The New York herald., 1921-08-16
Pleadings to Indictment in
Los Angeles Go Over
Until August p.
DIR. BURCH SUPPORTS son
Defence Maintains Kennedy
Was Shot by Two Men of
Foreign Appearance.

..os ANGELES, Aug. 15.--EStension OF
lie until August % In which to plead
was granted Arthur c. Burch and
Mrs. Madalynne Obenchain, indicted
for murder in connection with the
shooting OF j. B. Kennedy. to-day
when they were arraigned in Superior
Court.
Ralph Obenchain. who allowed Mrs
obenchain a divorce so that she might
marry Kennedy. and who hurried to
her side in response to n teiegraphic
appeal, was admitted to the bar In CAL
ifornia to-day for this case only to
aid in Mrs. Obenchain's defence. lie
had arrived here from Chicago yester-
day in company with the Rev. W. A.
Burch, father of the other nrisoner.
Attorneys for the defence. in urging
the delay. declared that they wished
more time in which to consult on possi-
BILE motions to be made on technical
points at the time of pleading.
While the indictment was being read
Mrs. Obenchain stood beside her former
husband. She appeared to be on the
verge of collapse as she listened to the
reading of the indictment. which charged
she and Burch killed Kennedy in front
Of Kennedy's cottage on the night of
August s. Burch displayed no emotion.
Mrs Obenchain was brought to the
court room by woman deputy sheriff,
on whose arm she leaned heavily. As
4 NT.. 49,. Il .4.x
glanced casually in his direction. then
looked away. The eyes OF the prisoners
did not meet during the entire pro-
ceedings.
Mrs Obenchain stood beside her for
mer husband at the counsel table lean
ing on the back of a chai- for support
during the reading OF the indictment.
Obenchain whispered to her occasionally.
When Keyes, as a Deputy District At
torney. read the words, for the murder
OF j. Bolton Kennedy. human being"
Mrs. Obenchain closed her eyes and her
body swayed. Her grip on the chair
frightened and she appeared to be about
to fall but managed TO regain her COM
posure. -.
DIR. Burch was in the court room dur
ing the proceedings. After the prisoners
had been taken back TO Jail Or. Burch
and Obenchain left together in an au-
tomobile.
Or. Burch expressed his absolute faith
IN the innocence OF his son. Mr. oben-
chain said he regarded the charges
against his former wife as absurd and
declared she told him the same story
she told the authorities. That was that
Kennedy was shot by two men OF for
eign" appearance whom she could not
identify.
Miss Thelnla Smith, cousin OF Mrs.
obcnchain. told newspaper men to-day
she was prepared TO testify for tho de-
fence at the trial. She said she knew
that Kennedy wished to marry Mrs.
Obenchain and that she knew of her own
knowledge recent occasions when he had
pressed his suit The District Attorneys s
office has announced as its theory In the
case that II was Mrs. Obenchain who was
urging the marriage.
Police are continuing their search for
the shotgun used in the Staying of Ken
nedy. The stock of n shotgun and a
complete gun have been found, but the
complete gun. they announced to-day,
had been identified by local merchant
as one stolen from his home more than
year ago.
The authorities say they are inclined
q. TO believe that the gun stock they are
Y holding is part OF the gun used by the
slayer and divers are stil searching the
ocean for the barrel.