Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-09-10
UNUSUAL SITUATION IN GRIMM
Al ANNALS MARKS TRIAL OF
MINISTER FOR Ak MURDERS.
KIN OF VICTIMS ARE
CONFIDENT OF INNOCENCE
Promises he viii Spring
Sensation Which Will Break Down
States Case-End Of Trial Not Ex-
pected Before Middle Of October
Each Side Has Over 100 Witnesses.

Council Bluffs, Sept. 10.--Ordinarily
atrocious crime as that which shocked
Villisca on the morning of June TO-
1912, would be the last ones to doubt
the guilt Of man who is already on
trial in district court, under indict-
ment for having been the one who
crushed the lives of their loved ones
But here in Montgomery county Is
situation which probably never has
been paralleled and will not be for a
long time. 1t is harder to find any
persons more convinced Of the accused
ak mans innocence, than those whose
hearts were pierced by the blows of the
ak. Not only are they lending their
moral support to clear the charge from
the man the state names in an indict-
ment as responsible for the murders
but they are giving freely of theiI
money to aid in his defense They
believe that another not Kelly, Is the
guilty party.
Before Judge Boies who is presid-
ing at the trial. put an end to it by
forbidding the open display Of SYM
pathy for the preacher, Kelly was the
center Of a receiving line at the close
of each court session. Relatives OF
the ak mans victims assured him OF
their support with handclasp. 9th
ers who believed he was the victim
of an attempt to shield anothers guiit,
crowded about him to shake his hand
He was placed in the position OF
martyr. Many citizens have contrib
uted small and large sums to secure
for him some of the best legal talent
that money can procure. Kelly goes
on trial for his liberty behind front
Of attorneys whose abilities in the
court room are recognized far and
wide. ..
Confession Is Discredited.
The confession which the state
claims to have secured from the
preacher in which he admits killing
eight persons with an ak in response
to the voice of God which babe him
"Slay Utterly" is scoffed at by the
followers of Detective J. N. Wilker-
son who seeks to fasten the crime or
other parties. They say the comics
sion resulted from an all night grillins
and the use Of drastic third degree
methods.
One man, who has been most active
in the campaign TO raise money t.
clear Kelly, was asked:
Would YOU believe Kelly guilty Il
he were to confess on the witness
stand that. he committed the muir
ders."
NO" was the response. &He tler
qualified this answer by saying Kelly
would have to explain how he coult
slaughter eight persons with an a,
and not saturate his clothes with blood
so as to be noticeable to those who
saw him leave Villisca by train on the
! morning Of the murders.
State 10 Confident.
Others say they can not believe 8
man as small as Kelly Is physically
able to commit such murder single.
handed, that he is not tall enough t
have swung the ak in such a manner
as to hack the ceiling in the rooms
where the murders were done. The
state says these matters will be readily
cleared up in the testimony which the!
will offer in their attempt to prove
Kelly guilty.
What if this jury finds Kelly gull
ry?" was asked of a man who is one