The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-15
The Story of the Murder Committed in
Shelbyville Three Years Ago-Ken-
nedy's Flight and Wanderings,
Strong Testimony Against the De-
PENDANTS in the Bond Trial,
Details of the Killing of San Francll SEQ
Millionaire by jerome b. COx-The
Daily List of Evil Deeds.
THE KENNEDY TRIAL.

History of the Crime with Which He Is
Charged-His Three Years of Wandering.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
SHELBYvILLE, Dec 14-On next Monday
begins, in the Circuit Court, one of the most
important murder trials ever known in the
history of Shelby county, namely, that of
Edward Kennedy, charged with the killing
of Albert McCorkle, sheriff of the county,
on the 9th day of October, $780, Great prep
arations have been made by the attorneys,
both for the State and for the defendant, and
the trial will be of an interesting and
sensational character throughout. Over 200
witnesses will be examined, and this will
make it necessarily lengthy one
The campaign of 1880 in Shelby county
was one of the hottest and most bitter ever
known in its history, and the unfortunate
shooting occurred during a great political
gathering of Republicans On Saturday,
Oct. 8, 1880, the Republicans held political
meeting in this city, which was addressed by
Senator Harrison, in the courthouse park.
General Harrison spoke during the after
noon to most intelligent and peaceable
audience, and his speech throughout was of
character that could offend no one.
THE STORY OF THE KILLING,
Immediately after the riot the following
statement was printed in the Shelbyville
Republican,:
What threatened to be a bloody riot took
place on Schroeder's corner just after dinner.
1t was impossible, owing to the excited state
of the crowd, which numbered at least three
or four hundred people, to get at the partic-
ulars OF the musS, any more than that
the immediate canse of the trouble was the
insolent conduct of crowd of drunken
Democrats, who persisted in following a lot
of Garfield guards, and cheering for Han
cock, and crowding themselves in among the
Republicans in way that demanded the
treatment they received, which was a belt
over the head. William Miller, from Flat
Rock; William Thompson, of this township:
Bob Coleman and Ira Rhodes are the names
of the wounded, who were conveyed to Nor
rison & Deprez's drug store, which for the
time was converted into a hospital, where
the proprietors, assisted by DR. Drake
dressed their wounds Nobody was seriously
hurt, and at this writing the row was over.
At about the hour of o'clock word was
brought to this office that Sheriff McCorke
had been shot and dangerously wounded and
was then lying helpless at the residence
Immediately over the meat shot of
R. d. Flaitz A hasty walk of three squares
by the writer confirmed the sad intelligence,
Drs Kennedy and McFadden being with
him. and the house being surrounded by sor-
rowing friends, who, awed by the helpless
condition of the man, who but a few min
utes before had embodied in his person their
ideal of physical strength. spoke in whispers
to each other, and regardless of party affilia-
tions united in paying tribute to the good
qualities of the dying officer. In response to
an inquiry as to the name of the man who
did the shooting, what was his surprise to
hear, not the name of some desperate GRIM
inal, old in years and hardened in vice. but
the name of mere lad, not over seventeen or
eighteen years of age, who, like the man he
had shot, never INDUCED in Intoxicating
liquors, and has had the name OF being a
quiet. peaceable young man.
Edward Kennedy who is charged with
the shooting, is the third son of John M.
Kennedy. cabnet-maker of this CITY, and
one of our best citizens, and the cause OF the
shooting is very obscure. A dozen different
versions of the unfortunate affair are current,
and the truth, if ever ascertained, will come
out in the court of justice before viii 3h
young Kennedy will no doubt be brought
to answer the charge now made against him.
A II that can be ascertained at present is this:
At the hour mentioned row which had not
come to blows was going on in Hardebecks
saloon, on the southwest corner of Harrison
and Broadway streets. and Sheriff NJ cCorkie,
hearing the fuss went in to Quell it. Find
ing young Kennedy in there engaged in the
muss he started out with him in custody,
followed by Glib Kennedy, his brother, and
several other of his friends, who promised
McCorkle that If he would release Ken
nedy from custody they would take him
home. At this time they had got
across the street to the other corner,
and McCorkle, releasing his prisoner
allowed him, in company with his brother
and friend, to go on down Broadway. The
crowd which had followed them from the
saloon, and which had been augmented from
those on the street. instead of letting the
boy go, followed after him making all kinds
of threats, and, pushing McCorkle ahead of
them, demanded that he again take the boy
in custody. Hearing the crowd following
him, and hearing the threats of what they
were going to do with him, Kennedy stopped,
and turning around on his pursuers, told
them to stay away from him or somebody
would get hurt The followers halted but
those in the rear pressed them forward, Nc
Corkle, as before stated, being in front, and
in moment the sharp crack of q revolver,
which it is claimed young Kennedy
knell of Albert McCorkle. AS soon
as the shot was fired the crowd scat
tered, and young Kennedy walked on down
Broadway to the first alley rupning north
and south, and turning in the latter direc-
tion disappeared. McCorkle was taken to the
residence of R. d. Flaitz, within square of
the scene, and Drs. Kennedy and McFadden
were sent for and everything done to make
the wounded man comfortable. On their ar
rival the doors were closed and an examina-
ton into the extent of his injuries COM
menced, Drs. Day, Fleming and Green arriv-
ing to assist While the beginning of the
disturbance in Hardebecks saloon was
doubtless in consequence of politics, this cam
not be said of the sad ending. Young Ken
nedy had been employed during the cam
paign as drummer in the Democratic band,
and had been paid by Sheriff McCorkle aS