Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-21
HIS FATHER ON THE STAND
Is This the Climax of the De-
Tense?
TELLS OF THOSE THREATS
Which He Had Communicated to His Son, as
Also Very Ugly Rumors Concerning
the Wife.

montgomery may Hu.-topecidl)--IH lie
first witness at the afternoon session of
the Kennedy trial was Mr.. J. A. Galatas
of Montgomery, who testified: 1 knew
Mr.. Wood and Mrs. Kennedy. Mrs Ken
nedy came to my hotel and stopped three
or four days. Mr.. Wood came after
wards. They were both on the same floor;
were seen on the porch together.
The Defendants Father.
James E.. Kennedy, father of the de-
PENDANT, testified: Have lived in Dallas
county nearly all my life. l had heard
the facts stated by Mr.. Galatas and COM
munica ted them to my son. My son has
been married about fifteen or sixteen
years. They have lived in Orrville and
in Selma. They had one child. who died
about fourteen or fifteen years ago. They
lived in Montgomery. They apparently
lived together happily up to the time she
left. His disposition was kind and low
ing; her disposition TO him was the same.
Heard Of the reports from Livingston and
informed my son. l had heard great
deal from there, and told him fully. Told
him since she left. He would not allow
me to tell him before she left. She left
Selma late in February. Have not seen
her there SINCE Have heard that she has
been there. / did not see her. Have heard
the statements of Mr.. Tisdale, MIR. Rome
and others from Livingston. l Informed
Mr.. r. H. Kennedy of the facts substan-
tally as testified to. Heard that Percy
Wood made threats against Kennedy.
Had a conversation with Robert H. Ken
nedy about them. l communicated them
to him.
A legal tilt followed on the question
| of the admissiblity of this evidence in
rela ton to threats and their connection
| to the defendant. Testimony rejected for
| fhe present
Continuing, Mr.. Kennedy said 1
| heard Percy Wood had made threats
.
| difficulty with Mardis Wood Percy Wood
had said he would take Robert Kenne-
| dys life or lose his own life.
In reply to the COURT heard this ru-
| NOR from several parties. l did tell my
| son these threats had been made; that
l had been informed of them by several
parties
| Cress-exa mination-Heard of these
| threats of Percy Wood between Febru-
airy and the time of the shooting. Heard
| of them shortly after Bobs wife left.
Told Robert of them right away. Sup
| pose that Percy Wood. was in Selma all
the time. Did not see Robert and Percy
Wood in conversation. Had heard what
Mr.. Tisdale said and told Robert of 1t.
l told him what Mr.. Tisdale said In re-
gard to the looa ton of the rooms. Told
him what Mr.. Tisdale said in regard to
his suspicious. Heard of her riding out.
Do not remember whet Their / told him of
Wood laying his head in her lap, Told
him of the reported correspondence be-
tween Mrs Kennedy and Mardi5 Wood.
| told him of these matters after the de-
| parture of his mife. He would not allow
me to speak of it before. She did not ask
| me to get Robert to consent to a divorce
| Did not ask him in my presence to con-
sent to a divorce or separation. She said
she was going to separate from him. Had
heard of the Livingston matter little by
little for some time; did not hear all of
a11aft fYtct haf, CHI hTnuy
| leans the first time. Tried to tell it to
| Robert, but he would not allow me to
| talk. After she left in February he made
| no objection to my talking to him, and
| told him the whole story. She told me
| that she intended to separate from Bob
Kennedy in October last year. / told
| Robert of this
| Redirect-Mrs. Kennedy drove up to
my house in a buggy and asked me to
| take a ride. She said: Captain Ken
| needy, you were opposed to my marrying
! Cousin Bob" and answered yes, because
in the first place i did not think Bob was
| able to support her, and In the second
| place l did not believe that they were
congenial spirits. She said she was going
! to leave Robert, and told me when she
| intended to leave. She did not leave at
| the time. I told her 1 was going to tell
| Robert. She said that Robert was not
| bright or smart enough for her. She left
in about ten days to go to New Orleans
| to undergo treatment She sent for me
later, and I had another talk with her.
| Cross-examination-W she went to
| New Orleans Robert went with her. He
| went there to visit her. He left her in
| care of physician named Pratt and her
mother; said If she needed anything his
| friend, Mardis Wood would furnish it.
| DIR. M. l.. Wood testified as to the ma
] ture of Mardis Woods wounds and the
| position in which he probably stood when
/ he received them, using the diagram
| heretofore submitted.
Court then adjourned until 10 O'Clock
| tnn1nrrnW