Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-01
AN ALABAMA TRAGEDY.
Trial of Sheriff Kennedy for killing
Mardis Woods Brother.

Mardis Woods Brother.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. September lon
the morning of April q, Robert Kennedy,
then sheriff of Dallas county, Ala, shot
and killed Percy Wood of Selma. Ala. Tie
shooting took place at the depot here, and
Kennedy when he fired the fatal shot, was
trying to kill Mardis l.. Wood, the brother
of his victim, who. it is alleged, had in
duced Kennedy's wife to leave her husband
and go to Louisiana and live with him.
Mardis Wood was prominent democratic
politician, and had been absent from the
state for several months prior to the kill
irg, being employed in the government SER
vice in Louisiana. He was a member Of
the Alabama democratic state executive
committee, and came from Louisiana to
this city on the morning of April 20, for
the purpose of attending the meeting Of
the committee, held that day, to arrange
the preliminaries for the democratic state
convention which was held on the 21st of
April. Mardis Wood expected trouble with
Kennedy, and when he stepped of the
train here on the morning of the Goth he
carried a Winchester rifle. He attended
the meeting of the committee on the 2Oth
ard that afternoon Percy Wood, his broth
er. came over to this city to see him. He
assured Mardis that Kennedy had been left
behind in Selma, which was the general be-
lief, as he was not seen on the Selma train
which arrived here on the afternoon of the
Goth.
Orleans on the night of the Goth, and went
to the depot for the purpose of taking his
train. He carried his Winchester with him.
and placed 1t in the sleeper, while he re-
manned outside talking with his brother
Percy. Shortly before the time for the
train to start the two brothers decided to
return to the hotel for the purpose Of see
ing some friends, and before leaving, Mar
n foor {r thot he
back in time to take the train instructed
the porter to take charge of the rifle in
case he failed to return, and check 1t for
him at the lunch counter in Mobile. The
and spent it with friends in the Exchange
Hotel. neither of them registering.
They arose early next morning and went
to the depot at $50. Mardis Wood expect
ing to take the o'clock train for New Or
leans. AS they stood on the platform talk
ing, Kennedy stepped out Of the waiting
room with a double-barreled shotgun, and
hailed them. Mardis Wood jumped as Ken
nedy shot. The charge struck Percy Wood
killing him instantly. Kennedy then fol-
lowed up Mardis Wood, who was retreat
Ing, firing with his revolver as he went
Kennedy reloaded his gun as fast as he
emptied it. Mardis Wood fired five times
at Kennedy. and Kennedy fired as many
times at Wood Kennedy escaped unhurt
but Mardis Woods left arm was shat
tered between the elbow and the Shout
ueT ror seVerdi Gays MS LIE was deS-
paired of, but he finally recovered, though
his arm is practically useless.
Kennedy gave himself up to the authori-
ties. and after staying in Jail here several
weeks he was released without bail. after
preliminary trial. the defense being that
he had been rendered insane because Of
the great wrong done him by Mardis Wood
and that In consequence he was irresponsi-
bic when the shot was fired
The Montgomery county grand fury
which met last month. returned an indict-
n n, charging Kennedy with the murder
OF Percy Wood, and he was at once rear
rested and placed in jail here. His rial on
that Indictment will commence in the cftv
court here tomorrow, and promises to he n
stubborn legal battle. Nearly one hundred
witnesses have been summoned, about one
half this number coming from Selma and
other west Alabama points. The sheriff Of
this county has summoned 100 special
jurors for this case, and from this number
will be chosen the twelve men who viii
pess upon the guilt or innocence of Ken
nedy.
Kennedy's term of office as sheriff of Dali
las county expired yesterday. and the Of
flee was turned over to his successor. !. n
Lrmpkin, who was elected August 8.