Omaha daily bee., 1917-05-15
CLERGYMAN HELD
FOR HORRIBLE AK
CRIME IN V|LL|SCA
Rev. Lynn George J. Kelly Ac'
CuSed in indictment as the
Slayer of Moor Family
and StiI|inger Girls.

Des Moines, Ia, May l4.-Attorney
General Havner today announced the
arrest of Rev. Lynn George J. Kel-
ly at Red Oak, Ia, charged with first
degree murder in connection with the
Villisca ak murders case of 1912.
Rev. Mr.. Kelly had charge of
parish near Villisca at the time of the
crime, it is said. Since, the minister
has been located at various points in
Illinois, Missouri and Nebraska.
Mr.. Ke!ly's indictment was brought
about following testimony that the
minister had given the details of the
Villisca crimes to people living in
Macedonia, Ia, seventy-hve Mills
away, within half hour after the
crime had been committed.
Gives Himself Up.
Mr.. Kelly gave himself up today
to Montgomery county officials. His
preliminary hearing will be held at
Red Oak probably Tuesday, accord
ing to news received here. His wife
is in Jail with him.
Attorney General Havener has
made application for all order to take
Kelly to Des Moines.
Judge A. L. Sutton of Omaha, the
clergylnan's counsel, is opposing the
grant of the order and is demanding
an immediate trial by jury for Mr..
Kelly in Red Oak.
Story of Crime,
Kelly is named as the slayer OF Mr..
and Mrs. J. B. Moore, their four chill
dren and the two Stillinger girls, on
the night Of June 9, 1912. The MUIR
der, which was committed in the
Moore home, was one of the most
atrocious in the criminal history of
the country.
~ Lived in Nebraska.
1t is a matter of considerable in
tercst, that Kelly was i'll Nillisca the
night of the murder and left town
the next morning on the early train
west. However, he came back and
preached in that vicinity during the
remainder of that summer. Later he
located at Sutton, Neb., where he was
pastor of the Congregations church.
1t is reported that persons who
came in contact with Kelly at Suit
ton were important witnesses before
the grand jury in Red Oak
A story in circulation is that Kelly.
while in Sutton, called upon a doctor
to whom he said:
well. doctor, | had another one Of
my spells last night. The officers
were after me again for the Nillisca
murders, but they didn't get me. |
had all the windows and doors locked
and they couldn't get in. You don't
think I committed that crime do you?
doctor, because the ak hit the ceiling
and | couldn't have reached the cell
ing with an AK. They said that there
was blood on my shirt at the laundry,
but that was not blood; it was hair
tonic
Was Theological Student.
Kelly was theological student at
the time OF the Villisca murders. He
had just completed his school year
at the Presbyterian Theological semi
nary at Omaha, and like many semi
nary students. followed the practice
of preaching during the summer at
small charges in his denomination. He
had made arrangements to preach
during the summer of 1912 at Mace
donia la. in the Council Bluffs pres
bytery, and intended to move his fam
lily there
About the time he completed his
school year at the Omaha seminary
the committee OF home missions of
the Corning presbytery had meet
ing to consider having Kelly go to
the Pilot Grove and Arlington
charges near Villisca. Rev. K. B.
West, then Of Malvern, Rev. A. Z.
Kiser OF Creston and Rev. w. J.
Ewing Of this city were the ministers
OF that committee who met to take up
such matters OF business for the pres