The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-09


verdict of the lower court was affirmed,
Judge Elliott writing the opinion. Again
an appeal was made to. the supreme body
IN the form of petition for rehearing.
which was overruled June Is. 1886. 1t
seemed that young Kennedy was doomed to
spend his life in prison.
THE SISTERS REMARKABLE WORK.
The Kennedy family appear to have been
respectable people of very moderate means.
AT the time of the Greensburg murder they
lived in Cincinnati, and some Of them yet
reside there. The family consisted of the
mother, several sons and the daughter
Kate-the latter a bright young woman
full of pluck and energy. The mother was
by her sons side during his trial, but when
it was over and he was convicted she re-
turned to Cincinnati broken hearted. The
kenr dys were firm in their belief that
tnelr boy was not IN Greensburg the night
OF the murder: They always contended
that the Identification was not complete,
ana, indeed, the question of identity nS-
ured largely in the case, and was prom
inently set out before the Supreme Court.
As to the size and general appearance of
the man who was seen to shoot Baker,
there was much discrepancy in the state
ments of the witnesses for the State Ken
nedy, at the time of the killing, was tall
and slender and narrow cheSted. He wore
MS hair low and over his forehead. The
majority of those who claimed to have
seen the shooting described the slayer of
Baker as a thick-set man of five feet eight,
broad shouldered, with thick neck and nigh
forehead. Then, too, the testimony as to
the attire of the murderer was varied.
Some said he wore a light OVercoat and
stiff hat. Others thought he wore a brown
overcoat. Few of those who testified tailed
in their descriptions of the mans dress.
The clerk of the De Almond Hotel thought
Kennedy was one of the four who regis
tered at the hotel the Saturday morning
of the murder. He went to the jail after
Kennedys arrest, and when the prisoner
was pointed out 10 him he thought he was
one of the party of four. He said Ken
nedy had on a light oVercOat. On the other
hand, the proprietor of the De Almond Ho-
tel said his attention called to the
four men spoken of by Price that day The
proprietor was taken to the jail to see If
he could Identify Kennedy, and could not.
Some time after the trial of Kennedy it is
said one of the witnesses came to Indian
apolis and visited the Jail. While there he
claimed TO recognize government prisoner
as the man who shot Baker SO 1t was
largely question of identity.
Fortified with these weak points in the
evidence and an honest belief in her
brothers innocence, Kate Kennedy set out
few months after the trial to either find
the man who did kill David Baker or Sc
cure her brothers releases through the
amnesty Of the chief executive of the State.
She vowed never to cease her tireless
search until her brother was free. Waking
or sleeping, her thoughts We're of the inn
prisoned man and how to free him. She
became a detective-a vertable sleuth on
the scent Of every bit of evidence she
thought might lead 10 the desired end.
''Detective?" exclaimed Rev Mr.. Milburn
the OtDGf QlRnL, IN commenting on the case,
why, Kate Kennedy is the best detective
in this country. There isn't another one
anywhere that works with the unceasing
energy of that woman, And her moral be-
ing is so strOng-she is such a puritan in
her ViewS-that rather than see her broth
er released, if she believed him guilty, she
would see him hung. All, no; Kate Ken
nedy is honest and sincere in this. She
doesn't believe her brother was in Green's
burg the night of that murder
That the family of young Kennedy felt
the prisoner had not been fairly tried, and
that the defense was badly embarrassed, is
shown by letter-a pathetic appeal-from
the boys mother to Governor Foraker
written In June, 1887, and a few days after
its receipt forwarded to Governor Gray
The chief executive of Ohio wrote a per-
sonal note to Governor Gray in sending on
Mrs. Kennedy's letter. Il have no doubt
however, of the truth of all she says about
being disappointed by her attorney" wrote
Governor Foraker and that makes me
think there is probably merit in the appi-
cation for pardon"
THE ATTORNEY FAILED THEM.
81 retained Major Blackburn as counsel
and Judge w. A Moore, of Greensburg,''
wrote the mother, "and as Mr.. Blackburn
had charge of the case we did not set to
work ourselves and get witnesses. We
asked Mr. Blackburn why he did not do this
and that thing before the trial, and he told
us that everything was all right and that
my son would come home with me a free
man. For he said he had talked with the
murderer and that he would be willing him
self to swear that my son did not do the
killing and led us to trust ferveHty in
what he said and did for us. And when
it came his time to address and plead to
the Jurors he was missing, and with what
money we could collect together by means
OF sunting ourselves at times of the neces-
saries of life. Governor the misfortune is
a sad one and Will prove fatal with me if
there is not some action in the case. Now
Governor the sworn affidavit and letters as
OBJ FOL IL /,
nocence beyond d doubt, are on lie with
Governor Gray and could have been
brought forward during the trial if our at
toTley mad not sold US out and remained
inactive in the case. Now will you be kind
enough to use your influence and speak of
the case to Hon. ]. z. Gray and pray my
sons pardon soon as it be done, for
my health is giving away very rapidly and
l apprehend the danger"
There are few public men in Indiana and
Ohio who are not familiar with the trial
and conviction of William Kennedy. Scores
visited personally by Kate Kennedy in her
brothers interests. She impressed all as a
truthful and honest girl and many believed
her story and were moved to take some
step in behalf of the prisoner. Miss Kenne-
dy visited Charles Wallace, the suspected
crook who was arrested the night Of the
murder, and implored him to tell the truth
and save her brother. A few months after
the conviction of Kennedy the sister went
to Greensburg, where the murder was COM
mltted, and spent some time in the town.
She talked with everybody who had been
familiar with the case and succeeded in
arousing considerable sympathy. She visited
Rushville, where the case was tried, and
interviewed personally the jury which con-
victed her brother She came to Indian
apolis and her story soon became a familiar
one. Many prominent Indianapolis men be-
came interested in the girl and her unfor-
tunate brother during the earlier years of
his imprisonment, Among them were Leon
Bailey c. s. Denny, the late Ex-Governor
Chase. ex-Attorney General Michner, the
late Bruce Carr, Captain j. A. Lemcke,
Charles F. Griffin, the late w. A. Peelle,
d. NJ. Ransdel A. w. Wishard and others.
Many of these men wrote letters expressing
During the latter part OF Governor Grays
term Of Office influence was brought TO bear
on him in the interests of William kenne-
dy. AS a result Of MISS Kennedy's labors
in Decatur county, petition was pre-
sented to Governor Gray signed by fifteen
that he issue a pardon TO William Kennedy.
The petitioners stated they believed the
wrong man had been convicted A letter
from David Morgan, deputy prosecutor Of
Decatur county accompanied the petition.
The deputy said he believed William Ken
sent him to prison. The first application
for pardon was filed at the Governors Of
flee June %, 1886. But Governor Gray went
out of office without taking action in the
case. However, the devoted sister did not
despair, but kept constantly at work ac
brother and enlisting the services and SYM
pathy of well-knoWn men.
DURING HOVEYS TERM.
During Governor Hovey's brief term the
Kennedy case was often called to his notice,
and strong influence was brought to bear
in Kennedy's behalf. Lieutenant Governor