The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-07-16
They Holt
ESTATE,
FOLEY
SAYS
Cabinet Maker, Who Cared
for Blind Heiress, Re-
leased BY Police

II 5s =
Dreams Of an estate Of $780,
OOO, 900, one-third Of which would
some day be hers, led Mrs. Mar
garet Kelly, seventy-two- year-old
blind recluse, found dead in bed
at 1711h Seventh street north
west yesterday, to hide herself
from the world for nineteen years.
Her protector during these
many years was Maurice a.
Foley, sixty-six-y ear.oId cabinet
maker and seIf-styled international
detective, who was deyoting his
life to realizing Mrs. KeIly's
hopes
Il an clean-ctit detective and
viii finish this case in spite Of
he'll" Foley said today.
Foley Is Released.
Doctor Herbert E. Martyr, deputy
coroner, performed an autopsy on
Mrs. Kelly's body today. He report
ed her death was due to natural
causes. The exact time of death
was not determined. but morgue
officials said they believed she had
been dead several days when found
Foley was released from the Sec.
ond precinct, where he had been
held since yesterday.
Plug Hat villains.
Foley kept Mrs. Kelly hidden
from two ''rascals" who are mora
than q 100 years old and who daily
ride through the streets OF Wash.
ington In high priced automobiles
wearing plug hats. he said.
They were her uncles," he said,
and they have tried many schemes
to make me believe they are dead.
But I know they are alive ana
enjoying the millions which belong
to Margaret Kelly. will bring
them to justice some day"
Foley's Story.
Foley today outlined to a reporter
of The Washington Times the story
OF the nineteen.year-fight for Mrs.
Kelly's millions.
Twenty years old. Foley lived IN
Athens Pa, working as q cabinet
maker and private detective. a
friend introduced him to Mrs. Kelly.
He became interested in her case,
swore he would devote his life to
aid her, and set out to recover
property in Maryland, Virginia
and the District Of Columbia. which
he believed rightfully belonged to
her. He moved here.
Mrs. Kelly told him she was d
granddaughter of Colonel Hugh
West De Neale, landowner and 81
rect descendant of the O'Neales,
who were overlords in Ireland for
many centuries. Colonel De EeaIe.
she said, died in Alexandria, va, n
1915 and left his vast estate to be
divided equally among his three
children:
James c. De Neale.
William II. De Neale.
Julia Anne De Neale.
Instead OF giving the daughter her
one-third share, the brothers, Mrs.
Kelly said, took 1t ALL Julia Anne
De Neale married George Hunter
and she Mrs. Kellyl was a daughter
by that marriage. Since Mrs. Kelly'w
death the daughter has sought the
fortune.
For years she carried on the fight
alone. She met Detective Foley.
Her eyesight was failing at the time.
Foley investigated and convinced
himself Mrs. Kelly's uncles were stllI
alive and rich and were after" their
niece, Mrs. Kelly. !.
Why She Hid.
II suggested that while we were
preparing our case for the courts.
Mrs. Kelly hide herself from her
uncles." Foley said. "She thought
1t was q wise move. We moved
into q house at 1926 Sixth street
northwest and Mrs. Kelly remained
hidden. Once in a while / took her
on a car ride but this was only
the first year knew her. She
finally lost her sight"
Foley said they later moved to
902 r street northwest, house at
Eighth and r streets, 7O2 Rhode
Island avenue and finally 20 l7ilx
Seventh street northwest. The only
tisnss Mrs, kelly has hosn cut g