The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-27
Albert Kennedy, of Ellis, Bru-
tally Murdered.
Was Evidently DecapItated
With Corn Knife.
KILLED FOR HIS MONEY
On Way to Visit Brother at
Mantau, Ohio.
Body Found in Berry Patch by
Women.

Cincinnati, O.. July 27.-While pick
ing berries on a farm near Warren, o.,
last night. Mrs. Rufus Robbins found
the head of a man. A search in a thick
ct nearby disclosed the remaining part
of the dead mans body.
Papers found in the clothes identified
the man as Albert Kennedy, a rich
merchant of Ellis, Kan, from which
place he was en- route to Mantau, Ohio.
where he has brother. Mr.. Kennedy
had visited his brother in Ohio in April
and returned to his home in aElHs to
close up some business matters. pre-
paratory to returning to Ohio and pur-
chasing a farm near his brothers. It
is known that he left Kansas some
time in June, but how long the body
has lain in the thicket is a mystery.
The evidence tends to show that Ken
nedy was murdered for his money and
that he was decapitated with
corn knife. He was known to be
wealthy, and always carried large sums
of money about him. Not a cent OF
money and no valuables were found on
the body. The circumstances of the
head being found SO far from the BODY
is thought to show that the murderers
had planned to carry it away and de-
stroy it entirely as the slayers of Pearl
Bryan did with the head Of the Indi-
ana girl at Fort Thomas. KY, some
years ago.
On the other hand a prominent physi-
clan makes the startling statement that
the headless body probably walked or
Wriggled the distance of 500 feet from
where the head was found and where
Kennedy was probably murdered, to the
place where the trunk was found. He
says that the reflex action of the mus
cles, excited, as they probably were in
the struggle with the assassins before
Kennedy was slain, could account for
the finding of the body SO far from
the head.
The authorities say that they have
several clews to the murderer and eX-
pect to make an arrest or two in day
or so
Kennedy is survived by a 17-year-old
daughter and two brothers one OF
who still lives in Ellis, Kan. the 9TH
er living near Mantau, 0.
Another Account
Warren. o., July 2T.=Mueh excite
ment prevails today at Leavittsburg,
O., near here. as a. result of the finding
Of the headless body Of a man in a
found in a nearby hay field. Both
body and head were badly decon-
posed
In the pockets were found letters
showing that the man was Albert Ken
nedy of Ellis, Kan. He had recently
been living at Mantua, where brother
now resides.
Kennedy is known to have had $500
just before his death. Only~75 cents
and a silver watch were found In the
pockets of of the dead man. kennedy
vent west a few weeks ago to sell his
farm and he intended to bring his
daughter back to Ohio with him. If
his daughter accompanied him.. she
has disapp The police have
taken steps to find if the girl accom-
panied her father and if SO to learn
what has become of her.
Kennedy was last seen in Kansas
CITY on June 26. 1t is supposed that
he was fnveigled away from the station
at Leavittsburg, where he was to have
changed cars and then killed for his
money. 1t Is believed that a dog may
have carried the head from the body
Kennedy was a temperate, quiet
man of about so.