Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-11
SIX MEN SAW HIN SHOOT her
Witnesses Tell How Van Wilson Good
ell Killed Miss Edna Kennett.
SAW HIN SHOOT THREE TINES
Attorney for the Defense says that
Ills Defense IL that OodeI
Was Insane when he Did
the Shooting.

Sis men took the stand yesterday after
noon and told how they saw Van Wilson
Goodell shoot down Edna Kenneth. Each
testified that after the first shot the giri
screamed and ran, that Goodell pursued her
and caught her. throwing his left arm
under hers from behind and then holding
her down in front Of him, pumped two
more shots at her face with the revolver
which he held in his right hand.
For the defense Attorney Slabaugh
stated that Goodell was insane at the time
Of the shooting and knew nothing about
1t. not remembering anything from I
o'clock that afternoon, that during the day
Of September 4 he had been going from
saloon to saloon drinking whisky every
where, had applied for reinstatement in his
position and been refused.
Goodell's counsel asserted he had been
engaged to Edna Kennett. She Tilted him
and this preyed upon his mind. He had
formerly been addicted to drink to the
use OF cocaine and Of opium. When Miss
Kennctt refused to marry him according
to the alleged agreement Goodell resumed
these habits.
Anton Frsncel. an express wagon driver
observed the couple standing in front of
the house as he drove past to a near by
destination and was on his way back down.
town and a few feet ahead OF them when
he heard the first shot. Jumping from his
wagon and running back he saw Goodell
pursuing the girl. lie caught her as
described, fired two more shots and the
girl fell to the ground. Then Goodell
Strengthened up and raising his revolver,
shot at his own head. He fell to the
ground near the girl.
'Gooden Wore n Smile.
W. II. Cowman. an employe of the Wind
sor stables, was on his way to supper when
he heard the first shot and the girls
scream. Like Francel, he turned, and run
ming back, saw the man catch the girl,
fire the second and third shots and then
shoot at himself. William r. Taylor, who
lives at Twenty-fourth ard Farnam, tes-
titled almost identically except to add that
Goodell wore a smile as he looked up after
shooting the girl. II. B.. Andrews, q barber
across the street, knew Miss Kennett and
Goodell by sight. Goodell he had shaved
the day before. After being shaved Good
ell had attracted his attention by remain
ing in front of the shop for half an hour.
Going home to supper the next evening he
saw the two across the street in front OF
the brick flat where the Kennett girl
roomed. Andrews crossed diagonally to the
south and had just reached the curbstone
when he heard the girl scream and the
shot fired. Liz the others he ran back
and saw the rest of the episode.
II. +. Daily had been in the same house
where Miss Kenneth boarded, eating his sup
per. He saw Goodell continually grabbing
the girls hands and she as often pulling
them away. DAILY finished his meal, went
two doors south, where he roomed, and
passing the couple noticed that their con-
versation was in an exceedingly low tone
of voice. lie heard the first shot fired,
He was a witness to the pursuit, the
second ard .third shots and the attempted
suicide.
Policeman sixth Eyewitness.
Officer j. 4. Donohue, who came upon
the scene a few minutes after the shoot.
ing, was the next witness and then for the
sixth time that afternoon a witness told
how he saw Goodell shoot the girl. This
last witness was Officer Waters, who haC
been down town to meet his mother anC
was walking up Fifteenth street when h,
heard the first shot, and running, arrived
in time to see the other bullets fired
Waters identified the revolver with whicl