Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-07-25
FRANK KEELY TOOK THE FATAL
PLUNG LAST NIGHT.
BODY RECOVERED
SUFFERING FROM PHYSICAL AND
MENTAL BREAK-DOWN. YOUNG
MAN SEEKS SOLACE IN THE
WATERS OF THE KANAWHA.
(By United Press. }

Charleston. w. Va, July 25.-Suf-
fering from a physical and mental
breakdown. Frank Butler Keely.
aged 22 years. son OF Mr. and Mrs.
George Keely, OF the South Side.
weary of life, jumped into the Ka
nawha river from the South Side
bridge at $50 o'clock last night. a
distance OF "a feet and wasdrown-
ed in the waters below His body
was not recovered until about Gas
o'clock this morning.
The leap from the bridge to his
death I'm the muddy waters OF the
Kanawha was not witnessed by a
single person, but the splash. caus-
ed by his body coming I'm contact
with the water. was plainly heard by
Geo. Stalnaker in the toll house on
the bridge, City officer Ripley and
Mr.. Hun, who had Just met Keely
on the bridge as he was crossing
Mr. Hun with the officer hurried
across the bridge and inquired at the
toll office If Keelv had crossed back
Mr.. Stalnaker told them he had not
and as he had not crossed to the
South Side, II developed that he had
Jumped from the bridge Mr. IT. NJ
Newhouse. who was also located AZ
the toll bridge was called and rela-
hves Of Keely were notified They
began dragging the river and CON
inued the work until 2 O'Clock this
morning. when It was suspended un-
til daylight.
Probably the last persons to see
Keely alive were Mr.. Hun, who lives
on the South Side and was going
home. and Cornelius Estell. the son
OF w. II. Estell, a linotype operator
employed with the Crossman com
pany. Mr.. Hun said that he passed
Keely on the bridge and as he neared
the spot where he was standing look
ing into the water, he crossed to
the other side Of the bridge.
Young Cornelius Estel had been
to church on this side of the river
and was returning home He met
Keely on the bridge The latter was
standing looking into the water on
the west side of the bridge. Estell
asked him if he was going home and
he replied "Yes. just wait a minute q"
The two started to walk a portion
of the way across. when Keely drew
behind and Estell kept on walking
The latter met OFFICER Ripley at the
south side OF the bridge and was Of
the opinion that he had better tell
the officer that Keely was acting
queerly; then he decided ne would
not as It was known that Keely was
suffering both physically and men
tally.
Estell crossed to the other side Of
the bridge and continued on his way
home. Mr.. Hun crossed TO the south
side and was near the officer when a
splash was heard They started
back looking for Keely. but ne could
HUl bt IOWuN. iItU ~ was iNdI
relatives of the drowned man were
notified and they began a search for
the body in the river. This morn
ing the work Of dragging the river
was resumed and at 9:45. with the
third attempt the body was brought
10 the surface about 200 yards from
the point where be had jumped into
the river
Keely was the son Of Mr.. and Mrs.
George Keely who lives on the South
Side mp Porter's Hollow ON the Keely
road. He was also q nephew OF Mr..
and Mrs william Keely who lives on
the South Side Two years ago. I'm
The class OF 'O5. ne graduated from
The Charleston high school and was
considered an unusually bright and
hardworking boy He taught school
one term across Elk and another
term at Fernbank II was while at