Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-29
MURDER IS CHARGED
Charred Bones of Woman
Found in Ruins of Home.
HER HUSBAND ARRESTED
Dwelling Of Jesse Kelly, Near Hill
Top, Nd, Burned.
INVESTIGATION BY SHERIFF
Reaches Conclusion That Crime Was
Committed and House Burned
to Conceal Evidence.
HER HUSBAND ARRESTED
INVESTIGATION BY SHERIFF

LA PLATA. Charles county. Md, March
2a.-Residents of the vicinity of Hill Top.
a village about ten miles west Of here. are
aroused by reason Of the alleged murder
of Dell Kelly, colored. and the burning Of
her body at her home in that section last
Saturday morning.
Following an investigation, Sheriff Hal
slip has arrested Jesse Kelly, husband of
the deceased, and lodged him in jail here
to answer a charge of murder.
Not since the double murder committed
by Charles Cooking at Hill Top about
fifteen years ago, and his subsequent
lynching, has anything. occurred that so
thoroughly aroused the people of the
community as did Saturdays tragedy.
Both white and coIored people were hor-
rified, and some Of the latter. it is re-
ported, have discussed the question OF
dealing summary vengeance to the prs-
oner should his guilt be shown.
Fire Destroys Dwelling.
Saturday morning the home of Kelly
and his wife two-story frame struc-
tlre. was burned to the ground, and the
charred remains of the woman found in
the ashes. A house on the same site was
destroyed by fire two years or more ago
Sheriff Haislip went to Hill Top to
make an investigation, and examined
what remained of the body of Mrs Kelly.
Her legs had been burned off. the sheriff
found. and the condition of her skull in
dicated. he says, that she had been as
saulted and her skull crushed in before
the house caught fire or the torch was
applied.
house. 1t is reported. Sheriff Haislip .ound
blood stains. He concluded that the
woman had been killed in the yard. Her
body. he believes. was then dragged into
the house and the torch applied for the
purpose of hiding the murder.
The fire attracted many residents of
Hill Top. where the blaze was discovered.
Kelly rented the house from George
Hawkins. 1t was impossible to prevent
the destruction OF the building. and when
burned to death 1t was suspected she was
a victim Of foul play.
Regarded as Suspicious.
There was no reason why the woman
should have been burned to death, neigh
bors argue, the house having been but a
two-story structure and not a. very tall
one. Neighbors declared the woman
might easily have escaped from the
house had the fire been started acct
dentally. She had been seen about the
neighborhoOd of Hill Top Friday night,
and it was known that she was not Ill.
Sheriff ffaislip concluded that the
crushed condition of the skull had re-
suited from violence committed before
the house was burned. Murder was the
crime he scented and he undertook to
find the perpetrator Of the crime.
Sunday afternoon an inquest over the
charred remains was conducted by Mag
istrate George w. Carpenter at Hill Top.
Members of the jury heard the state
ments of neighbors and viewed the
crushed skull and charred bones, report
ing the result Of the deliberation to the
states attorney.
Kelly Placed in Jail.
1t was shortly after the conclusion Of
the inquest that Sheriff Haisip deter
mined upon making the arrest. Kelly
had made no effort to leave the vicinity
of Hill Top. He had made statements
regarding the burning of his home and
the death of his wife, but his explanation
did not satisfy Sheriff Haislip and his
arrest followed.
Kelly was brought here without delay
and placed in Jail. The prisoner, who is
about forty-five years old. was formerly
employed at the naval proving station at
Indian Head. His case will be investi-
gated by the grand jury at the May term
Of court