Miscellaneous, Eloped with Mother-in-Law, 1898

John R. Kelly Arrested in Middletown for Non-Support

Eloped with Mother-in-law

Bainbridge Republican, Sept. 14, 1898

 

Justice George Williams had a peculiar case come up in his court last Friday, that of John R. Kelly, a former resident of the town of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], who was accused of deserting his wife over a year ago and running off with his mother-in-law, Mrs. Susie Anable.  Kelley plead guilty and in default of bonds was sentenced to the Norwich jail for six months.  Below is the history of Kelley's arrest taken from the Middletown Times of Thursday, Sept. 8th.:

 

The unusual occurrence of a man eloping with his mother-in-law was brought to light in this city today.

 

Wednesday afternoon there arrived in this city B.W. Pitsley, a constable from Afton, Chenango county.  He had a warrant for the arrest of John R. Kelley, which had been sworn out by his wife, who charges him with non-support.  The constable went to police headquarters where he made known his business and made inquiries concerning Kelley's whereabouts.  Kelley, it was learned, was employed by the Erie railroad working on one of the section gangs and resided in the Schoonmaker building on James street.  At 11 o'clock officers Vail, Wilson and Brinkerhoff went to Kelley's home, where they found him in bed and placed him under arrest. They afterwards turned him over to Constable Pitsley, who took him to Afton on O.&W train 1 today.

 

Constable Pitsley this morning told the following story, which led to the arrest of Kelley:  Kelley with his wife and two children the age of the older of whom is about 10 years resided in the town of Bainbridge.  A short distance away lived the mother of Mrs. Kelley, with her husband and several children.  The mother's name is Mrs. Susie Anable. 

 

Kelley is a man of perhaps 32 years, about 5 feet tall and good looking.  His mother-in-law became infatuated with him and on July 2, 1897, the husband with his mother-in-law and his older boy disappeared from [the village.  Mrs. Kelley was forced to] seek a home with her grandfather, George Hungerford, who also resides in the town of Bainbridge. 

 

A short time after the couple eloped, Mrs. Kelley swore out a warrant for her husband's arrest.  Constable Pitsley traced him as far as Hancock, where he disappeared as if the earth had opened and swallowed him.

 

Nothing was heard of the couple until a day or two ago, when a resident of this city, who formerly resided at Bainbridge went there for a visit.  He heard the story of the elopement and of the desire to apprehend Kelley.  He then informed the authorities that Kelley was living in this city with his mother-in-law as man and wife and in this way the arrest was brought about.

 

Kelley took his arrest coolly and refused to make any statement.  A Times reporter this morning, accompanied Captain Veber to Kelley's  home, over Wolff's clothing store, where the reporter had an interview with Mrs. Anable.  She was silent at first, but when informed that Constable Pitsley had told the story of the elopement, she became more talkative and expressed a desire to make a statement.

 

Mrs. Anable is about 45 years of age, rather short and good looking.  The home was well furnished and neat and clean.

 

Mrs. Anable denied that Mrs. Kelley was her daughter.  She said that she was related to her but in what way she refused to say.

 

"Mr. Kelley and myself," said Mrs. Anable, "were forced to do what we did through circumstances.  Neither of our homes at Bainbridge was pleasing, and Mrs. Kelley had asked her husband to go away and never return."

 

When asked if Mrs. Kelley know that her husband was going, Mrs Anable said she did not.

 

"But he did not leave her in a mean way," continued the mother-in-law, "He provided her with money and clothes to last her and the other child a long time.  He also took one of the children with him.  We may not have done right but I do not feel guilty.  I am not a bad woman by any means, and I do wish this could be kept out of the papers and save me the notoriety.  We have been living here a year.  We were never married, as we couldn't very well do this when he has a wife living.  But we have been living happily together and my home has been more pleasant than ever before.  It is no one's business whether we are married or not, and we are not the first couple that have lived this way."

 

Mrs. Anable then made inquiries concerning Kelley, and wanted to know if the police would let him come back.  She denied that she had two husbands living, saying that she was divorced from her first husband when a young girl.

 

Before Kelley was taken to Afton, Mrs. Anable asked permission to see him.  She was taken to the lock-up.  The couple embraced each other and their good-byes were very affectionate.  Tears streamed down the cheeks of both, while Kelley's son looked on in wonder.  Mrs. Anable, when asked if she would remain in Middletown, said;  "I don't know.  It will depend on whether Kelley will be able to come back to Middletown. 

 

....Since the arrest of Kelley, the mother-in-law, Mrs. Anable, and Kelley's son have been missing from the rooms here.---Middletown Press, Sept. 15th.