Thursday, April 16, 2009

Hey my Irish friends I have an Irish ancestor too!My brother Jeff, sent me this information. Like all you other Irish babies with the Irish last names, a name like Reilly means lots of family to be related to (or not)Then there's the gunning down of "Jeems" in Nevada. His murderer found "not guilty"

JAMES REILLY

Born 18 March 1839 Ireland Father- John Reilly b. 1811 Ireland, Mother- Mary nee? b. 1816 (Ireland)Immigrated to New York in 1839-1840 (son, John, Born NY 1840)Family in Tribes Hill NY, Mohawk Township, 1850 Census, page 368, House 195, Family 215 (Surname Reiley) Married: Mary Soper, 24 November 1855 Perth, New York Children: (4)Lived in Amsterdam, NY 1856-1861 Service in Civil War: Enlisted June 1861, Schenectady, NY, Co. G, 91, NY Vol. Infantry - Discharged, 3 July 1865 Discharged as Captain. Was said by his children to have assisted in capture of John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln's assassin (26 April 1865, Bowling Green VA.). Located in San Francisco, CA after Civil War Lived with Ada Allen in San Francisco and Hamilton, Nevada approx. 1867 through 1877 Married Elizabeth Doyle January 15 1878, Hamilton, Nevada Children: Lizzie, B. 24 July 1879; Harvey, B. 8 June 1884; Garrett, B. 26 October 1886 "Murdered by Samuel Paul in Hamilton, NV, 18 March 1886

EARLY DOCUMENTS

24 November 1855 - Marriage Certificate produced for investigator deposing her in 1902 Married - James Riley to Mary Soper, 13 January 1867 -Letter from Ada Allen to Mary Soper Reily 829 Clay St., San Francisco. Have been living with James one year, met in Texas and came to Calif. J. R. Reilly is a short thick set man about 28 or 30 years old, a fine penman and machinist by trade.
14 March 1867 -Letter from James Reily (sp) to Mary Soper Riley - mentioning her answer to Ada Allen's letter, asking her not to write again. Promising her money in October for her and her children if she stops writing to Ada Allen.
31 December 1877 Grantor-Grantee files, Book 28, pg. 133 Land Sale, Austin Rd. To James Reilly, 320 acres land, Emigrant Spr. Ranch12 May 1878? - Letter from Ada Allen to Mary Soper Riley, Hamilton, NV - Telling that James Reilly is planning to marry woman of "easy virtue".

HAMILTON, NEVADA

Newspaper ads: 11/7/1872 Main Street - Hamilton Nevada - Wholesalers Retail Dealers Groceries, Provisions, hardware, Iron, Steel, Fuse rope & Mining Supplies of every description. Also a large assortment of clothing furniture, bedding,glass & crockery ware. Orders are respectfully solicited from outsidemerchants and ranchers at lowest market rates. Goods delivered free of charge. James ReillyHamilton Post Office Fraud 6/18/1881 Arrest of Postmaster Reilly The Eureka Leader of last Monday mentions the arrest of James Reilly late Postmaster at Hamilton by Sheriff Kyle acting as U.S. Marshall on this Wed. previous. Mr. Reilly was arrested on a bench warrant issued by Judge Helgan of the U.S. District Court at Carson on a charge of fraud while in office in having required an employee to receipt for larger sums of money than were actually paid. He was brought before the U.S. Commission and was admitted to bail in the sum of $14 to appear and answer to the charge before the U.S. District court in Carson on 21 June. The sureties in the bond are (n & n). It is probable that the new broom in the Post Office is sweeping too clean and that some technical point Mr. Reilly has been remit (sic) in making his report. We hope and are inclined to believe that he will be able to satisfy Uncle Sam in that he was a good and faithful Postmaster.3/2/1883 Our two business houses, Matterson Bros. and James Reilly seem to be doing flourishing businesses. They are active businessmen and always keep on hand a full stock of everything.6/2/1883 James Reilly is building a large addition to his house in Hamilton. He is also putting a large corral opposite his store on Main St. "Jeems" is a live man and evidently has faith in White Pine's future.

THE MURDER:

