The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1911-03-22
JOHNSTON KELLEY TRAGEDY
A SANDERSVULLE PAPERS AC-
COUNT OF THE AFFAIR.
Conflicting Reports Made as to the
Actions of the Principals. Kill
ing Is Deeply Depiored.

ing Is Deeply Depiored.
The Sandersville Georgian prints
the following account of the killing
in that county at Tennille of DR.. 7.
J. Kelley by Prof. Haley n. john
son:
THE people of Washington coun-
ty we're shocked Thursday morning
to learn that a bloody tragedy had
been enacted on the streets of our
sister city, Tennile, which resulted
in the death Of DR.. T. J. Kelley, a
prominent physician of that place.
Exactly what brought about the
tragedy cannot be stated except
that a report had been made by the
young son of DR.. Kelley, Mr. T. J.
Kelley, Jr., which was derogatOry to
the character of Prof. H. n. John
son. Ill feeling was engendered and
angry words had followed The
trouble began brewing several days
ago.
Thursday the two principals to
the tragedy were seen going up the
same street. DR.. Kelley was on one
side of the street and Prof. Johnson
on the other. Whether anything was
said by either is not known, as wit
nesses are reticent in making state
ments. Several pistol shots rang
out in rapid succession, and DR.. KEEL
ley sank back from the effects of
wounds fired from a pistol in the
hands of Prof Johnson. There are
conflicting reports at this point in
the tragedy. Mr. T. J. Kelley, Jr.,
who was in his fathers office, ran
into the street and began firing at
Prof. Johnson, who ran a short dis
lance and then made his way across
the back lots of the stores on the
block where the hotel stands He
went to the Office of the Augusta
Southern railroad, where he remain
ed until he 'phOned Sheriff Moye,
who went after him in an automobile
and brought him to Sandersville to
be held as a prisoner in the Jail un-
til his trial can be had. After Prof.
Johnson had reached the depot Mr..
VIII Kelley, a brother of the dead
man, attempted to enter the build
ing with a pistol in his hand. Friends
endeavored to keep him back, and in
the scuffle which ensued the pistol
was unbTeached and all of the cart
ridges thrown out Prof. Johnson
fired his pistol about the same time,
but the bullet went wild
1t is not known how many shots
were fired at Prof. Johnson by Mr..
Tom Kelley, but none of them struck
him and he escaped without a
wound.
The news of the killing reached
Sapdersville over the telephone with
in few minutes after it happened.
Mr.. r. A. Kelley, brother of DR.. Kel-
ley, was foreman of the grand jury,
which was then il session, and as
soon as he heard that his brother
had been shot asked to be excused
from further service and hurried
over to Tennille
Thursday afternoon after exam
ming several witnesses, the grand
jury returned an Indictment of muir
der against Prof Johnson, and the
case will be tried before the supe-
rior court
Prof. Johnson has been teaching
in Tennille for the past two years,
and enjoyed the reputation Of being
good teacher. He was originally
from Dawson, and it is stated that
his family is considered one of the
best in the city. Several Of his rel
atives and friends came at once tC
Sandersville as soon as they were
notified that he was in trouble.
''Dr. Kelley was son of DR.. Sea-
born Kelley, who died about IS
years ago. He had many relatives
and friends in this county. He was
man of quiet disposition, and de-
voted almost his entire time to the
practice of his profession. His many
friends deplore the sad ending of
his life. The funeral services were
held Friday, and large concourse
of people attended as a mark of re-
spect to the memory of the deceas-
ed, who possessed many admirable
traits of character.
The unfortunate affair is deplor-
ed by everybody in this section of
the state"