Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-08-07
ANGEL CITY MAN
SHOT To DEATH;
WOMAN IS HELD
John B. Kennedy, Insurance
Broker, Is Killed As He
Enters His Summer Home
at Beverly Hills.
(By The Associated Press)

Los Angeles, Calf, Aug. e.
John B. Kennedy, %, Los Angeles
insurance broker, was shot and
killed late last night as he was en-
tering his summer cottage at Bev-
erly Hills, an exclusive residential
suburb. Mrs. Madelynne Oben-
chain, of Evanston, ILL.,, who was
with him, was held as material
witness.
Mrs. Obenchain, who said she was
formerly the wife of X. r. Oben-
chain, attorney Of Chicago, from
whom she was divorced, told the
sheriff's deputies that Kennedy was
shot from behind. She said she
afterwards saw two roughly dressed
men disappearing in some bushes.
The shooting occurred shortly be-
fore midnight, but no report was
made to the county authorities un-
til early today. Deputies found the
back of Kennedy's head had been
blown off apparently by a shot
from shotgun.
Mrs. Obenchain's Statement.
Mrs. Obenchain, in formal state
ment to Deputy Sheriff Cronin, said
she was 20 years old, the daugh-
ter of Mrs. Emma e. Smart, Los
Angeles. Her fathers name was
Conner, she said. Her former
husband, she said, had been paying
her $50 a month alimony.
"Our home was really broken up
from my love for Mr.. Kennedy"
the statement continued. "Mr.
Obenchain was willing for me to
obtain the divorce II 1t would make
me happy, but said he would will
ingly take me back.
IT would have been married to
Mr.. Kennedy long ago but he could
not overcome the objections of his
mother, who, he told me, disliked
me. l have known Mr.. Kennedy
five years and was to marry him,
but for some reason / married Mr..
Obenchain. My relations with Mr..
Kennedy have always been of the
best. Nothing of an improper ma
ture ever occurred.
Asked Her To Marry Him.
'He came to my room at the
Alexandria hotel the other night.
He kept pleading with me to marry
him and to tell him so he would
leave California and go east with
me. I finally induced him to leave
the room and he said he would II
l would promise to meet him when
he telephoned. This I did yester-
day. l don't know who shot him
or anything more than I have told.'
Mrs. Obenchain in an informal
statement said she and Kennedy
motored to a beach resort early in
the day, returning late in the
evening. They had planned to dine
at country club. but finding II
closed went to Kennedy's cottage
They stopped. she said. at the en-
trance while she looked for a
''lucky penny she had buried
there. AS they were searching for
the coin the shot was fired.
Heard Two Shots.
Mrs. Lizzie Beznty, a neighbor
told the Beverly Hills police she
heard two shots, followed by the
screaming of Mrs. Obenchain. She
said she saw ar automobile disap.
pearing down a drive near the
cottage.
Examination of Kennedy's cloth
ing showed he had number OF
important papers and a wallet
containing $50. Several articles OF
jewelry worn by him had not been
disturbed.
Police records here show that
Kennedy was attacked and beaten
on the street about four years age
by two men who he said were
strangers TO him.
Investigators said the shot which
killed Kennedy was fired from q
distance of about thirty feet. A
revolver, loaded, was found beside
the body. Mrs. Obenchain said
this belonged to Kennedy. She
said the latter was not instantly
killed, but said GOOD night, Mad
elynne." to her before expiring.
Officers found bushes trampled
| down in the place where Mrs
Oberchain said she saw two men
| disappear. The surrounding coun-
try was being searched today for
the suspects.
Mrs. Obenchain was detained at
the sheriff's office while the In
vestigation was proceeding today