Reports have it that Ja. Reilly has sold his store and stables to Sam Paul. They are taking inventory the first of the week.3/4/1886 Homicide at Hamilton, James Reilly shot and killed instantly by S. F. Paul Thursday afternoon. There was quite an excitement here when an Indian courier brought the news of the shooting and killing of James Reilly by S.F. Paul, which occurred Wednesday afternoon. The particulars we get of the affray are very meager, but it is pretty certain the difficulty which ended so sadly grew out of business relations between the men. The following letter to Justice Carpenter, brother-in-law of the deceased, is all we know about it: Hamilton April 1, 6 P. M.
FRIEND CARPENTER: Sam Paul shot and killed James Reilly yesterday afternoon. the family is in a terrible fix and want you here as soon as you can come. The row started in the store and Sam shot him once, when Reilly run out, and Sam shot twice while Reilly was in the street. Reilly ran about 30 yards below the corner of his corral and fell dead. He was hit twice. One bullet struck near the lower rib, on the left side, and came out four inches above the left nipple in the center of the breast. This is as the street talk has it.
AARON CAMPTON.Mr. Reilly has been an old-time merchant of Hamilton, and Sam F. Paul, now one of our County Commissioners, has lived here and on Treasure Hill since 1869, and has always borne the reputation of a good and peaceable citizen.31 March 1886 Document--Coroner's Inquest was held with sworn witnesses--into the cause of death of James Reilly.....do find that he came to his death on the 31st day of March, 1886, about three O'clock P.M. in the afternoon in the Town of Hamilton....from the effects of gunshot wounds inflicted by a pistol in the hands of Samuel F. Paul. Coroner Warrant issues and S. F. Paul was taken into custody.4/10/1886 S.F. Paul is confined in the county jail pending the action of the Grand Jury, being held without bail. It is said he is utterly prostrated.17 April 1886 Hon. O. H. Grey of Cherry Creek is retained for the prosecution in the Paul case. Billy Paul, a well known resident of Hamilton, but for several years a sojourner to the north, returned Saturday on hearing of his father's trouble.It is singular, though we learn it is a fact, that with all the legal ability at the county seat, no post mortem was held on the body of the late James Reilly. 4/24/1886 Criticized Adversely--There is much adverse criticism in this section over the indictment brought against S.F. Paul (manslaughter instead of murder) , and many say the Grand Jury have invaded the province of the trial jury in determining the degree of the crime. We have never heard of such an indictment before being brought in this state, though it is done in other states, and we presume the action of the Grand Jury is perfectly legal, as the gentlemen composing that body are among the best posted in the county. If it were otherwise, the Court would not have entertained it. Justice to the Dead Our Hamilton correspondent, in giving the military record of the late James Reilly, says, I think it no more than justice that the fact should be printed as they are in black and white. The legion of Honor furnished him with a $75 casket, or at least telegraphed the Eureka Post to furnish one of that value. I was a very fine metallic casket, which could have been soddered (sic), if so desired. His emblem of membership with said order, except for that portion which they require to be kept, was placed over his breast. Benjamin Levy of Eureka is busily engaged at the present time in going over the books at the Reilly store building. James Reilly, lately deceased, who was buried here under the auspices of the Legion of Honor, was a member of that order in New York, whom upon notification, telegraphed to the Post in Eureka, who provided his remains with a fine metallic casket. Mr. Reilly served in the 91st N.Y. Regiment; was commissioned second-lieutenant by Gov. Horatio Seymour, Feb. 25, 1863, dating back to December 31, 1862, and as First lieutenant, (by same Gov.) June 13, 1864, dating back to January 13, 1864; was commissioned as Captain by Gov. Reuben E. Fenton, May 11, 1865, dating back to March 2, 1865.1 May 1886 Book 288-277, James Reilly Estate granted to widow, Mrs. E. E. Reilly. "on the west side of Main St., Hamilton, lot #15, block #6.5/1/1886 Mrs. Reilly was appointed administratrix of the estate of James Reilly, deceased.State of Nevada Vs. S. F. Paul--Indicted by the Grand Jury for manslaughter. Admitted to bail in the sum of $5,000. 21 May 1887 The jury in the case of State vs. S. F. Paul brought in a verdict of "Not Guilty" which was received with rejoicing both in the courtroom and on the streets.

TWO MARRAGES

The following depositions are the result of an investigation into the request for Civil War Survivor Pension for the Nevada surviving children of James Reilly, which after several years was finally denied, since no divorce from first wife could be proven, and children deemed illegitimate were not eligible.8 August 1902 - See Deposition from Catherine Cassidy. She was 59, brother James was 4 years older 8 August 1902 - See Deposition from Garrett Reilly8 August 1902 - See Deposition from Mary Kline (Mary E. Soper Riley) Akin, Montgomery County, NY, age 63, Marriage certificate as above, Spelling of name---Riley until move to California.12 April 1902 - See Deposition of Una Reilly, Bay City, Michigan12 April 1902 - See Deposition of George Reilly, Bay City, Michigan Document ---1980 letters from Toni Reilly, granddaughter of either James, Garrett or Harvey First, "poet John Boyle O'Reilly came to U.S. in 1830", then during the uprising and famine her grandfather, my great grandfather, came over with his brother Albert. Albert left for Australia and was never heard from again. I think she may be a generation off, and certainly off on the "poet". She is also off on the Doyle-Reilly sequence of events. Her father died when he was 46. He was recorder and auditor of White Pine County, also manager of Ely Record. Newspaper. With documents I have gathered I cannot rely on any of her information as being accurate.

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