Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-05
JEALOUS MAN KILLS WOMAN
Van Goodell Shoots Edna Kennett and
Turns Gun on Self.
MURDERERs WOUND NOT FATAL
Tragedy said 20 BE Caused by
Approaching Marriage of woman
TO Omaha Painter, Rival of
Murderer.

In a fit Of jealousy because she was
about to marry another man Van Goodell
an employe of the Water company at Flor7
ence, shot and killed Edna Kennett Of
Lincoln, checking clerk at the Hotel Loyal,
and then turned his gun on himself, infict-
ing a wound from which he will recover
The murder happened at 6:1O yesterday
afternoon In front of boarding house run
by Mrs. Hefting at s14 North Fifteenth
street, and was witnessed by Mrs. Hefting
and one or two other people A large num-
Der of people were passing at the time
and a crowd soon collected Goodell is said
to have murdered his victim because she
was about to wed william Witte. painter,
who lives at SOOl Franklin street
Mrs. Heftlng says that Goodell came to
see Miss Kennett about a week ago, and
that when he came again Friday evening
she said to Miss Kennett, Here's that man
that was here last week." and soon after
that the shooting occurred.
The first shot was fired when Goodell
was at some distance from the woman, but
he grabbed her and held her while firing
two more. One bullet penetrated her brain
and one entered the left arm and came out
at the breast Goodell then inflicted a flesh
WOunu upon nlTnSelI, lue Dullel BId1lHB Nlle
forehead over the eye.
GoOdeII Tries to Escape.
Both were hurried to the Omaha General
hospital, where Miss Kennett died at about
7:9O o'clock. Police Surgeons Harris and
Smith are in charge of the man and say
that he will live. He attempted to escape
soon after arriving at the hospital was
put in a straight jacket and strapped to the
bed
Assistant Coroner Hulse took charge OF
the body of the woman It was planned to
lock Goodell up at the police station for
safe keeping as his condition is not serious
and Il is feared that he might escape from
the hospital
The young victim of Goodells jealousy
was an employe at the Loyal hotel, where
she had been working as a checking clerk
for week or two She is said to have lived
on farm near Lincoln, while another report
gives her address as 2O24 Q street, Lincoln.
Goodell is said to be an employe Of the
water works company at Florence and has
friends living there.
The police have been on the lookout for
William witte, Miss Kennett's fiance, since
they learned his identity, but he cannot be
located at his home on Franklin street. nor
has he appeared at the coroners nor asked
asked concerning Miss Kennetts death.
He will be taken into custody and exam
ined as soon as he can be found
A brother of witte was found and taken
to the hospital. He said he had never seen
Goodell before, and although he knew Of
his brothers engagement to the dead
woman, he did not know enough of her
life 70 tell anything of her relations with
Goodell.
After Goodell regained consciousness.
shortly after s. o'clock, he talked .continu-
ally OF the woman whom ne killed. He
asked where she was and when told she
was upstairs in bed, although she was al
ready dead. he was still unsatisfied and
continually asked to be taken TO her. Very
little concerning the man could be learned
from his talk. as 1t was partly incoherent
and consisted mostly of his calls for Miss
Kennett At no time dtd he say anything
to Indicate that he felt any remorse.
GoodeII Had Threatened Girl.
Before the dead girl had Tilted Boodell,
during the time he kept company with
her last winter, he had made' continual
threats against her life. according to
story told to the police by Mrs. L. S.
Wolfe, 413 North Eighteenth street, who
was a companion of the girl at that time.
| Last SpTln SInS COUPLE GOOucll anu
girl attended dance, and because she
danced with another man Goodell lay in
wait for him at Sixteenth and Capitol
avenue and cut him several times. Goodell
was later captured in Florence by De-
tective Pattullo but escaped sentence
owing to lack of prosecution.
Goodell was taken to the police station
| from the hospital at S:45 Friday night
and was still under the influence of
liquor and appeared somewhat dazed
Later Mrs. Wolfe was allowed to sec
! him as he lay o ma cot in cell. She
remarked We'll, you fixed her at last,
didn't your
Goodell removed his hands from his
| eyes and remarked to Sergeant Hayes,
who stood nearby: Take that woman out
Of here"
| He was visited by Police Surgeon Har-
ris few moments later and apparently
was just beginning to realize the enormity
of his crime, commencing TO shed tears,
he cried in response to a question as to
why he shot the girl; II don't remember
anything about II; 1 have been crazy
drunk for four days and did not know 1
shot at her rwhy shot" His state
ment. however. is offset by his clever
ruse in feigning unconsciousness on the
road to the hospital and his attempted
| escape.
The charge of murder was put opposite
his name on the Jail record.