Gilpin observer., 1899-05-25
LAW TO TAKE A LIFE.
THE CONVICTION OF DIR.
SAMUEL KENNEDY.
OF the Atrocious Murder of Pretty
Dolly Reynolds-Ths Story of . Mur-
der Case Which Strongly Resembles
tho Celebrated Pearl Byra Affair.

When the jury In the case of the
state of New York versus DR.. Samuel
). Kennedy returned verdict of mur-
DER In the first degree against the
prisoner, another victory. was scored
Tor circumstantial evidence. There
have been few cases more replete with
interesting and sensational details
than that 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
dence 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 will recollect the striking resem-
blance 1t 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
country girl, who until a few years
ago, lived with her mother in the vii
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 1t to
plunge into the fascinating gayeties
of the metropolis. She began as a
book agent, and her beauty and powers
OF conversation were 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.
1t 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 device, which. if used
properly. would enable them to win
thousands of dollars from the book
makers. 1t was an electrical appli-
ance which could be concealed by the
jockey and would enable him to in
crease greatly the speed of his horse.
Kennedy had no such device at all, but
used this idea to procure money from
his fair friend. On the strength of this
she lent him $500, which he promised
to bet for her. The money was used
by him for various purposes, but he
concealed this from her, telling her
instead that he had won $4,000 and
that she was entitled to half. Dolly
asked him for the money, but he kept
putting her off from time to time with
many different excuses.
Finally she became desperate and
threatened to expose all to Kennedy's
wife. Kennedy. on the spur Of the
moment, forged check for $4,000 on
New York bank, signed by Dudley
c. Gideon and indorsed by himself.
The penalty for thus forging a check
in New York state is ten years in the
penitentiary. Moreover. Kennedy had
represented it as coming from Dave"
Gideon. the well-known turfman. Miss
Reynolds grew suspicious Of the check
and demanded that Kennedy pay her
in bank notes. at the same time re-
peating the threat to expose all to his
wife. On the 18th of August, Dolly
Reynolds and man Qater identified
as Kennedy were registered at the
Grand hotel as e. Maxwell and wife,"