Former Kahoka Pastor Kills Devoted Friend: 1937

NEWTON, KELLY

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 9/21/2014 at 06:20:29

**Handwritten: V.B. Record 22 July 1937

FORMER KAHOKA PASTOR KILLS DEVOTED FRIEND

Kahoka, Mo., was considerably disturbed last week by the news of the former pastor, Rev. C.E. Newton, becoming involved in the murder of Mrs. Dennis Kelly of Paris, Mo., and throwing her dead body from the Mark Twain bridge into the Mississippi river.

Mr. Newton, age 52, was pastor of the Kahoka Baptist church about eight years and was quite well known and respected in Kahoka and Clark county. He had been called to preach a funeral at Kahoka on Wednesday of last week, but was arrested prior to that time.

Mrs. Kelly left a letter for her husband whom she was deserting to go west. She had also taken her money from a bank. About $1900 of this money had been given by Mrs. Newton to his adopted daughter for safekeeping before his arrest.

Mr. Newton had been pastor at Paris, Mo., after leaving Kahoka, but had no regular pastorate at this time. he was described as six feet tall, weight 125, soft spoken, and frequently in demand for funerals.

According to Newton's confession, he and Mrs. Kelly left Monday night in Newton's car, and they drove across the Mississippi into Illinois, Mrs. Kelly trying to persuade him to go to California with her. On the Illinois side of the river they became involved in a quarrel, got out of the car, Mrs. Kelly fell and struck the pavement, after which he struck her with a hammer, then placed her in the car, drove back on the bridge and threw her body in the river. It was found Tuesday morning near Louisiana.

Newton is in jail at Pittsfield, Pike county, Ill., where an 11 page signed statement of guilt was obtained by State's Attorney Merrill Johnston.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book D, Page 136, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA