Mrs. Sadie Bollinger of near Sheldons Grove, witnessed a shooting affray early Thursday morning last week in the Spring Lake Drainage district, about twenty-five miles south of Pekin, where she had accompanied Charles Kelly, the victim, for a few days outing. The slayer, Wilhelm Drew, aged 60 years, was said to be intoxicated. Kelly, aged about 40, was previously a resident of Monmouth, and was married, but he and his wife had lived apart for several years, but they had never been divorced.
The shooting took place on Drew’s cabin boat and Mrs. Bollinger is the only eyewitness. According to reports Kelly was sitting on the bed when Drew, without a word, picked up an automatic shot gun and fired. Kelly said, “He’s shot me” and toppled over. Mrs. Bollinger ran to a nearby cabin boat occupied by a family by the name of Beal. Mr. Beal went to the Drew cabin and found Kelly dead. On his return his wife suggested that they notify the sheriff, and this was done.
The officers arrived about 3:00 o’clock. It was quite dark and Drew was parading up and down the cabin boat and as the officers were not sure who had done the shooting they decided to guard the house and wait for day light. Just as day began to break Drew came out and the sheriff stepped between him and the shack and placed him under arrest.
An inquest was held and the coroner’s jury recommended that Drew be held without bail to await the action of the grand jury. He was placed in the county jail at Pekin, and states that he has no recollections of having killed Kelly.
The wound, caused by the gun shot was a jagged hole about an inch and a half in diameter, where the charge entered the back just below the point of the right shoulder blade.
Kelly’s wife arrived from Monmouth to take charge of the body.
Mrs. Bollinger returned to Astoria Saturday evening enroute to her home. She will return to Pekin in February to appear before the grand jury as a witness in the case.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus