Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-21
KENNEDY CAUSE GELEBRE
The Defense Is Proceeding on
Its Parallels.
THE CHANGE In PRISONER
From the Time His Wife Left Is Madeto Stand
Out Sharply
AT TIMES HE WEPT AND MOANED
Avoided His Friends and Took Little Note
of Business-Selma Hackmen and
Detective Add to the Interest
of the Story.
AT TIMES HE wEpT AND MoANED


Montgomery, May 2O.-(Special)-C
was called to order at 1910 a. M, but
the counsel were not ready and an I'M
formal recess was taken. The first wit
ness, ]. w. Mayberry, took the stand at
1920.
Mr.. Mayberry
testified am judge of the county court
of Selma. Know Robert Kennedy. Have
known him fifteen or twenty years. Have
known him we'll in recent years. His
general character is good. His general
character for peace and quiet Is good.
Prior to the time his wife left Selma he
was q quiet, peaceable, diligent man.
There has been a change since Mrs. Ken
nedy left Selma. Since that time he has
worn an expression of anguish and de-
spair. His manner was detected and
he wandered about apparently aimless-
ly. Have seen him alone in the streets
and his manner was detected This state
was continuous. A short time after his
wife left he was in my office two or three
times, and on these occasions he wept
bitterly
Cross s-examination-I am not expert
enough to say that these conditions could
exist without insanity. 1t may be that
they could exist without any lesion of
the BRAIN Saw him on the streets fire.
quently in a detected condition. His
condition might not have been the re-
suit of the impairment of his mind. Do
not know that his mind was affected
when he shot Percy Wood Have formed
no opinion of his sanity at that time.
Have known him WELL but not intimate
ly. Never gave the matter of his sanity
mr. N n Ioh Tn, liz
with him since the tragedy I have not
noticed anything abnormal in his con-
versation or condition. 1 cannot say
whether these changes were lesion of
the brain or lesion of the will. / can
not say whether he was sane or insane
at the time of the shooting.
r. M. Blackwell.
testified: Have lived in Dallas all my
life; have known Mr.. Kennedy thirty
years. I am second cousin to Mr.. Ken
nedy. We have been thrown together
neesiy all our lives. His manner was very
frichdly up to February last. He was
cheerful. He was very attentive to busi-
ness affairs. I knew Mrs. Kennedy; have
often seen Kennedy and his wife together.
She called him cousin Bob;' he called
her Mamie" 1 remember when she left
home. There has been quite change
in him since she left home-quite a
change in his face. There was change
In his manner after she left home; on
the streets he seemed to be in deep study
and thought; at times would notice peo-
pie and at times would not. After Mrs.
Kennedy left had talks with Kennedy.
He would break down in tears. He was
a candidate for office before his wife left,
and was prosecuting his canvass dill
gently. After she left he seemed to quit.
He was conducting the office of sheriff
diligently After she left he seemed to
neglect 1t.
ross-examination-I thought he neg
lected his business after his wife left;
probably his troubles might have been
enough to make him act so. These ru-
mors about his wife might have been
enough to make him quit his race for
office. Can't say that 1t was insanity.
IF. Millhouse.
Have been clerk of circuit court of Dali
las about ten years. Was reared in the
same neighborhood with Kennedy. We
were boys together Heard of Mrs. Ken
nedy leaving Selma last February. Up
to that time Kennedy was of jovial dis
position. l kept Kennedy's books all the
time. He was in my office every day. Up
to the time Mrs. Kennedy left he was in
my office every day. The relationship
between Kennedy and Mardis Wood be-
fore Mrs. Kennedy left Selma was that
of intimate friendship. Knew Kennedy
and his wife at home. They seemed to
be a happy couple. He seemed to be
fpnd of his home. He had everything
one could wish for; was we'll furnished /;
had flowers; was well kept; had horse
and buggy whenever Mrs. Kennedy
wanted 1t. After. Mrs. Kennedy left
home / noticed a change In Kennedy.
He did not seem to care for his business.
He seemed to be downcast. He would
come into my Office and would talk about
his troubles. Would often break out
CRYING. Have often seen him sitting in
the court house yard in meditation. Be-
fore his wife left he often examined his
books In my office. After she left he paid
no attention to them. He was a candi-
date for office in Dallas. Before his wife
left he was active. After she left he
gave up entirely. After his wife left he
seemed to be very restless. When he
came into my office he had the appear
ance of a man who had not rested at
night. After Mardis Wood left home on
his return he made his headquarters in
his fathers office. He did not return to
Selma after Mrs. Kennedy left until af-
ter the shooting. From the changes in
Kennedy's conduct 1 considered him In
sane.
oss-examination-Ih have talked with
Kennedy since the shooting. Think he
Ii suffering from trouble. The insanity
he is laboring under comes from trouble
This Is emotional insanity. Do not think
he knew right from wrong when he shot
Percy Wood. His mind was suffering
from trouble. e
His actions induced me to believe that
he was insane. He was disincl.ned to
meet his friends. He acted In such an un-
natural way that thought him insane.
He had heard enough to cause him to neg
lect his business; had heard enough to
run him crazy. These are the Indications
which caused me to think him insane.
Came to the conclusion that he was in
sane about the middle of March. DO not
say that he does not now know right
from wrong. BY shooting his man ne re-
lieved himself of his insanity. This is
true in this case. never faid anything
about his insanity in Selma.
sRedirect-In my opinion do not think
that Mr.. Kennedy had, sufficient control
Of himself to keep from shooting Mardis
Wood on sight.
This answer was r,Iled out.
E.P. Lacey.