The New York herald., 1877-12-28
A VIRGINIA TRAGEDY.
Murder OF Prominent Citizen and Sui
eide Of the Murderer.
"YOU HAVE SLANDERED Me-
colonel William Randolph Berkeley Shot Iw'ee
by captain W. II. Kennedy.
IBY TELEGRAPH 10 THE HERALD

One Of the most terrible tragedies ever enacted oc.
Cured IN TINS town to-day. CoiSrcl William Ran
dolph Berkeley, one OF the most prominent lawyers
the state, had ms Office tho street OF Farm
vile. Al about O'Clock to-day the Colonel was
seated In his Office couvcrsing with Mr.. Alfred Moth,
the cashier OF the English and American Bank, whea
knock was heard. and the Colonel RISING open tho
door, received shot In tho bodv, which
was quickly followed by arother in the right
temple. Mr. Moth recognized The assailant ss
Captain W. IL Kennedy, formerly proprietor Of tho
Randolph Hotel. in This town, aid previously propr.e
tor Of tho Bongoroox Hotel, Petersburg. Sir. Moth
ran Tor assistance just as Kennedy completing his
bloody work by shooting himself The head. co.onel
Berkeley dico IN about thirty minutes, dl kennedy
still lives, with hope OF his recovery
Az Iilusraors LINEAGE
Colonel Berkeley the representative OF two OF
tho oldest families the State. the handophs ,nc
Berkccys both OF whom their dcsccnt ~ direct
limo from the Norman Conquest John Randolph, or
Roanoke, and Edmund Ran loph. Attorney General OF
the United States, OF this family. Bishop Berke.
Icy whose line
Westward the star OF empire takes lis way
Is household word with Americans, was connected
by close relationship WITH the Berkcieys who al an
oury period came 10 the OLD Dominion The Earls or
Berkeley and Fazhardnsc are chiefs OF family in
England
MURDERED NAN
Colonel William Randolph Berkeley was one OF the
leaders OF tho conservative party III tho State aud
had been iavoraply spoken Of for Governor. He had
also selected IN tho last State Conv vontion
TO allow his name 10 be brought forward tor
the Attorney Gencralship but refused For several
years he wac aclivc ncmber OF the Board Vsii
ot the University OF Virginia, wherc he gradu
before the war During tue war he was colonel OF u
Virginia regiment when distinguished Itself greatly
He took active part In Tho Tdeu campaigu deliver
rag speeches in several States, and II NJ. iden had
foreign mission. His IAt public address was before
the alumni OF Randolph Macon College, few weeks
ago, when hrs cloqucnce and power were especially
noticed by his itisnds
tue ASSASSIN.
Captain ". II. kounedy, The murderer and suicide,
had been for somc mouths IN very deprcs staIc
OF mind and three several occasions nad Prev.
ously sought 10 take his own gito During Tho past
week nc had been heard 10 utter tursats lgaiust
Coionei Berkeley, and had ioc NJ J. T. CuEuin2ham
that he proposed to commit suicido aud wished
| Frccmusons TO conduct his funeral lhcse eats
were regarded by those who hoard thom u merely
/ ice, Kennedy having mado SO many aitonpts
on his lilo that Tho people began 70 thin.
tht at last he terribly in earnest, and everybody
now lAucuts thai hc WAS hot arrested long 40.
/ VIRGINIA HOSPITALITY
! Col Berkeley had been keeping up the Christmas
festivities on scale OF old Virginia hospitality, amt
! ho had invited a large and brilliant company to
party in his splendid mansion tonight Ho
OF the generous hosts IN the state, and The
habit oil entcrtainns the Governors and o.hcr dsti
gusnud personagcs who visited The town. Tho weapon
used ~ Kennedy IN doing The bloody deed Was Colts
II
detcrnlinaor Of the murderer TO kin Colonel Berke.
ley was shown by the iact that he had followed him
TO several pA, IN tho town during the NJ,
had been hanging about his office Tor y considerable
| time.
AT three O'Clock this iiternooa tho County Coroner
enpanc.icd jury rno Coroner IN charging tho jury,
alluded teengly TO tho torrinle crime that been
committed The jury then visted In body the resi-
AIap The Conmou xsanhs Attorney. SAID tha, il was
au act duo 10 the memory o Colonel Berkeley asd 10
family tull invcstiRutIon -
"you HAVE sLAND.RKD ME.''
Mr.. Alfred Motn banker, testified Us TO the awful
scene which he had Witnessed, stating that KeunoJy
made no remark whom he red tho irst shot, but Us hc
nr. The second limo he said, "You have slandered
me- - Alter tho shooting Colonel Kennedy passed 10
tn. other side Of tho oniec, romark'ng TO MIR Moth.
spec lily us possible called for nclp As ho de.
scendod the stars from the Coonss oncs he heard
| third shot nred.
Doctors Randolph Stevenson, j. |. White and j. r.
Sponsor testified us 10 the 1ndng OF the body aud the
post.mortem examination, which proved that de-
ceased had received two wounds, either ot which
would have proved fatal. The Hon. Il 4. Hubbard, u
lawyer whose Office adjoinet Colonel Dorkeey's, and
Mr.. ID. q. 1rayl0r saddler deposed that they were
enter the office aud found Colonel Berkeley
! and Kennedy wailowng IN blood. Dr. J. W. Nash, a
physician. who had been attending Kennedy dcposed
he had him yesterday when no said therc
was who mad injured him. whom be iptcndcd
! TO hold responsible; witness told Kennedy hc was
acting IN u very silly manner ana had much better
| go 20 work.
At this point Common nwcolth's Attorney Allan
that the hour late and he had several ul-
portant witnesses to call 10 show tho threats Of Kcn-
ncdy against Berkeley, he thought they had better
adjourn until Tomorrow, and tho Coroner q xed
morrow evcn ny Tor tho next hearing OF the case
MOTIVE riE
There are no motives alleged for tho
mission OF this crime. except that
Colonel Berkeley, acting for claimant,
had obtained execution against Kennedy's goois
tor tho small sum OF $40 II was shown ia the cv-
dcncc before the Coroner that Colonel Berkeley
rightarm 10 sling, owing to fcon his tore nngcr
that ho In entirely unarmcd
condition.
KENNEDY DEAD.
Kennedy died at tho loph House ut seven o'clock
this evening He remained inxcnsipc 70 the last, and
murderer and suicide he passed into eternity, the
author OF tho Of two families