The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-07-07
LAW TO TAKE A LIFE.
THE CONVICTION or DR..
SAMUEL KENNEDY,
OF the Atrooloua Murder Of Pretty
Dolly Reynoids-Ths story OF p Muir
der Chse which strongly Resembles
the Celebrated Pearl Byran AGair.


When the jury in the case OF the
state Of New York versus DR.. Samuel
J.. Kennedy returned a verdict Of muir
der in the first degree against the
prisoner, another victory was scored
for circumstantial evidence. There
have been few cases more replete with
interesting and sensational details
than thai Of the murder Of Dolly Rey-
nolds, for which Kennedy was con-
victed and will, in all probability.
pay the death penalty. The New York
police had purely circumstantial evil
denee to work with. but they added
detail to detail until the finished evil
dence was damning in the complete
ness. Those who have followed the
case viii recollect the striking resem-
blance It bore to the famous Pearl
Bryan murder, the victim IN both cases
being originally beautiful country girls.
and the %murderers OF both being dem
lists. To add to the popularity, Ken
nedy, the murderer Of Dolly Reynolds,
was a physical prototype Of Scott
Jackson, the facial resemblance par
ticularly being remarkable.
The whole story OF the deed reads
like one Of Poe's most fascinating de-
tective stories. Dolly Reynolds was a
county girl, who, until a few years
ago, lived with her mother in the viii
lage OF North Vernon, N. Y. Combined
with brilliant beauty Of face and fig
ure, she possessed a sweet voice and
an engaging disposition. firing Of the
quiet life Of the home, she quilted It to
plunge into the fascinating gayeties
OF the metropolis. She began as a
book agent, n her beauty and powers
Of conversation we're so great that she
boasted she could sell books to the
busiest man in New York at his busiest
moments. In the pursuit Of this voca-
ton she was brought much in contact
with Wall street brokers, and the in
evitable came to pass only too soon
The money that Dolly sent home
amazed her old mother, but it was all
explained plausibly enough.
It was while leading this life that
Dolly Reynolds met DR.. Kennedy.
Both were interested in racing, and
she was in the habit Of giving the
dentist money to bet for her. Ken
nedy explained to her that he was the
inventor of a device, which, If used
properly, would enable them to win
thousands OF dollars from the book
makers. It was an electrical appli-
ance which could be concealed by thC
jockey and would enable him to in
crease greatly the speed of his horse
Kennedy had no such device at all, bui
used this idea to procure money from
his fair friend. On the strength Of thi:
she lent him $500, which he promised
to bet for her. The money was useC
by him for various purposes, but hi
concealed this from her, telling hel
instead that he had won $4,000 ant
that she was entitled to half. Doll!
asked him for the money, but be hep.
putting her of from time to time viii
many different excuses.
Finally she became desperate anC
threatened to expose all to Kennedy
wife. Kennedy, on the spur Of tn,
moment, forged a check for $4,000 Oh
a New York bank, signed by Dude!
c. Gideon and Endorsed by himself
The penalty for thus forging a checI
in New York state is ten years In tn
penitentiary. Moreover, Kennedy hat
represented it as coming from Dave
Gideon, the w%ell-known turfman. Mis-
Reynolds grew suspicious of the ohecl
and demanded that Kennedy pay he
in bank notes. at the same time re
peating the threat to expose all to hi
wife. on the 18th of August, Doll
Reynolds and a man Qater identities
as Kennedy were registered at tn
Grand hotel as "E. Maxwell and wife.
About $3.50 O'Clock in the morning
man was seen by a bell-boy slippin
cut of the hotel with a straw ha
pulled down over his head, as If anz
ious to avoid observation.
The next morning Dolly ReynOld
was found in her room, dead, with tw
CHASTITY wounds in her head, evldentl
made by a piece of gas pipe loade
with solder, which was lying near b!
Her rings and diamond pin had bee
torn from her body as If to fix robber
as the motive.
Inside her corset was found the tel
tale $4,000 check with s. J.. Kennel
as indorser. The room was in conf.
sion. as If a severe struggle had take
place. After the discovery Of Ii
check the police Immediately arreste
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