New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-14
DIES ON Il" STAIRS
Jersey Physician identified by
Card of Bankers Wife.
HAD PREMONITI0N, SHE SAYS
Man of Same Name in Somerville
Had Police Record for Theft
. and Drunkenness.

n, John H. Kennedy, a physician Of
wight street, Somerville, n. j., became
.nddenly III on the steps OF the 10th street
cation of the Third avenue IL late yes
..,dsy afternoon and died IN the arms Of
natrolman and a motorman before a
nnysician from the Harlem Hospital ar
rived
IN his pocket was found a card Of Mrs
waiter L. Burckett, of No. 2Ol West 10Sth
s,ys4t. wife Of one of the vice-presidents
~ the State Bank She Identified Dr. Ken
csdy al the request of the police and said
she would take charge of the body and
see 10 its burial, although she said she was
nothing more than friendly acquaintance
Of the dead man.
Mrs Burckett explained that she gave
her card which led TO the police finding
her. TO the physician only two days ago,
having a premonition that something might
happen TO him and believing it would be
useful
Although it was believed apoplexy was
The cause Of death, some tablets found In
the pockets OF the dead physician probably
will be analysed before the inquest.
DR.. Kennedy had assembled six steps of
the stairs leading to the elevated station.
when William McCombs, a motorman on
the Third Avenue line. who was also on
the stairs. saw him totter and fall back
ward. McCombs ran 10 the assistance OF
the stricken man. and called for help.
Patrolman Alfred McGrath, of the East
i2sth street station, heard the cry and ran
20 the foot of the elevated stairs. where
McCombs was supporting DR.. Kennedy in
his arms.
McGrath, after a glance at the man.
called an ambulance from the Harlem Hos
pitsI and returned TO assist McCOmbs. who
was attempting 70 arouse the physician.
The policeman and motorman applied all
first aids they knew Of. but DR.. Kennedy
expired Just as the ambulance. with DR..
De Sautelle. drew up TO the curb
The body was taken 10 the East l26th
street station The clothing was searched
there and numerous letters were found ad-
dressed to DR.. John H. Kennedy. and j.
II. Kennedy. all at the Hight street address
In Somerville. Mrs. Burcketts card with
her address was found with the letters, so
a patrolman went to her house and escort
ed her to the station, where she identified
the body.
Mrs. Burckett said she had not seen Or.
Kennedy since Thursday, and ii was on
that occasion that she gave him her card,
Insisting it might be useful if anything
happened TO him. lie laughed, she said.
but took the card and put il in his pocket.
She then told Lieutenant Thomas Walsh
that all the physicians relatives lived in
Maine. and that she would take charge Of
the body and see that il was given proper
burial.
In addition to the letters and the card.
Dr. Kennedys pockets contained p cents
and the box of tablets.
Inquiries for Mrs. Burckett at her home
last night were met by her husband. he
said he had known DR.. Kennedy, who was
about thirty-five years old, two years, hav-
ing met him through Mrs. Burckett and,
aside from knowing that he was gradu-
ate of Bowdoin College. knew nothing OF
his personal life.
The first I heard Of Dr. kennedys
death" said Mr.. Burckett, was when some
one called me in my office and Informed me
that Walter L. Burckett had dropped dead
on the steps Of the l. uptown. OF course
J naturally denied the report Of my own
death, and II was then that Mrs. Burckett
was called upon 10 identify DR.. Kennedy.
Somervile. n. j.. April ia man known
10 the police as DR.. John kennedy was ar
rested here about six months ago Tor break
Ing into the house Of h. f. Gillespie, at
bound Brook.
After his release from jail he was found
IN a room in John HulsiZeT'S house, in hight
street About a week ago he was again
taken into custody for taking conslu-
erable amount of whiskey from hotel run
BY William J. Simmons, at East Milestone
On the third offence he was held for eH-
animation by the grand jury, but the jury
has since adjourned without action 50 lar
as can be learned.
Friends OF the man living at south som
ervine agreed TO take care OF him. IL Was
said that he was addicted to the use OF
alcohol and that while under its influence
be was led to commit the depredauons for
which he was jailed.
Kennedy was released from the Somerset
County Jail last Thursday, the day on
which Mrs Burckett said she saw him last
1t was stated at the Jail last night that
the Burcketts were the friends who agreed
10 look out for him
They told the prison authorities, accord
ing 10 the story that his mother was ltv-
nC i'm Maine where he enjoyed a large
practice before his weakness deprived him
81 IT,
married sister lived in New York, Mrs.
Burckett was quoted a saying she as
serted that she was not related 10 the doc
tor. but failed TO explain her interest in
aim.