Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-12-01
A Strange Complication.

Among the William n Kennedys of
this city, of whom there are no less than
nve, there IS internal dissension that
threatens to divide the family against
itself. The cause of the trouble is the
result of the election for Coroners.
william II. Kennedy was elected
coroner by large majority; but as
there are five of this kind of Kennedy
the majority of each is obviously much
smaller than that of the Kenne1 v taken
IN lump To the credit of the Ken
nedys. it must be said that there are
only two of them who are now threaten
ing TO cut one another's throat over the
result of the election. The most strik-
ing difference between these two Ken
nedys is that one handles spirits and
the other bodies. William II. Kennedy,
OF 364 Third avenue. sells liquor; Will
lam II. Kennedy. of 40 Pearl street. is
an undertaken. Returns from the other
three William H. Kennedys have not
yet come in. They will no doubt all
claim to be the Coroner rather than have
any hard feeling in the family. For the
present the undertaken and the seller of
drinks have the floor.
A Tribune reporter spoke TO William
III. Kennedy. of 1854 Third avenue,
wednesday. on the subject nearest his
heart. Mr.. Kennedy was behind his bar.
Are you still laboring under the
hallucination, asked the reporter,
that you were elected Coroner Tues
day?"
''Hallucination be hanged" replied
Mr.. Kennedy, in an affable and engag-
ing manner. 81 was elected by hand
some majority. l never thought /
would ever be the Coroner of New
! York"
But William H. Kennedy claims to
be elected.
Correct, sir. And as I'm William
II. Kennedy, suppose I'm elected
did all could to help Willa am H. Ken
nedy to be elected. There wasn't a
than did; and as he was elected am
Coroner. All the boys call me Coroner
now"
Did you celebrate your victory last
night?'
''Oh, yes. 1 blew Off the boys. Be-
fore the election when tho bows came
in for money ohelp the election sent
'em all down to the undertaken. as he
| vas uOluS LlltJ SOIG Col WOTk. vi
course, it was kind of him."
'Inasmuch as he claims 20 be the one
elected, what do you intend to do?''
Pm going to consult a lawyer about
it. And if win the case / shall prob
ably sit on his body-the defeat will kill
him. He is a nervous, eXcitable fellow.
Everybody seems to enjoy the joke. AT
the same time there have been all sorts
OF threats against me-"
You propose to bring an action.
then?'
Il shall undertake.
But" interrupted the reporter, eff
You undertake you'll lose your identity
you IL be the unde -taker."
well, I'll serve him with an injunc-
tion.''
Mr.. Kennedy scorned the idea of hav.
ing the Kennedys numbered so that
they could be identified.
William H. Kennedy, the undertaken,
was found in his shop leaning on an
empty and upright colin. He seemed
to be in an excited mood and proposed
to take his seat as Coroner if it cost him
coffin.
You are aware then that there is
some doubt as to your being William II.
Kennedy" the reporter began.
Aware! yes, awarer' roared Mr.
Kennedy. ''Yes, sir, I'll take that seat
if it takes every drop of blood in my
body. Pm not Sammy Tilden. No
Pm not. don't propose to give in
I'll roast the other Kennedy's before III
give up that seat"
''You are sure you are the Kennedy
the only real full blooded Coroner Ken
nedy."
Kennedy shouted the enraged
would-be Coroner. Coroner Kennedy
Fifty thousand people will tell you L n
the man"
An e tort was made to find the three
remaining William Ii. Kennedys, but
they were not found. AS the Coroners
elect do not take Office until January /
1888, it is possible that the feud may
run high and that some OF them may
be killed Off before that time. That
would simplify matters. N y Tribune