Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-31
railp kennebcc 3ournal.
KENNEDY GUILTY.
Continued from page ~

went while Mr. House eloquently pleaded.
MIR. House contended that the evidence
,lduced by the prosecution TO sustain the
charge of murder in the first degree was
1.-THE theory of the prosecution is that
this defendant somewhere and at some
time. gave Dolly Reynolds a spurious
check. and that. in order to hide and dis
sipatc forever. the evidence of that
crime, he committed the higher and more
horrible crime of murder in the first de-
gree Where is there any evidence that
this defendant and that woman had any
of her body? Where is there any evil
dcnce that he had given her that check?"
The evidence, Mr.. House declared. was
of the most circumstantial kind and of
the weakest character he had ever
known. In view of this the lawyer con-
tended that the only thing the jury could
do consistent with the evidence was to
render Il verdict Of acquittal.
Mr.. House then entered upon a minute
analysis of the evidence adduced by the
peoples witnesses. He eoniraste All the i,
Reynolds. colored servant with the EN-.
ployes of the Grand Hotel Margaret
Adams testified that her mistress was in
Now, gentlemen of the jury" ex,
claimed Mr.. House, 'n the name OF God
physically possible for Dolly REYNOLDS to
be in the Grand Hotel at the same tln ne
and in the company of this defendant?
The jurors appeared to be deeply anec,-
cd by Mr. Houses impassioned address.
some of them being moved almost to
tears. Mr.. House spoke for hours ana
Is minutes.
Mr.. Mcintyre, in his summing up for
the prosecution, contended that the
dentist had had fair trial and declalmeo
against the appeal for sympathy. on ac-
count of family ties as made by Mr..
House Mr. Mcintyre laid much stress
upon the testimony of experts and others
tending to show that the handwriting on
the Gideon check was that of Kennedy.
Mr. Mcintyre took up the Undertaking
and pointed out to the Jury the stains
upon it and said that Kennedy before go
ing to the hotel had placed the bludgeon
inside of his trousers and when he got TO
the room had concealed it in cioset UNI
the opportunity to use it,. 1t had been
woman to such a place IN order to Kill
her. That was portion of the prisoner :, 5
scheme. He took the woman there to XIII
upon some one else The bloodstained
weapon was left in the room Tor the same
purpose.
Referring to the testimony of the hand
writing experts. the assistant district at
torney said that it was uncontradcted.
The paying teller of the bank was called
TO the stand, but the defence had not
dared to ask him whether or not the sig
nature on the check found on Dolly Rey-
nolds was in Kennedy's handwriting. The
only contradiction of the handwriting eX-
perts was that of the father and wife of
the defendant 1t was through devotion
and affection that they testified as they
did and their evidence had not the weight
of experts who had studied these sigma
lures carefully for months
The check for $4,000, Mr.. Mcintyre said.
was, written by Kennedy, was endorsed
by him, and was given by him to Dolly
Reynolds. 1t was given to satisfy her de-
mands for the return oftthe money she
had loaned him. When he realized that
exposure and conviction for q forgery
awaited him when this fictitious check
became due, he iured the woman to the
hotel for the purpose of recovering it. The
fact that she had tucked the check away
where it was found under her clothing
proved that Kennedy had previously de-
manded it from her. When she refused
to give it up he took the weapon from
the place where he had concealed 1t ami
struck the woman the death blow.
At this point recess was taken until
$50 o'clock
Judge Williams began his charge to the
jury, shortly after 8 O'Clock, and occupied
the value of circumstantial evidence and
the question of reasonable doubt. With
reference to a motive for the commission
of the crime he pointed out that Al the
Jury could connect Kennedy with the Sl3,
600 check which was found on the body
of Dolly Reynolds there would then be an
important circumstance for consideration
The question of good characteri NJ
charged. should be given the weight ii
was entitled to- but no maudlin sentiment
or sympathy should be permitted to IN
tcrfcre with the verdict
Almost an hour was taken up in adui-
tional charging at the request of counsel
in noting exceptions taken by the de-
fence. The jury retired at l143 +. M.