The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-16
Impending Appearance
Before Whitman Cause
of Suicide.
WAS EXPECTED AT
INQUIRY TODAY
Subpoenaed to Appear as Wit
ness at John Doe Graft .Investi-
gation-Intimate Connection
With Bonding Company s.
Discovered-Full Audit
of Books Ordered.

Rufalo. y. Y, February l5.-John T.
Kennedy. State Treasurer. committed
suicide shortly after noon to-day at
the Mar!teep Hotel, where he lived
y ith his family. He was found in n
sma'l lnvatory with his throat cut. and
an open razor on the floor beside hini,
Ills 1ugular vein had been severed
Temporary insanity, induced by tho
worry Owe" his impending appearance
before the New York grand jury, whore
| District Attorney Charles s. Whitman
has beer, Conducting John Doe graft
inquiry, Is said by his attorney,
otichacl T. Dirnberger Jr., to be tho
only reason that can be assigned for
Mr.. l<cnnedy's act.
/ Just before leaving Albany on Fri
day. Mr. Kennedy was served with a
subpoena to appear at the inquiry to-
morrow. and upon his arrival here an
other officer from Mr.. Nhitman's Of
lice served 4 second subpoenn on him
He sent for Mr. Dirnberger, and it
later was announced that Mr. Kennedy
would start for New York tonight. A
sleeper ticket for n train leaving hero
/ for New York tonight was found in
Mr. Kennedy's pocket.
Alter the talk with his attorney Fri
day. Mr.. Kennedy appeared to be In
excellent spirits. He met number
| OF close political friends on Saturday
/ at :: downtown hotel. and in tho even
! Ing attended q dance in the hotel BALI
room.
J Goes to High Mass.
lie went to high mass with his son.
! William III. Kennedy, to-day, and re-
turned to the hotel about noon.
Alter greeting his wife and daughter,
Dir. Kennedy said lie was going to his
room to lie down until they were
j, ready for Luncheon ha OH
afterwards went TO the apartments to
summon his father. When he pushed
open the door of the room he saw AIR.
kennedy lying on the lioor. the blood
hoWing from II wound in his throat
i The hotel physician was summoned
but he could do nothing to save tho
/ dying man, who already had lost n
large, amount OF blood. Death oc-a
Cured before Mr.. Kennedy could be
| removed
/ The medical examiner was notified,
ana after a brief investigation issued
= certificate of death by suiciue
MIR. Dirnpeiger, IN q statement to-
/, night, called attention To tho fact that
the subpoenas requiring Mr.. Kenneuy's
presence At The John Doe invest gation
tomorrow followed his appearance be-
ioic the grand Jury ON january 20 at
the request OF District Attorney Whit,
man. Al that time. Mr.. kennedy Sign
Ell n waiver of immunity, ana waa ex-
amined at length by Mr. Whitman.
Mr.. Dirnbcrger saidethnt for the past
ten days lie had beonstn constant touch,
with MIR. Kennedy. Last week, when
they were in Albany, Mr. Dirnbcrger
examined carefully into all the affairs
of the State Treasurer's office, he said.
BrOoded Over Matter.
Everything done by Mr. Kennedy in
the discharge of his duties as State
Treasurer" continued the statement, IT
found had been done properly and in a
most upright manner and entirely In
accordance with the law applicable to
that office. MIR. Kennedy was a most
conscientious man, dslikins publicity
and kecnly sensitive OF criticism. Hav-
ing been before the grand jury and
given all the information asked OF him.,
and everything they desired to know.
and thinking that his examination had
been concluded. he worried constantly
about the proposed examination on
/ Monday because he could not imagine
what further investigation there could
be concerning him and his affairs ais
state treasurer. He talked with me
constantly about this matter the last
few days. and while I know lie had
lnothing to conceal In his proposed ex-
animation tomorrow. l could see that
4 he vas brooding over this matter and
! feared the publicity. He told me that
he never before had been witness be-
fore grand jury or in any court. and
/ he feared he might be unable clearly to
explain the intricate questions that
might be asked by n keen district at
/ torney
| This also weighed heavily on his
mind, and tho combination of these
! things, / feel certain. so oppressed him
as to cause temporary arrangement
4 OF his mind.
II feel certain that an Investigations
Of his affairs as State Treasurer Will
bdisclose that he has properly and corr
rectly administered the duties of that
office, and I am unable to account for
his unfortunate act OF to-day. except
on the ground that his mind was tenn
porarily deranged"
SON Asks for Audit.
| William FL. Kennedy tonight sent
the following telegram to Governor
; Glynn.
MY father. John Kennedy, State
Treasurer, died suddenly to-day.
am quite familiar With his affairs as
State Treasurer, and know that every
thing connected with his office has
been conducted properly, and will ba
found TO be correct would Suggest.
however, that his accounts as State
Treasurer be examined as expeditiouaiy
as possible, and an audit be had, 50 x
that an official report can be made"
IT became known hero tonight that
Arthur w. fsissell. president OF the
Peoples Bank. visited New York two
weeks ago. at tho request OF Distrtck
Attorney Whitman, with O copy OF AfY,F 4
kenncdy's account.
Mr.. Kennedy WAS not a heavy ber.ss
rover nor heavy. depositor" snfd&
personal account with ua. but it navnr$
was large Mr.. Whitman knows NH
| about tho account ! did not SO be ~
! fore the grand Jury. merely talytyst4ss2