Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-06
COODELL ON MURDER CHARGE
CorOner's Jury Stamps Crime on
Slayer Of Edna Kennett.
F1ANCE TAKES THE BODY HOME
william witt Follows Parents Back
TO LIncoln with Corpse of Girl
lie ives TO Have
Married.

That Edna Kenneth came 10 her death
as the result Of gun shot wounds inflicted
Friday evening In front of 54 North tlt-
teenth street, by one Van Goodeu, with
murderous intent and recommend that he
held to the district court. on the charge OF
murder.
The above verdict was returned by the
coroner's Jury at the inquest held Satur-
day afternoon at 4 o'clock, on the death Of
Miss Edna Kennett, who was wontonly
murdered Friday evening by Van Goodell,
a laborer. because she was engaged to
marry another man.
Several eye-witnesses to the shooting tes-
titled that Gooden and the girl had stood
talking for a few moments on the side
walk. and that, finally. she started to leave
him, when he grabbed her arm. She broke
away and started to run. but had gone but
a few PAGES WHEN Goodell whipped out a
revolver and fired at her. She wheeled
half way around and he approached her
and throwing one arm around her shoulder
placed the revolver to her forehead and
fired twice more, before turning the re-
vOlver on himself.
GoodeT1 was not. present at the inquest,
being detained at the city jail with his
wound.
Two Interested spectators were William
witt. the girls fiance, and A. b.. Carper,
an uncle of Miss Kennett, who lives on a
farm near Eagle, Neb. The girls parents
arrived in Omaha Saturday morning and
left for home in the afternoon, after view
ing the body at the Lincoln home. at 2
p. m. today. The body will be taken to
Lincoln this morning by witt and Carper,
Cries In jail.
Van GoodelI Of Florence, VINO shot and
killed Miss Edna Kennett Friday evening
because she was to marry William witt,
was taken to the police station Saturday
morning. where County Attorney English
and Captain OF Police Savage held a long
interview with him, securing a statement
which they refused to divulge. No official
action will be taken in his case until after
the Inquest over the young woman.
When seen at the police station Saturday
morning Goodell was lying on a cot In a
cell with his eyes covered by his arms,
and when aroused and questioned, he said;
Il have nothing to say at present"
He appeared rather cool and said he was
last employed as a labOrer by the Kingman
Implement company. He left there two
weeks ago ard asked for his Job back Fri
day. but did not get it.
When he emerged from Captain Savage's
office, following his talk with the county
- ~ SH0hNA wa
lapse and had to be assisted back to his
,oell. sobbing like a child.
A post-mortem examination of the body
of the. girl was held by Coroner's Physician
Dir. Lavender Saturday morning and dis
closed the fact that the bullet, which en-
tered under the left arm pit. penetrated
both luEgs, and the other bullet, which
entered over the right eye, was lodged in
the brain Either wound was almost in
stantlyNfatal. ..
Being Informed that Goodell had written
threatening letters 10 Miss Kennett pre-
vious to the shooting, the police secured a
number Of letters to the girl, but none was
discovered that bore Goodells signature.
william Witt, the murdered girls fianoe,
appeared at the police station Saturday
morning to lend his assistance to the police.
He said nothing regarding the shooting ex-
eept that he was to have been married to
4 Miss Kenneth early this fan.
Father ana FiRnce View Scene.
William Witt was at the Hotel Loyal
Saturday in company with Mr.. and Mrs.
Kennett OF Lincoln.
1t was all a mistake to think that l was
out of town last night, said Mr.. Witt.
Il returned home about 10 O'Clock and was
told Of the tragedy. This morning l went
u Allt pOllNG I ~ IL hlHNg III
to ask me any questions. / had never
seen this man Goodel until this morning,
when L went to the hospital. Miss Kennett,
however. had often spoken Of him to me.
and. / knew he had for no reason threat
ened her on several occasions. They be
came acqua nted in Florence, / think. where
she used to work In a lunch room, and she
went out with him several times, but they
were never engaged, and ! am sure that
sic had 20 affection Tor him. She went to
sevel al dances with ham and that was all.
she had frequently spoken to me Of
threats he had made to her, but l did not
at that time consider them serious. About
ten days ago he wrote her a letter, in
which he asked for an interview, and
stated that she need fear no harm, but she
PAID no attention to 1t
Charles Kennett, father OF the murdered
girl is an employee of the Capital City Ice
company in Lincoln. They have three
other children, two girls and one boy, all
Of them younger than Miss Edna. Mr.. and
Mrs, Kenneth came to Omaha Saturday
morning and visited the scene Of the
tragedy in company with Mr.. Witt and
were overcome with grief. Mr.. Kenneth
broke down completely in the Hotel Loyal,
where he and his wife are the guests OF
Manager Taggsrt and could scarcely speak
at all Of his daughters death.
We have never seen this man Goodell
but once said Mr.. Kennett. That was
at our home in Lincoln. We knew that he
was acquainted with our ~aughter, but
knew very little about his character. We
came TO Omaha this morning and have
seen the place of the shooting
They were not taken to see the corpse
until late In the afternoon because Of ~thsir
extreme grief and excited condition.
BY using the various departments OF The
Ree Want Al Pares Yni get hest rnsnIt.