Took Off Her Shoes And Was Then Struck By A Train

TOOK OFF HER SHOES AND WAS THEN STRUCK BY A TRAIN

Mrs. O. A. Kelly, Widow of the Late Photographer, Committed Suicide Saturday Morning on the Michigan Central Tracks--She Had Become Despondent

Mrs. O. A. Kelly, widow of the photographer who kept a gallery on Huron street for a number of years, was killed on the Michigan Central tracks early Saturday morning, and it is apparently a clear case of deliberate suicide, although she had no reason for any such act. The fatality happened on the tracks opposite the end of Thirteenth street.

About 6 o'clock that morning some employee on the railroad discovered her body beside the track and immediately reported the fact at the depot. Coroner Watts and Undertaker Martin were notified and they took charge of the remains.

They found that Mrs. Kelly had taken care to remove her shoes and place them beside the track. Both legs were badly broken above the ankles and the back of her head was badly crushed. Death must have been instantaneous. The fatality had occurred not long before the discovery of the body as it was still warm even when the coroner reached the scene.

If the shoes had not been removed and placed beside the track the theory of accidental death might possibly prevail, but the fact that they had been taken off rather precludes this and the suicidal theory will probably be substantiated. Another thing that tends to the belief that Mrs. Kelly had determined to take her life is that it occurred at a point which could be reached only with some difficulty. There is no crossing near the place and the only way the tracks can be reached is by climbing over the fence or by going to Observatory street and then walking up the tracks.

Neighbors of Mrs. Kelly visited Martin's undertaking parlors Saturday and stated that they would appear at the coroner's inquest on Monday and testify that she had been in ill health and that she had been very despondent for the past week.

"I tried to rouse her from this," said one lady, "but I could not. Friday she received word from Stockbridge that some buildings she owned there had burned and this made her feel more downcast than ever. She must have been out of her mind to do this act."

Another lady stated that Mrs. Kelly had told her that if anything ever happened to her, her brother, William Rice, who resides near Mt. Pleasant, should be notified.

Only a few days ago Mrs. Kelly sold two lots on State street for $1,050 and was making arrangements to pay up all her indebtedness amounting, she had remarked, to about $700. Her husband, who died about two years ago, left her in comfortable circumstances and she was the owner at the time of her death of a valuable piece of property on Geddes avenue, where she resided. It was not financial difficulties or stress that caused her to commit suicide.

The deceased was the second wife of the late O. A. Kelly and was about 45 years of age. She leaves no children.

The inquest on the death of Amelia W. Kelly, widow of the late O. A. Kelly, was held Monday and the fact was developed that the Michigan Central authorities had no accident reported to them as having happened by reason of one of their engines striking the unfortunate woman. It is possible that the engineer of the train that did strike her did not see the fatality as it occurred before daybreak.

Walter Smith, a brakeman on a freight train arriving here at 6:15 a. m., got off the way car and was walking towards the depot when he discovered the body lying between the double tracks. He saw that the shoes had been removed and he looked around. He found the shoes and rubbers within a radius of 40 feet of the body and placed them beside the track. He then went to the depot and told the night operator to notify the proper officials.

Dr. Lee Kapp, who had examined the body, testified that Mrs. Kelly was standing up when struck by the engine and that her back was toward the train.

W. G. Skinner, of 1505 S. University avenue, swore that Mrs. Kelly had counselled him on Friday about some business matters and that she was very despondent. She said that she did not have any confidence in anybody and thought that they would get the start of her.

Minnie Linabury, who is visiting her mother at 411 N. Ingalls street, testified that Mrs. Kelly came to her mother's home on Friday afternoon. She was very despondent over the fact that a photographic car at Stockbridge and which belonged to her, had been burned up and that the loss was $400. Mrs. Kelly wanted Miss Linabury to go home with her and stay all night but she was prevailed upon to remain at the Linabury house for the night. Between 5 and 6 o'clock Saturday morning Mrs. Linabury heard someone get up and go out of the house but did not think that it was Mrs. Kelly, whose absence was not discovered until 7 o'clock.

The jury's verdict was that "Mrs Amelia Kelly came to her death from being struck by an engine of the Michigan Central Railroad, which engine or train we are unable to determine but probably the freight going east ahead of No. 8 and that she placed herself on the track with suicidal intent while temporarily insane."