Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-06-22
John KENNEDY CONVICTED.
Trial Of the Notorious Train RObber ut
Hartville Results In Sentence
of II Years.

Hartvllle, MO-, June 2L-uullty anu
, II years in prison issthe verdict that
the jury brought in at $3.50 last night
in the case of the state against John
+. Kennedy on the charge OF holding
up the Kansas City, Fort Scott 4 Mem.
phis mail train at Macomb, this county,
on the night Of January 3 last, and
robbing the safe of the Southern Elk.
press company Of 5000. The jurors
had been out two hours and Al
minutes. Kennedy's face, when
he was brought into the court
TO hear his doom, was drawn and
strained. He looked like a man who
had just risen from sick bed. When
the verdict was announced Col. Musick,
his attorney, asked that the jury be
polled, and one by one the jurors rose
and subscribed to their finding. The
prisoners face worked, his mouth
hardened for moment and then re-
Taxed. The tears welled from his eyes
and he dashed them off with his coat
sleeve and then he gave up. He dragged
his handkerchief from his hip pocket
and as he followed the sheriff from the
court he wept like girl. Members of
the jury say they took eight ballots,
but there was never a question about
the prisoners guilt, only the length
of the term. One juror said. AT the
start we stood four for 10 years, three
for 20 years, four for % years and one
for more yet. Then we got down to
four for Is and eight for 20 and then
at last we agreed to compromise on II. "
Special Judge j. 7. Neville, who has
heard the case, has given the defense
every consideration. No man could
have been fairer. But notwithstand-
ing this the defense gave the formal
notice of motion for new trial and
Judge Neville gave four days for filing
the papers.
jack Kennedy is probably the most stoical
criminal that has ever boosted that Missouri Is
the state of his nativity. When not under the
influence Of liquor he is taciturn to degree APP
preaching m0roseness. He Is, apparently, Il
shrowd farseeing man, and the last that a
stranger would stamp as daring train robber
who has on numerous occasions during the past
ten years taken his life in the palm Of his hand.
He was born In Jackson county, near Kansas
City and from his earliest days after the power
Of reasoning came to him the james boys and
the Youngers have been his ideals Of all that Is
brave and manly. II reports Of his life are true
he Is worthy successor OF those celebrated
knights Of the road and II was amid their homes
that he Is credited with plotting his first crime.
Since the summer Of 1895 there have been
nearly dozen trains held up In the vicinity Of
Kansas City and Kennedy was suspected Of
having had hand In each one Of them. He
was three times arrested and as many times de-
olared not guilty by juries the trials being no.
torlous for the charges that witnesses for him
periured themselves and that juries were
brlbed. In December, 1897, he was arrested on
the charge OF having murdered Miss Emma
Schumacher ut her grocery store In Kansas City.
After lying in jail several months Kennedy was
released on bond, This accusation is still pend
Ing against him. although he has never been
tried.