The San Francisco call., 1909-12-29
ANOTHER DRUG
STORE BANDIT
SUSPECT HELD
Victims of Daring Thug Dis
agree When Called Upon to
Identity Man
James Kenney Tells Consistent
Story and VIII Probably
Be Released Today

James Kenney. a carpet layer resid-
ing Al 1872 Golden Gate avenue. is be-
ing held by the police on the suspicion
that he is the bandit who robbed the
Bieason- Courneen drug store and
Green's drug store and perhaps perpetu-
ated other crimes. It is probable that the
suspect viii be released this morning,
however. for. though two of the drug
store fiend's victims have positively
stated that Kenney is the thug, yet DR..
Edward II. Gleason himself is certain
he is not, and Pharmacist David B.
Green has gone on record also as sure
that Kepney is not the man who en-
tered his store.
DR.. H J. Noland gives the impression
that he believes Kenney TO be the ban
dit, but Noland remembers his positive
Identification of Policeman Carroll at
san Jose as the thug SO he refrains
from being positive in the matter. Miss
Irene FIoras. who was held up in the
Charlotte candy store at 1886 Market
street. AYERS that Kenney has a cast
OF countenance like the bandits. but
that he does not FIT the description in
other ways
kENNEY DENIES HIS GUILT
With this conflict of testimony rag
ing round him Kenney remains thor
oughlE al ease. consistently denying
his guilt He was arrested late Mon
DAY night 4 : he was about to enter his
shop 81 1852 Golden Gate avenue, be-
tween Fillmore and Steiner, after the
police, headed by Detective Sergeants
Ed Wren. Frank Lord, Jere Dinan and
I'd O'Dea, with Policeman Louis Cor
nelius. Had watched for him since De-
cember J.. on his capture the carpet
layer protested his innocence, and he
has not changed his attitude
It was DR. T. NJ Beddison and Ed
ward Briggs. both OF whom were in
the tfheason-Courneen drug store At
1882 Market street when it was en-
tered Tor. the second time December II
by the bandit. who declared yesterday
that Kenney was the thug. DR.. Gles-
son declared at the city prison that
E<enpey was not the man. and Noland.
after picking the fellow out from
among a. crowd Of men. left with the
mint thar Gleason should hook again
DISAPPEARED AFTER HOLDUP
Detective Sergeant Ed Wren received
word the day after the second drug
store hoidup that Kenney was the man,
and several circumstances led the de-
sective To believe that the information
was not far wrong They put a watch
on the shop. but never could find Ken
ney. He had isappesred. II has de-
Veloped now that ne was in st. Mary 5
hospital from December u until De
cember Is. recovering from q spree.
and Kennev states that after that he
worked on a. house being erected at
1915 Laguns street.
The detectives called the shop on the
phone several times, giving orders for
work. bur Kenney never came to the
addresses they gave. and this led them
TO suspect him. Kenney declares that
he has been away from the shop so
much that the orders. received by en-
ploves Of an employment Office in the
same shop. never were delivered TO
him.
IT was said also that Kenney had tel
ephoned. the. night Of the second hold
90. Just about the time the mysterious
message was received by Gleason that
the robbery would be repeated.
RESEMBIES DESCRIPTION OF THUG
Kenney accounts for his actions fair
Is well particularly on the nights OF
tie two holdups. and his wife supports
his assertion that he had nothing to do
with the crimes. The carpet layer was
= arrested but once before-his wife had
hsn thrown into jail on q charge. of
disturbing the peace
NV husband does not drink for long
71rIc.fls at q time. Mrs. kenney said
--ostr lavs and then he will go on a
e1sre For the last few weeks he has
teel .ss&E on one OF these times, but
cs-on s0 know he would not harm a
fy. lie never has had a pistol in his
life and wouldn't know how TO shoot
one
Kennpy hears a remarkable likeness
in some respects TO the descriptions
given or the thug, but his straight
story and the faulty idenUhcations
make il seem almost certain that he
viii be liberia ted today