VICTORIAN MURDER CASE

Otago Witness, Issue 3611, 29 May 1923, Page 23

VICTORIAN MURDER CASE

KELLY’S TRIAL OPENED. MELBOURNE, May 21. The trial of Kelly, charged with the murder of Mrs Overall, has commenced. Evidence similar to that given in the lower court was tendered. May 23. At the trial of Kelly, evidence was given by Oliver, a prisoner in the (Melbourne Gaol, that Kelly, while in gaol, told him that he had got Mrs Overall to make a will while she was under the influence of drink. He then gave her a spoonful of arsenate of lead daily till her death. He cut up the body, buried portion of it, and threw the rest into the Yarra. The only mistake he had made was that he had buried a portion of the clothing. Another prisoner (Kennedy) gave evidence that while Kelly was in gaol he confessed that he had killed Mrs Overall and disposed of the body. Kelly (who gave his name as O’Keefe), in giving evidence on his own behalf, said that Mrs Overall drank heavily. He said to her that he would find her dead some day. She replied: “If you do, cremate me and keep my remains on the place. Don't tell anyone.” When she died he remembered her request, and rolled the body in blankets, and burnt it, then put the' ashes in a bag, and dropped it into the Y'arra. He denied the alleged conversations with Oliver and Kennedy. The case is unfinished. KELLY MURDER TRIAL. MELBOURNE, May 25. The jury disagreed in the case of David Kelly, who was charged with the murder of Mrs Overall. The jury were discharged, and the case will be reheard next month.