Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-11
VICTIMS OF ATTACK
LYING NEAR DEATH
Family Assaulted by Savage
Negro lat Bluffs Not
Likely to Recover.
AssA1LANT STILL AT LARGE

Mr.. ana MIS-. Jonn helneuy, a tlSn-
erman and wife, Council Bluffs, are
dying in Mercy hospital, and their
daughter-in-law, Cecil Kennedy, %
years old, is in a state of nervous
prostration as the result OF an attack
made upon them in their home by an
unidentified negro, who attempted to
assault the younger woman. The
negro escaped and there is little pros
pect of his capture.
Kennedy is suffering from five frac-
lures of the skull and his wife's skull
is crushed on the left side, above the
temple. A car coupling pin, weigh
ing about ten pounds and more than
a foot long, was the bludgeon used
by the man.
The attack occurred late Saturday
night and the details OF the crime
were not learned until after 2 o'clock
yesterday morning.
Kennedy, who is 4o years old and
his wife 50, live in little log cabin
in the woods, three-qusrters Of mile
north of The city limits and east Of
the Wickham sandbanks. The cabin
is a half dugout and has a dirt floor,
but is the home of eight people
Kennedy and his, wife; their son, Ira,
rs, his young wife, and baby 3 months
old, their other child, aged 3 years,
and the elder Kennedy's two younger
children, daughter aged IA and son,
II years old. All were present ex-
cept Ira, who is employed at night
in the mail transfer department at the
Union Pacific transfer station.
Enters Without Knocking.
Into this family home the unidenti-
fed negro walked at about 10 O'Clock
without even the formality of knock
ing The old man arose and asked
him what he wanted. The negro said
he was introuble with an automobile
nearby and wanted some help. He
asked the old IMAM to go with him.
Kennedy arose and strapped around
his waist a belt and holster carrying
a big revolver. He then went out of
the house with the negro.
Five minutes later the negro re-
turned alone and said he wanted a
pick and shovel. Advancing to the
side of Mrs. Kennedy, who had arisen
from her chair, he struck her blow
on the head with the linkpin, knock
ing her senselcss. He then sprang
at the young woman and struggle
ensued. The baby in her arms fell
on the dirt floor by hhe side of the
PROSTATE grandmother. The 1l-year-
old boy and his sister ran screaming
from the house. They had to go
through the woods and the darkness
nearly half mile to the home of w.
F. Patton, the nearest ncighbor.
Runs From House.
Mrs. Kennedy's clothes were torn
off, but she fought the black with
savage energy until, finally, he ran
out of the house, leaving behind the
bloody iron bar.
Wrapping some old garments about
her, Mrs Kennedy ran from the house
and $50 feet away encountered her
father-in-law, reeling and staggering
toward the house, with blood ;tream-
ing from half dozen wounds in his
head. His holster and pistol were
gone and his watch had been taken.
The negro had evidently walked by
the side of his victim until he found
an opportunity to strike him down
and had then returned to the house
The belt and holster were found yes.
terday morning, but the revolver had
been taken by the negro.
| The most meager reports came tC
the Bluffs police station and it was
not until after midnight that it was
known that a real crime had beer
committed. Yardmaster Snyder oI
the Northwestern sent switch engine
to the point nearest the scene and the
unconscious man and woman were
brought to the ward office and taker
in the police ambulance to the hos
pital, where DR.. X. B. Tubbs ATTENDED
them.
Husband and Wife Dying.
At late hour last night kenned,
was in a dying condition. His skull
was shattered by the blows of tn,
heavy iron. Mrs. Kennedy was still
unconscious, with the skull crushcc
above her temple. She has just :
bare chance OF living.
| The police dragnets OF Counci
Bluffs and Omaha were thrown ou
and a number of negroes picked up
but none answers the description
given OF the one wanted, who is dc
sctibed as 2S or 30 years old. slim
tbuilt, very black, five feet eight inche.
tall, weighing about AS pounds ant
smooth shaven. He has ono golt