The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-15
KENNEDY AT HIS HOME
THE OLD MOTHER HAD LIGHT
BURNING IN THE WINDOW FOR HIM.
"AI We Ask Now Is to BE Left in
Peace Says His Brave
sister Kate.

The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune OF
yesterday morning contains the following
story of the return of Convict William Ken
nedy to his home at Cincinnati Tuesday
night:
What would you do, my dear girl, if
your brother had been convicted of muir
der and sentenced to life imprisonment?
Would you go into a gang of deSperadoes
and learn their secrets? Would you dis
guISe yourself and black boots? would you
lntercede with one after another OF four
Governors without knowing despair for a
moment? Would you work unfaIteringly
for fourteen years to secure the freedom
of the brother you believed innocent?
THAT is what Kate Kennedy did for her
brother-that and so much more that 1t
can't be told. For fourteen years her life
was given up to proving his innocence and
securing his pardon. For fourteen years
she labored in halls of legislation; she be-
seeched the States chief magistrates; she
interested the most influential men of two
States in her brothers behalf For four
teen years she never WaVered in the stead
tastness of her purpose When one means
failed she Immediately cOntrived another.
For fourteen years she never lost her
courage. For fourteen years her faith in
the ultimate success of her efforts never
tagged. For fourteen years she cheered
and cOmforted the gentle-faced, sweet
voiced mother, and then last night when
the boy came home-when her light was
won-woman like, she went to bed and
cried.
WHO shall blame her?
Governor Mount kept his promise, and
yesterday liberty was restored to William
Kennedy, for thirteen years a life convict
in the Michigan City Penitentiary. Ken
nedy was convicted of the murder of David
Baker, prominent citizen of GreenSburg,
Ind, in 1884
HE returned to the home of his mother
on Forest avenue, Walnut Hills, last even
1ng carrying in his pocket the conditional
pardon of lndiana'S executive.
While, literally speaking, William Ken
his freedom was really secured through
the unfinching, untiring, undiscouraged,
and at last not. unsuccessful efforts of his
sister, Kate Kennedy.
';At o'clock last night over the c., H.
d D., arrived William Kennedy, convicted
Of the killing Of David Baker; Of Green's
Governor Mount, of Indiana.
Long before 8 o'clock the gray-haired
mother sits upon the porch and awaits his
coming Her only companion is a Com
mercial Tribune Representatives The twi-
light deepens under the trees and Forest
avenue grows white with the moonlight
The street l8Tnps burn but dimly in the
glory shed from the skies, but the light
in the window burns brightly for him.
does not feel it. All her thoughts are cen
tered upon the homecoming of her boy.
THE END OF HER WAITING.
"She sits where she can see the length
Of the avenue and watches under the trees
At the sight of every figure outlined in
the moonlight she rises from her chair
and strains her eyes. The wait is a long
one and she talks of her sorrow and her
boy.
The last time I saw him. she says
was three years ago, when my son Mil
ton died I had not seen him before since
his cruel imprisonment. Milton died in my
arms and, falling exhausted across his
body, 1 called for Win. l became almost
beside myself and for days l called inces-
+
urday, and all day Sunday 1 prayed God
to send me some token that my son was in
In the stiffness Of the night I heard
music. l listened and heard voice sing
ing. l called my daughter, but she said
she heard nothing but l heard my sons
voice as plainly you now hear mine;
and 1 knew that Goo had given the token.
l knew that my prayer had been answered,
and L fell into a deep, untroubled sleep.
AT dawn [ was aWakend by the pealing
of the dOorbell. l called to some one to
open the door quickly, and behold! it was
Win. Seeing my distress and fearing for
my life, influential friends had interfered
and secured my sons parole for ten days.
1t almost killed me when that parole end
Every waking hour since that time 1
have prayed to God to aid US in proving my
sons innocence and securing his pardon.
Now, thank God, he has heard my prayers
again. Next in my heart is my thankful
ness to Governor Mount.
TT is after 8 o'clock now, and the mother
cannot conceal her, yearning; At every
sound she rises and gaZeS through the
trees. Almost a half hour passes and the
strain is growing almost unbearable.
But away up under the trees there are
two fgureS-a man and woman. They
can be seen but dimly in the shade, but
coming nearer, the moonlight floods them
and she sees it is her SON lie steps like
q stranger upon the unfamiliar walk, and
she stands like a statue before the chair.
He pauses upon the walk and thus they
stand-mother and son, together at last.
N9n -
life to secure this moment, steps quietly
into the background, and the other listener
shrinkS into the shadow near the wall.
THE JOY OF MEETING.
lis this my SON? at last she speaks.
"They are in each others arms now and
he says tenderly, There, there, mother
and then the silence is complete.
Into the room where the light burned
in the window they went and there was
no trespassing upon the sacred privacy.
The tale of all those years, of all that
suffering, was not for strangers ears.
Even the daughter and devoted sister
passed swiftly up the stairs and out of sight
when seen later in the evening by a
Commercial Tribune representative the
mothers face and voice were HIled with sat
Miss kennedy spoke freely of her efforts
TO secure her brothers pardon. She said:
Governor Mount is the only one OF In
diana's four Governors who had the cour-
age of his convictions. The others said Il
believe in your brothers innocence" but
each she said with emphasis, 'sneaked
out of the gubernatorial mansion like a
coward without signing the pardon they
had promised. They were not brave enough
to risk public opinion.
- had national influence on my side,
and brought il all TO bear upon them, but
even that was not strong enough to over
come local prejudice.
L have worked for fourteen years for
this house What / have done and suffered
God only knows. But 1t is over now All
we ask now is to be left in peace
The son and brother, Nicholas x Ken
nedy, who holds a responsible position with
| the Adams Express Company. said: My
brother is weary and i'll. How sick he is we
cannot tell, as there has been no medical
/ examination. He looks very pale and thin
! to us, but we hope for the best from the
change in his surroundings. lie has moth
! ing but kind words TO say of his treatment
al the hands of prison officials. and only
! thinks ii all one terrible mistake.
Naturally, he has no plans as yet for
| the future and our first thought is to get
him well and blot from his memory and
ours the remembrance Of his terrible ex-