New-York tribune., 1873-06-21
IOUN A KENNrNY

John a. Kennedy, Collector Of Assessments
and exsuperntendent OF Police. died Of heart disease
al his home, No 135 West Twenty 23O
yesterday. The deceased born in Baltimore, Nd.
Aug. 0, 1863, and therefore nearly 70 years
old His father was native OF the northern
part OF LELAND, AID was schoOlmaster
Ia Baltimore during many years lie came to NswYOrk
when Sill yOunS maD, and passed an eventual political
and official career Upon coming to this city he estab
Eshed, With his brother william IL. Kennedy, store
for the saIe Of painters supplies, IN Barclayst.
near GreeDwich-st WAile thus engaged, with varying
fuccoS mercantile pursuits, he bee Ime prOm ncut
Democratic politician, and was active member Of
the Tdmmany Society from the Fifth Ward Iu lS9, he
was appointed Commissioner OF Eini ratOn. and i'm
mediaioly upon assuming his official duties, he
made war upon the hoNles OF swinders
who had long preyed upon the emigrants
who, in those days, made the Transatlantic voyage
almost exclusively in sailing vessels In 1851 he
elected Il member Of the Common Council the Free
Il ticket, having become Identified with tBat party
after the division between the BLrn-bur
ers" aud the "Hunkers." Subsequently he
was appointed superintendent OF Castle Garden,
when the city acquired that historic place for the recep
ton OF emcrants. He served In this capacity during
several years. and meanwhile continued eacrgetodly
his efforts for tie protection sf emsrantS against swim
dlcrs.
In 1853 he OF II Supervisors elected gen.
era ticket under the charter OF 1857. Serving in this
position during 1853 and 1882 he resigned in 1850 to be-
come Superintendent OF the Metropolitan Police, In
place OF Amos Psbury, and he the third and last
superintendent Of that body, which superseded oy
the present Municipal Police
Assuming tho duties OF his and important position
June 1860 he became very conspicuous by reason of
his combatyeness and strong self-wil. During tho
draft riots he severely beaten by mob while he
was protecting the Olce OF the Provost Marshal at
Thrdave aud Forty sixth-5t. on the morning Of July
He had ma he'd to Of prOyO3t
Marshal at the head Ot body Of officers. and
Willie statlonng his men, he became separated from
them aud found himself suddenly surrounded by inu-
rated rioters who dragged him into vacant
lot and tbcat AMI kicked him most bru-
tally Before no could be rescued by his
officers he had been badly injured that he was ut
tery ncapactated for active duty for several months
during which Thomas C. Acton then President Of
the Board of Police Commissioners. assumed the duties
OF Acting superintendent. During his maltreatment
ly the mob Superintendent Kennedy received severe
lacerated wound OF the Leg witch crippled him perna
nenuy. and, never healing, was constant source OF
apponted OF NewYork City as well ls
Superintendent Of Pcee ana ne Gon,nued 10 serve In
Among the liquor dealers he acquired many brter
enemies, through lis Jealous c1Jri' to enforce the
Metropolitan Excise Law in its most HctyeiproVs0ns
While mus engaged lie was ~, eefyGI ,mji,ctaGs %IIS
restraining him from interference with liquor
dealers Who had failed 10 comply with the
Excise H. 1861 however, the Court OF Appeals having
declared tue Ia Use law constitutional, ne continued
ia enforce with renewed ylgOr ana IL Is sad,
could seldom DC prevailed upon to listen 70 com
plants any kind made by hquor dealers against ON
cers OF the Metropolitan Police. He was, however
strict disClp.lnaria though ho Mas always
ready TO sustain his officers with all DIS power
opnst Injustice. His StOng self-wi ana perslstency
in ug criminal laws according to his own ideas
involved HIM IN many disputes with judges aud police
Justices, but. with the pO~erfuI lnnue1ce Seluou W
In, lie almost invariably succeeded IN over
coming all obstacles 70 ms plans. P, UPUn Lio nc
position April IL, 1850, attr hiFlDs serNeu lOr lc
years aud WAS succeeded the 10Th ol the same month
by John JOurdan, deceased who was the nTSt oupeilh
tendent OF tho present Municipal Police.
Upon his retiroinent from Police Department OK
sup, rntendcnt Kennedy was chosen PfcallelL ol ne
Avenue Railroad Company. and remained III tnat pVsT
ton for about years, when he was appointed COR
Iector OF Assessments. tu which capacity ne Serh,u
nm his DEATH During the past year, he failed rapidly
IN health aud suffered intensely al times from uIseSo
of te heart, which frequently rendered necessary tDe
abrupt OF his Official duties at tue Cy M anu
Ls removal his home He seized Dy MS 4aIal t-
tack while he was his office, Wednesday OF ths
week and Wac conveyed To his hOue III helpess con-
don. He attended In his last Illness py hl' WIG
and sister. - .. 49,, ~. co,tvs
Lodge No IL. +. and A NJ. aud was an Odd feiow OF
noie lie was initiated IN Gratitude Lodge No D. 10
q T. Of MARYLAND, Feb lS, 1881 lie was buo5t uSht
ly Grand Master OF tho State OF NewIork, ahu ur"hu
Sire or the United states; was nenoet VI
the Grand Lodge OF the United states Tor over
20 wears. aud Chairman or SohNehtOn
which through his eXertiOIs, revised the uouh o P
eedure Odd Fellowship. At the tline Ol MS utae ~ m
was PresIdenl OF the Odd Fellows Han AssOclAtVn au
Of the ODD Fellows Asylum, and was member oi MAN
itOu Lodge Il. and A. NJ .. N. ., ham ,radc
Arrange men ; for MS funeral have not yet been maue
bur it Is prpbib that the service VIII i uo au t &
posing demonstration by his broiher odd feo"S Anu