Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-27
HAD MADE MANY THREATS
Deed Of Kilkenon Not Due to Any Sudden
Fancy.
TESTIMONY AT THE CoRoNER'S INQUEST
Very Little Not Hitherto Published
Concerning the shooting Devci-
opcd ut the Hcnring-Hnd
Dopgcd Her Footsteps.

At o'clock yesterday afternoon an in
quest was held at the morgue over the body
of John Kilkenon, who attempted to muir
der his wife and then killed himself near
Thirteenth and Douglas streets on Christ
mas eve The verdict was in accordance
with the facts in the case already pub
lished, being to the effect that the man had
come to his death at his own hands at the
time and place mentioned, by shooting him
self two and one-half inches back of the
left ear The circumstances that led up
to the shooting and the details Of the trag-
edy were related by a number of witnesses
The first witness to be called was Dr.
Carpenter, who testified to the nature and
the character of the wounds that Kilkenon
had inflicted upon himself and his wife
Regarding the latter he stated that the bull
let had gone in obliquely and had lodged in
the left supra scapular" region, which
means in English that it was in the upper
part of the left shoulder near the spinal
column.
officer Dillon testified that about $50 on
the evening of the tragedy Mrs Kilkenon,
Anna Jackson and the formers son spoke
to him at Fifteenth and Douglas streets and
Mrs. kilkenon complained that her husband
was dogging her and had threatened to shoot
her. The officer spoke to the man, but did
not arrest him because the woman simply
desired that he be warned not to follow
her. He searched the man and found no
weapon. With a few words of warning the
officer let him go and Kilkenon followed
about a block behind the woman. He did
not appear to be under the influence Of
liquor. The officer met Kilkenon again al
Fifteenth and Douglas streets a few minutes
before the shooting He was going toward
hp cd
when he reached Sixteenth he heard the two
shots and rushed back. The officer test
fed also that for eight or ten nights before
the tragedy he had noticed Kilkenon stand
ing in the doorway of vacant building at
1914 Douglas street He said that he was
watching the shoppers. The officer stated
that the wife had complained to the police
regarding the threat of her husband, but
no steps were to be taken to arrest him un-
less the woman caused a warrant to be is
sued for his arrest.
CONCEALED THE REVOLVER.
Officers Mike Sullivan and S. L. Fiske
were at Fourteenth and Farnam streets when
they heard the shots. They ran to the scene.
Both man and woman were lying on the
sidewalk when they arrived The former
was dead. Beside his side was a rusty, worn
revolver OF thrty-two caliber attached to
the end of long string. The other end Of
the string was about the mans body The
weapon had apparently been hanging at the
end of this string inside the mans trousers
rhus explaining officer Dillon's failure to
find it. After the arrival of the officers the
wounded woman was carried into neigh
boring saloon. the Diamond.
The proprietor OF the place Henry Weisc,
was an eyewitness of the affair, as he was
standing by the window when it occurred.
He testified that the woman ran in front,
crying, "Murder'' Kilkenon called out
Il told you | would get you" The woman
answered, Il will, will" Kilkenon fired and
the woman fell on her face. A few seconds
later the man turned the weapon to his own
head and fired. He fell on his back. The
woman was carried into the saloon, where
Weise heard her say thao she could not live
with her husband.
Anna Jackson, Mrs. Kilkenon's compan-
ion on the night of the tragedy, testified
that the two and Mrs. Kilkenon's son left
the Arcade hotel where the women were en-
ployed at about $3.50 O'Clock. Kilkenon was
on the corner and followed them to FIJI
teenth and Douglass streets, where the wife
spoke to Officer Dillon. After this inter-
rupton they continued to Morands dancing
academy, where they remained until 10
o'clock They found Kilkenon waiting for
them and he followed them again, remain
ing about a half block behind. Just In
front of the Diamond he stepped beside them |
and Mrs. Kilkenon ran from him to Thir- |
teenth, then to Fourteenth and then back |
again to the front of the saloon. kilkenon |
was in pursuit. She saw the shots fired.
The witness testified further that on last |
Wednesday afternoon she was with Mrs. |
Kilkenon when Kilkenon was met near |
Thirteenth and Douglas streets. kilkenon |
STONED them and said to his wife: "All |
right, Stella. you can go this time, put ! |
will get you some time when you are alone.
Mrs. Kilkenon had told her often that her
husband was following and threatening her.
She had spoken of one occasion when he had |
drawn a razor upon her. The witness stated
that Mrs Kilkenon had complained several
times to the police regarding her husband
and she accompanied her once. The wife
was advised to swear out complaint.
SENT NOTES TO HIS WIFE.
Earl Lumbeck an American District tele-
graph messenger boy, said that lately ne mad
carried a half-dozen notes from Kilkenon
% his wife at the Arcade hotel, and other
)oys had carried more. The woman received
he first note and answered il, but refused
o accept or receipt for the others. Ihe
messenger identified couple OF notes whlch
le had carried They asked for an appoint
nent al Fifteenth and Douglas streets, and
lpon the back of them the woman agreed
o the meeting. These notes and Others
we're the only things found on the dead
mans person, with the exception of the
'evolver and a big bottle of whisky, both
If which were offered in evidence. The
messenger boy also testified that on the
asst occasion he carried a note between
husband and wife the latter had refused 1t,
md when he informed Kilkenon of this he
exclaimed:
"Well, I'll send her a box of flowers and
ell her to go TO hi.
Osias Rubinstein, a weinerwurst peddler,
Who was standing at Fourteenth and Doug
as streets, was another eyewitness OF the
hooting He was conversns with couple
4 men when the woman rushed between
hem with Kilkenon in pursuit. Kilkenon
lad a revolver in his hand.
"Why didn't you try TO stop him?" was
sked.
II didn't haf no time" answered Rubin
tein; II vuz fraid he might shut me. !
idri't no."
The woman rushed east on Douglas again
With the man in pursuit. Rubnstein fol-
owed, trying to catch the latter's coat tails,
nut he did not catch up. After shooting
he woman Klkenon bent over her few
econds, then raised the revolver to his
wn head and fired
John Oliver of 201S South Seventh street
ad just stepped out of the Nebraska Music
all with a woman when Kilkenon and the
ioman rushed up He saw the man fire
nd the woman dropped at his feet. Kill
enon leaned over her and said: 81 told you
would get you" He then killed himself
liver was not four feet away from the
NJ. 4.