The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-12
WAS THIS MURDER !?
The Mysterious Death Of Samuel Ken
needy, at Bound Brook, NJ.
STRONG Suspicious or FOUL PLAY.

BOUND BROOK N. j., April IL, 1s73
The quiet village OF Bound Brook, N. j., this week
has been aroused from its usual apathy by what
appears to be most mysterious murder. At an
early hour on Tuesday morning Mr.. Samuel Ken
nedy, one OF the Oldest inhabitants of the village
was found about mile from the station lying on
the track in an apparently dying condition. The
wounds on his body, from their nature, could not
have been possibly inflicted by himself and sus-
pcions OF foul play were at once awakened. When
Mr.. Kennedy was found he had three terrible cuts
on his head, such as might have been
produced by blunt instrument One ex-
tended from the eyebrow to the right ear,
another was close beside the first, though not 80
long. and the third was also behind the right ear.
All the wounds had penetrated to the Skull and
any one OF them was sufficient to cause death. 1t
Is utterly Impossible to suppose that any OF these
wounds could have been caused by locomotive
or car "a the clothes OF the dead man were in per-
feet order, uniform and unsOiled which they could
not possibly have been had they come In contact
with an engine. The position in which the body
lay also precluded the idea that death was pro-
auced by means OF an accident. He was lying close
TO the crossing, with his head resting upon the
track, and he would certainly have been ground
into atoms had locomotive struck him IN TINS
position. The force OF the shock would nave
thrown him many yards from the track; put' Us
stated before, he lying right across IL. Ihree
lOaves OF bread which the man was carrying were
found about three hundred yards from the spot
where the body lay.
The majority OF the inhabitants OF bound BROOK
are firmly convinced that
MIR. KENNEDY WAS MURDERED,
and the theory on which they entertain this belief
is certainly very ingenious one 1t is supposed
that the murderer, whoever he may be, encoun-
tered his victim at the spot where the loaves of
bread were found and that here the deadly attack
was made AS enc OF the blows must have knocked
Mr.. Kennedy into state OF insensibility re-
sembling death, the supposed assassin carried the
body across the fields and placed it upon the track
In order establish that death had been caused by
passing train. But the cunning of the murderer
not sufficient to stave Off suspicion. The body
was lying upon the broad gauge track, and the
trains upon 1t do not pass SO regularly upon
the narrow gauge. II the body had been carried
two yards further the manner of death
would not have been questioned, and every
one would have felt satisfied that no foul
play had been used. on the night in question sew
era trains passed over the road, but none went
over tle broad gauge track until the next morn
ing, Whatever motive the assailant OF Mr.. Ken
nedy mad 1t was evidently not robbery, as all his
yaluabes were found upon his person, including
valuable diamond pin, watch and chain andmo
extremely well liked by his neighbors and this
made his death more mysterious. Who could have
any motive in killing him BY dint of inquiry
clew was however found. German farmer for
the past three years has been in the employ Of Mr.
Kennedy, and with his vile and family, occupieda
part oil Mr.. Kenpedy's house, the latter having
lived Ter fifteen years in the village as bachelor.
Mr., Kennedy, for some reason or other, became
dissatisfied with the man, and
TWO DAYS BEFORE HIS DEATH
he dismissed him from his service and hired
another person instead. The German was ex-
tremey lrritated at this action of his master, and
as ne was 10th to leave his comfortable quarters,
force had to be employed to make him. He be-
came very violent when forced to go, and it was
with extreme difficulty ne was got out OF the
house. suspicious strongly point towards this
man. but as yet they are unsupported by any posi-
Mr.. Kennedy was man rather fond of liquor,
and when under its influence he was disposed to
be guarresome. On Monday night about ten
O'Clock he entered the Bound Brook Hotel and,
walking up to the bar, called for drink In the
barroom he met an old friend named Stockum,
and drinking. He remained until eleven
O'Clock, when he rose to go home. Stockum
for the night; but the deceased. whs was a very
obstinate man, insisted on going to his arm which
was about mile away, and he departed, carrying
with him the lOaves OF bread OF which mention has
been before made. The landlord OF the hotel, Gen.
eral Holman, states that when deceased left his
house he was somewhat under the influence of
liquor, but not drunk, and perfectly able to take
care OF himself. When he had gone q few yards
from the hotel he met neighbour Mr.. Peter
keehler, who owns a larm near to kennedy's. The
two walked on together until they came to the Mid
de Brook Hotel wheEs they tried to get In, but
the door was fastened .d they were forced to pass
on. Kennedy walked on without staggering until
he reached bridge
CROSSING A SMALL STREAM,
when he slipped and fell. KOehler, when he
reached his own house, wanted to accompany
Kennedy home, but the latter would not hear OF
IT, and went on his way alone, and nothing more
was heard OF him until he was found lying on the
track the next morning. The dying man was
taken home and his wounds were carefully dressed
N nj in
an lnsensibe condition he died ut three O'Clock in
the afternoon without having spoken word that
could throw light upon his iate.
All the engineers who passed ever the road dur
ing Monday night and Tuesday morning deny that
were there the marks OF any hair or blood. Mr.
Morris. OF Elizabeth, says that in his opinion it
would be impossible to wound man In the way
Mr.. Kennedy was wounded. and states that in
eight years. experience OF railroad accidents he
has never known of a case at all similar to this.
rather romantic incident is connected with
the death of the unfortunate man. For sixteen
years the belief had been current in Bound Brook
that he was bachelor, and such he always repre-
sented himself to be; but since his decease II APP
pears that he had wife, and, 1t Is said despatch
was received from her on Thursday. About three
years ago the assertion was made that he was mar
ried, but Mr.. Kennedy was so indignant that he
took an action against the man who made the as
sertion. He was heard to say some time before his
death that he would have vile i'll the farmhouse
before Christmas. and lateriy ne had been paying
his addresses to young lady VINO, however,
refused them on account OF his intemperance.
On yesterday jury was empaneed by Mr.. Bush,
who combined in himself the offices OF both coro.
ner and undertaken. The jury proceeded to the
residence OF Mr.. Kennedy and viewed the body,
when the inquest was adjourned until next Tues
day, at half past one O'Clock, when 1t Will be re-
sumed in the Bound Brook Hotel The funeral took
place to-day, at one O'Clock in the afternoon, the
body being taken to West Point, n. Y.
The German upon whom suspicion rests says that
he left the employment OF MI. Kennedy Of his own
WISH and that no unpleasantness existed between
them. TINS s, however generally disbelieyed, but,
as the man does not seem to have any desire TO
run away. no effort has been made to arrest him.
The tragic occurrence Is the all-prevailing topic OF
conversation.