The Omaha guide., 1939-01-21
5000 Attend Policy Kings
Funeral; Inquest
Continued

Chicago, Jan. q AMP His
$4,000 casket covered with 5000 tea
rose and with a crowd of 5000 jan
ming the Charles S. Johnson Fun
eral home and the street outside.
Walter J.. Kelly, Chicago and
Gary policy boran who was slain
in g%angland fashion, was laid to
rest Wednesday.
Meanwhile, police are still hunt
ing for the killers who trailed him
to a small hotel near 31st and
Michigan late Sunday afternoon
and blew his face away with four
blasts from 8 shotgun An inquest,
started Tuesday, was continued to
Jan. "a.
Many of Chicago's most promi-
nens Southsiders either attended
tho funeral rites or sent flowers,
but most of the policy kings were
conspicuous by Their absence. Lead
ers in the racket have not rested
easily since Kelly died.
The Rev. j. C. Austin, noted pas
to- of Pilgrim Baptist church, con-
Quoted tho services. He spoke elo-
auently on love and charity and
gave high praise to the deceased's
large annual. philanthropies. And
Maurice Cooper, star of The Mix
ado," sang Coin Home" 1.-THE
Rosary" and "The End of a Per-
feet Day" Former Congressman
Oscar DePriest led the little group
of 200 or less mourners inside the
chapel, and among the flowers was
o large wreath sent by Joe Louis
along with Julian Black and John
Roxborough, as well as flowers
from some of the areas biggest
politicians.
Outside on the street, thousands
from both Chicago and Gary mour-
ed his passing. They spoke mainly
of the way he had given to chart
ty, told each other how fine a man
ha was, and said it was a shame
that he had to go like that. None
condemned him for the way he had
made his living, for in the Chicago
the policy game is the Southside's
biggest business.
It was so that big that Walter
Kelly was reported to have IN in
como Of 100000 yearly, much of
i. going to charities. In Gary. from
the time he took control of the
racket four years ago until a few
days before his death when a new
and unfriendly city administra-
ten put the lid on, he allegedly
paid close to 100000 for PRO
lection" and as contributions to
campaign funds for friendly city
and county political candidates.
But at the inquest Tuesday, his
brother, lily, who confines most Of
his operations to Chicago, testifi-
ed that Walter twas not in the
gambling on policy business" and
Euclid Taylor, attorney for Hey,
also said that the gangland vic
tim had never served time in the
federal pe%nitentiary at Leaven-
worth for dope peddling.
Az the same time, testimony was
taken from Stanley Orselski, 10
year lod white boy who Witnessed
tho shooting.
Il was standing near Kelly's car
when the man shot at him. said
tho youth, "and fell under the car
to save myself When the killers
drove on, I ran away
Capt. John Carton of the Pc
kin Inn Police station said he want
ed to question three other when
the inquest is reopened. Members
Of the family including his brother
ny. and his common law wife,
Ruby want the police to find out
what happened to Walters bank
roll Of, $500 seen not more than
Is minutes before his death. Like
otAefs' in his field he usually car
ried huge sums of money on his.
person, and was. in the neighBor-
hood of 91st and, Indiana to lend
5000 to a friend. The police station
report showed him to be penniless.
The first persons to handle his
body after the murder were police
men.
The theory has been advanced
in some quarters that Walter,s