The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-16

Of baltimore. the bonding concern IN
which the Treasurer was Interested and Of
which he had been q vice-president.
He arose early. and accompanied his
wife And son to church. On the way
to and from church he met half dozen
or more friends. with whom he talked
lauGhingly His mood hadn't changed APP
parently when he reached the hotel, but
about lunch time he complained Of feel
ing tired and out OF sorts. His. son
suggested that he 60 to lunch and he
might feel better.
wou1an't Go 70 LuneA.
NO" said Mr.. Kennedy. II am not
hungry. You 20 ahead and eat. Maybe
I'll have something later"
Mrs. Kennedy wanted to remain in the
room with him to keep him company dur
ing the lunch hour. but he wouldn't have
u.
go and eat" he insisted. I'm be all
right here I'll lie down a while
Mrs. Kennedy and her son were at
table perhaps three-auarters Of an hour.
AZ length the son started for the apart
ment. telling his mother that he wanted
to see II his father was ready for lunch
or had fallen asleep.
He opened the door OF the room where
no had left his father. saw Mr.. Kennedy
was not there and pursued the search
until he came to n lavatory. Opening
the door he saw his fathers body on tho
t1led floor, a razor near the right hand
Young Mr.. Kennedy summoned help
and q telephone call was sent for a-physi-
clan. The doctor arrived in Ave minutes.
but he saw that Mr.. Kennedy had been
lead for at least half an hour.
0pa nP oOp'a rot V,hl Tn 4pOd
TO Gov. Giynn the following telegram:
MY father, John j. Kennedy. died Sud
denly to-day. ! am quite familiar with
his Affairs as State Treasurer and know
that everything connected with his Office
has been conducted properly and will BE
found to be correct.
Il would. however. suggest that his ac-
couits as State Treasurer be examined as
expeditiously rs possible and that an
audit he had 80 that an Official report can
b made"
News shocks BsAalo.
The news OF the suicide shocked all
Du9ale. Mr.. Kennedy was one OF the
mon prominent me in business and poll
He WAS born here in 1856. was one OF
the .founders OF the Hotel Vega. served
tvehO=one years in the Board OF Alder
men, was a member Of the Democratic
state committee. had been State Treas
uret aimee January I. 1911. and belonged
to half dozen frAternal organisations.
inclo1ing tiss F:agis~. Elks, Ancient
Order OF Hibernlans. the Catholic Benevo-
lent Legion and the Catholic Mutual
Benefit Association.
He made his frst money in the saloon
business and he was exceedingly proud Of
Nh record In politics, although sensitive TO
references TO his early activities.
When District Attorney Whitman Of
New York began to 60 after the road and
barge canal graftcrs Mr.. Kennedy's name
c3me Up a. q member OF the Barge Canal
Board. which consisted Of Lieut.-Gov.
0iynn. Attorney. General Carnody Comp |
trollsr Sohmer. State Engineer Bensel.
Duncan W. Peck. Secretary OF State May
and himself
II was said that the board ordinarily |
voted four to three and that the four were
Bsnrel. Peck. May and Kennedy AZ op- |
posed 10 Glynn, Carmody and Sohmer.
Recently the question that District At |
toyney Whitman set himself to solve was \
how familiar was the State Treasurer |
with the names and operations OF the
main road and canal grafters.
More recently still the impression be-
came pretty definite that Mr.. Kennedy
knew little Of value to the prosecutor and
that good many criminal or illegal acts
may have been done IN the shadow OF his
ONCE. but without his knowledge.
4 Reluctant witness.
Mr.. Whitman had a great deal OF diff
Guilty in getting Mr.. Kennedy to go to
New York. Mr., Kennedy explained that
he did not want to testify. He said he
mad nothing Of value to anybody. Mr..
Whitman persisted and on February the
State Treasurer appeared In the Grand
Jury room In New York city.
After that gr1lling, a humiliating one
TO him. Mr.. Kennedy returned TO Albany
determined to submit to no more inQuisi-
tons However. Mr. whitman was in
s!stent that Mr.. Kennedy appear before
Magistrate McAdoo In New York at the
public John Doe hearing and repeat pub
iicly the testimony he had given before
the Grand Jury two weeks ago. Mr.. Ken
0edy tried to avoid repeating his testi-
mony. but Il was impossible.
He was served with subpoena at the
lroquos Hotel on Saturday after he left
q luncheon with friends He showed the
subpoena to his friend and lawyer, Michael
DirDberger. saying:
THAT thing makes me feel pretty blue"
Mr.. Dirnberger told him to cheer up.
that the subpoena was formality after
all and that his testimony would soon be
over. That day Mr.. Kennedy visited Nor
nan e. Mack. They had long CONVERSE
ton.
Mr.. Mack declined tonight to say Just
what matters were discussed, contenting
H1iuoelI WIN the eNpiAnAtlon, we tdlke0 ]
about lot Of things"
On Saturday night Mr.. Kennedy's
friends observed that he appeared care
worn. nervous and generally depressed.
Those who were aware u IN fear that
No was to be ridiculed and humiliated In
New York began 70 believe that he might
go insane. although not one appears TO
have thought he would kill himself.
Hts CSuasel's Statement.
Michael F. Dirnberger. Jr.. who was Mr..
Kennedy's personal counsel. issued this
statement tonight
"For the past ten days l have been in
constant touch with Mr.. Kennedy and
was with him personally at Albany on
Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday OF last
week. During this time I examined care-
fully into the affairs Of the State Treas
drers Office. examined all the statutes re-
iating to the Office of State Treasurer
and such rules az regulate the conduct Of
that Office
II had daily conferences with Deputy
Comptroller Wendell, who has charge OF
matters relating to the conduct of the
Comptroller's once as they relate to the
Office Of State Treasurer; I also met and
discussed matters In relation to the State
TrsAsdrers Office with Attorney General
Carmody ana met with Michael May.
Secretary OF State, and discussed with |