
according to their stories, which Kelly
had for firing the bullet which ended
Sweeney's life.
Kelly and Willis hurried back to the
wharf, and went down that night to
Marietta on the steamer Urania. At
Marietta they caught a freight train,
and worked their way to Cincinnati.
Willis left that city as a deckhand on
the keystone State, and Kelly said he
would try to get on boat for the
South He evidently failed or at least
changed his mind, for he left Cincin-
natl on the Queen City last Saturday,
and went past Wheeling earlier in the
week to Pittsburg. Kelly, Willis and
Campbell are well known about the
wharf They work on packets as
deck hands, and during low water sea-
son often remain here for weeks at a
time.
Capt Clemans and his police force
deserve credit for their efficient work
in clearing up the mystery surround
ing the death of Sweeney. All the po
lice authorities between Pittsburg and
St. Louis were instructed to be on the
lookout for Kelly, and other possible
avenues of escape were closely
r6ad