Chico Record, Tuesday, April 4, 1916, pg 1 col 3: The funeral of William Skelly will be held from the family home on Pomona avenue Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock. Interment will be made in Chico cemetery.
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Chico Record, Tuesday, April 4, 1916, pg 3 col 2-3: Skelly Dies In Jail From Skull Fracture. W.M. Skelly, arrested on a charge of drunkenness after he had a fight with his brother-in-law, Jack Dunn, during which the former was knocked to the pavement, was found dead in his cell in the city prison by Desk Sergeant O.A. Allwardt at 5:35 o’clock yesterday morning.

Hemorrhage of the brain caused by a fracture of the skull was given by the coroner’s jury yesterday afternoon as the cause of death. A postmortem examination was conducted by Dr. D.H. Moulton who found that along fracture had been made on the left side of the head. A clot of blood as large as a turkey egg was removed.

Skelly and Dunn quarreled at the corner of Third and Broadway Sunday afternoon. The quarrel terminated in a fight during which Dunn struck Skelly on the jaw and knocked him to the pavement. Both men were arrested, Skelley [note spelling] being booked on a charge of drunkenness and Dunn on a charge of battery. Dunn was released upon deposit of cash bail.

Following the death of Skelly yesterday morning Dunn was re-arrested and is being held in jail pending an investigation. No charge has been placed against him by the district attorney’s office, although it was thought yesterday that he would face a manslaughter charge.

The coroner’s jury returned no recommendations as to how the wound was inflicted. E.J. Truesdale, J. Gordon and J. Meyberry, prisoners in the jail, claim they heard Skelly fall from his bed to the cement early Sunday evening. Their statements are somewhat corroborated by Desk Sergeant Allwardt and the father of the dead man, who picked Skelly up from the floor of his cell and placed him on his cot.

It was believed then that he was in a drunken stupor and nothing was known of his injury. Whether Skelly received his injuries when he fell to the pavement after being struck by Dunn and had remained in jail Sunday afternoon and night with a fractured skull, or when he fell from his cot, is the question which must be determined before a charge of manslaughter is placed against Dunn.

William Shea, an eye witness of the fight, testified before the coroner’s jury he saw Dunn strike Skelly after the two had had words together. Skelly fell to the pavement and was taken into a nearby saloon. He later saw Skelly taken away in a taxicab.

E.J. Merk corroborated Shea’s testimony. He stated Skelly did not strike at Dunn.

Dr. Moulton was called to the stand and testified as to the cause of death.

L.W. Hill, bartender, at J.W. Prince’s testified that Skelly was taken into the saloon, but he paid no attention to the proceedings, thinking he was only drunk. He stated that Skelly was taken behind a partition and that someone had asked for a glass of water for him.

Policeman D.G. Arbuckle testified as to the arrest of the two men. He stated he did not know that Skelly had been injured and believed he was only drunk. He asked Dunn why he had struck Skelly, he said, but received no reply.

Constable J.A. Peck testified Skelly had been in several fights and that he had arrested him on one occasion.

T.A. Huff, brother-in-law of the deceased, saw the fight from across the street. He said Dunn had struck at a third man who stopped to talk with Skelly and that Skelly stepped between the two.

Skelly had been arrested on several occasions on charges of disturbing the peace and drunkenness. On November 10 last he was sentenced to serve ninety days in the county jail following a street fight in which he engaged with Lee Tucker and E. Crusick.

He served a short time and was given probation. Soon after he was sent to an asylum to be cured of the drink habit. He returned several days ago and Sunday is believed to be the first day he had taken a drink since his confinement.

A small bottle similar to those purchased at a drug store was taken from Skelly’s pocket by Dunn when the former had fallen to the sidewalk. Dunn threw it into the street. Efforts to determine what had been in the bottle were unsuccessful. It is believed it was alcohol.

When placed under arrest and taken to the city jail Skelly remarked to Dunn: “They got me Jack, so I guess I’ll have to go.”

At 5:15 yesterday morning Allwardt went to Skelly’s cell. He saw him lying on his back and turned him over on his side. Twenty minutes later Allwardt returned and found him dead. His body was still warm.

While awaiting the arrival of a doctor Allwardt and Policeman D.G. Arbuckle worked over Skelly in an attempt to revive him.

Following the report that Skelly had died, Ray Skelly, a brother, threatened injury to Dunn. He fought with a man what stated the death was the result of whiskey and raised such a disturbance that Constable J.W. Benner and Deputy Sheriff William Alexander were called to the Skelly home on Pomona avenue.

The deceased was thirty-two years old and resided with his parents on Pomona avenue. He is survived by his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. P.G. Skelly, three brothers, William, Ray and J.E. Skelly, and two sisters, Mrs. T.A. Huff and Alice Skelly.

The coroner’s jury was composed of T.M. Brown, Ed McCord, J.W. Collins, Jack Powers, D. Letterman, Charles A. Hook, J.W. Mann, J.F. Woodling, M.A. Doolittle and Joseph Stephens.

Attorney Guy R. Kennedy represented Dunn at the inquest. His line of questioning indicated that a defense would be built upon a theory that Skelly received his injury in a fall from his cell.
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A charge was made to Bicknell & Moore for the opening of the grave of Wm. M. Skelly for $5. Source: Cemetery Register, 1 Jul 1904-30 Nov 1920 for Chico Cemetery, specifically April 5, 1916, pg 228, from the Bicknell & Moore Undertakers, within the records of Chico Cemetery Association.

32-year-old William Martin Skelly was interred, per the Chico Cemetery Association Records, in the plot noted, on April 4, 1916 (basis of birth date).
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Chico Record, Wednesday, April 5, 1916, pg 5 col 2: Funeral of William Martin Skelly Held. Funeral services for William Martin Skelly, who died in the city jail from a fractured skull, were held at the family home on Pomona avenue yesterday morning at 10 o’clock. Rev George T. Meeker officiated and interment was made in Chico cemetery. The pall bearers were John Bleasdale, Al Massey, Everett Bruce, Sam Overton, Miles Stephenson, and W.E. Stevens.
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Chico Record, Wednesday, April 5, 1916, pg 4 col 5: Card of Thanks. We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to the many friends who were so kind to us during our recent bereavement; also for the beautiful floral offerings. – Mrs. and Mrs. P.G. Skelly and family.