these composition/paper mache whatever you call thems (dolls?  ornaments?  Christmas, halloween???) seem to have been popular novelty items in catalogues like the Butler Brothers "Our Drummer" sales Catalog (out of saint louis), the Levin Brothers "Hustler" Catalog (out of terre haute) and the Gellman Brothers Novelty Catalog (minneapolis), etc etc from the early 1920's thru the mid to late 1930's..
devils, skeletons, monkeys- hand painted with spring coiled arms and legs.  they all appear to be intended for children you didn't know very well or were indifferent towards.  i found this at my grandpa's house while cleaning it out, it was either his or grandma's when they were kids.  in remarkable shape considering its age and everything that could have gone wrong in a century of laying around.  there might have been a small loop on the top of S. Kelly's head at some point and one spring is a little pulled and bent on one arm- and i'm not going to attempt to fix that...  that will be my gift to you..  

holler with any questions,
doug