The Irish standard., 1905-01-28
Missing Man Led an Exemplary Life and
Occupied High Place in Irish Circles
in His Home City.
Relatives Fear He is the Victim of a Con-
spiracy Such as Resulted in the
Murder of DR.. Cronin.

freeing Ireland they were dispelled in
favor of peaceable means.
After the departure Of the Irish dele
gates from Philadelphia, Kelly became
a warm advocate of parliamentary
agitation for the betterment of his ma
tive land. and he talked often and
earnestly with men who thought that
force was the only means to reach the
desired end. Kelly's sister is respon-
sible for the statement that this made
him many enemies among his own
countrymen. She honestly believes
that these enemies have killed him.
So far not the slightest bit Of evil
dence has been produced to show that
Kelly has been murdered. The only
thing that makes his folks think he is
dead is his long absence without send
ing word to those nearest him. Promi-
nent Irishmen interested in 1reland's
freedom probably more than Kelly ever
was, scout the idea that he has been
murdered because Of the enemies he
made i'll Irish societies.
"It is ridiculous" said a man in this
city who knew Kelly well. Every
time an Irishman of any account drops
out Of sight some one sets up the cry
that the Fenians have murdered him.
1t is getting to be such a joke that
Irishmen laugh at it more heartily
than any one else. 1 understand there
was some friction in one Of the Irish
societies of which Kelly was men,
ber, but would it be an Irish society
unless there was friction? Show me
an Irish society and 1 will show you
members who don't agree with their
brother members.
'In my opinion there is nothing in
the murder by secret society enemies
yarn. That statement is made ad-
visedly, for 1 knew Kelly and great
, deal about the societies with which
he was connected"
When Kelly began to branch out in
! business he became interested in cot
ton mill in Philadelphia. Later he be-
f. came a director of the Continental
Trust Company. He attended a meet.
ing of the directors of the true com.
: pany the day before he disappeared
: Before going to the meeting he visited
his sister, Mrs. Patrick Kelly Of 223a
| North Second street, Philadelphia, and
! presented gold watch to his nephew
| Kelly was cheerful then and in his
! accustomed good spirits. When he left
his sister he told her he was going to
the trust company meeting.
The meeting was held in the fore
noon. Kelly apparently went straight
to it from his sisters. Nothing unusual
happened at the meeting and he left
it with several Of the other directors
before noon. After stopping for few
minutes in the street to chat with the
! others Kelly started away alone. Nc
trace Of him can be found after he
| parted with his fellow directors.
He didn't appear at the grocery store
the next day or the day following, MOI
| at the cotton mill. His only relatives
! in the city, his sister and brother-in
law, We're Informed of his disappear
ance. They, with his business asso
| ciatcs, thought he had been called
away on a sudden business trip and
did not have time to tell any one where
he had gone.
A week went by and no word came
| from him. 1t was known that Kelly
made frequent trips to this city, com
! ing over once or twice each week
Francis Mulgrew of 219 Columbus ave
nue. is a cousin, and Mnlgrew was
asked to skirmish around and see if he
could get any trace of Kelly. Mu1grew
hunted, but could not find any one who
had seen Kelly here. Mulgrew didn't
think he was in this city, for Kelly
| nearly always called to see him when
he came here.
In two weeks Kelly's relatives be-
| came alarmed and made known his
disappearance. The police were asked
! to look for him and advertisements
were printed in all the large cities ask
ing h INTO communicate with his rela