The New York herald., 1921-08-13
WOMAN REFUSES TO
give MURDER CLUES
Mrs. Obenchain Prefers Jail
to Revealing Events
of Past.
DOES NOT WANT PITY
Says Prison Means Nothing
to Her; Thinks Only Of
Her Loss.
SEES DEPUTY SHERIFF
Compare Shells With Stock of
Gun Believed to Have Been
Used by Slayer.
SEES DEPUTY SHERIFF

Los ANGELES Aug 12.-Because she
does not want to be unfair Ito a per-
son in whose innocence" she believes,
Mrs. Madalynhe Obenchain, indicted
for murder in connection with the
Staying Of John Belton Kennedy. in All
interview to-day declared she pre-
ferred to remain in jail rather than
tell anything further regarding the
events leading up to the death of
Kennedy, who she one day hoped to
marry.
She said she might previously have
given details that would have shed
light on the tragedy and gained free
dom for herself had she not been
"dazed" when first held by the police.
She refused TO name the person who
she claims would be the sufferer should
she tell ner story. When asked If 1t
was Arthur c. Burch. also indicted In
connection with the Kennedy Staying. she
refused to answer, saying: Mr.. Burch is
not talking. Why should | discuss his
affairs"
Il do not want any one to pity me be-
cause l am here" she added Being In
Jail means nothing TO me. | think only
of the loss have suffered
j. B. Fox, a Deputy Sheriff Of Los
Angeles county. who was summoned from
Arizona. where he was investigating a
case, arrived to-day and was taken at
once to the county jail and began long
talk with Mrs. Oeenchain. Other depu-
ties working on the case said that FOX
had been recalled because Mrs. Oben-
chain had said she would talk freely If
she could talk TO him.
Fox was one of the first Investigators
assigned to the Kennedy case. Mrs.
Obenchain met him when she was taken
into custody last Friday night and the
officers said to-day that she expressed
see him.
Other developments to-day were
sparse. The stock OF double barreled
shotgun found in the ocean near Santa
Monica Canyon and turned over to the
Sheriff last night was tested to-day to
determine whether it was a twelve gauge
gun. The shells found at the home Of the
slain man, who was killed week ago
tonight by a charge of shot, We're from
a twelve gauge gun. 1t also was stated
that experts would be called to compare
the firing pin on the recovered portion
OF the gun with the indentations on the
shells found where Kennedy was shot
Neither Mrs Chenchain nor Burch re-
ceived direct wcrJ to-day from those re-
ported to be coming from Evanston and
Chicago to their assistance.
The motive that impelled the Staying
OF Kennedy eng; cssed the attention Of
the District Attorney and Sheriff and
their assistants District Attorney
Woolwine said he believed all the
essential clements of proof in the case
were now at hand. but that the estab-
fishing Of definie motive for the shoot
ing would streng men the case materially,
To aid in this phase OF the case an
inquiry into the former relations OF Ken
nedy Burch, Ms. Obenchain and pos
sibly other persons at Evanston. H. and
other points in the midwest was author
ized to-day. Investigators were set TO
york at Evanston and elsewhere to delve
into the histor,, ot those implicated IN
he case in the belief that a better un-
derstanding of heir past careers would
help in developing the motive for the
shooting
1t was learned to-day at the District
Attorneys ofiic that when the case
comes to trial tho death penalty would
re sought against Burch No intimation
NJ tine attitude OF the District Attorney
toward the penalty to be sought for
Mrs Obenchaln was given. In California
the Jury In first degree murder case
may recommend the death penalty or
may recommend life imprisonment