As council president, Kelly served as acting Mayor while Curley was performing his congressional duties in Washington, D.C., and later when he was standing trial for fraud.
[2] On April 9, 1947, Kelly and fellow councilor Joseph M. Scannell were indicted on charges of bribe solicitation and attempted larceny.
[3] On June 10, 1947, Kelly collapsed in his City Hall office due to what his doctors described as strain from the trial and "a rheumatic disorder of long standing".
The Massachusetts General Court passed emergency legislation to bypass Kelly and grant full Mayoral powers to John Hynes, who as city clerk was second in the line of succession, until Curley's release from prison.
[9] Kelly was upset by the move and accused Governor Robert F. Bradford of defying Boston's city charter and railroading him from the office of acting mayor.