The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-02-06
Revenge Was Cause
of Kennedy Murder

Madelynne Obenchain Of Chicago and
Evanston, H., conspired with Arthur
c. Burch, a former college acquaint-
ance, to kill J. Belton Kennedy,
young Los Angeles real estate broker,
according to the indictment in which
Mrs. Obenchain and Burch were joint
ly charged with murder. Burch was
placed on trial November % last and
on January 16 the jury was dis
charged after balloting for three
days without reaching a verdict. The
final ballot stood ten to two for con-
viction.
Mrs. Obenchain, the prosecution
contended in the Burch trial, was the
instigator of the alleged plot, her mo-
tive being revenge because Kennedy
had refused to marry her. The re-
lations between the woman and Ken
nedy were established by means Of
letters identified as being in Mrs.
Obenchain's handwriting, and found
in Kennedy's room and safe deposit
box after his death on August s., last.
From these it developed that they be-
came acquainted in Los Angeles about
five years ago. For two years a cor
rospondence continued, and letters
written this time contained express
sions of warm affection, and two were
signed "Mrs. J. Belton Kennedy"
In spite Of the apparent intimacy
the young woman, who up to that
time was Miss Madalynne Conner was
married early in January, 1919, in Los
Angeles, to Ralph R. Obenchain,
young Chicago attorney, who had just
returned from overseas army service.
A month later, however, she renewed
the correspondence with Kennedy. Af-
ter about a year she obtained di-
vorce in Chicago and wrote to Ken
nedy she wanted him to go to Chi
cago to marry her. Kennedy did not
go and the subsequent correspondence
indicated his parents were opposed to
the match.
Mrs. Obenchain started West last
June and wrote Kennedy to meet her
IN San Francisco. He was not there
when she arrived, and she came to Los
Angeles. There were several inter
views, according to testimony in the
Burch case, and Mrs. Obenchain on
one occasion took Kennedy to for
tune teller for advice as to whether
they would wed. About the same time,
another witness declared, she said
"Belton has not long to live. I can
almost put my hand on the spot where
it will happen"
On July II Mrs. Obenchain wired to
Burch, who was in Evanston to come
to Los Angeles, adding, ~ need you
and the friend had last summer"
Burch arrived here on July "a bring
ing with him, according to the porter
of his car, shot gun case. Burch
took a room in a hotel commanding a |
view of Kennedy's office, and watched
the office windows for long periods,
according to hotel employees. At 9TH
er times he rented an automobile un-
der an assumed name, and took ex-
tended trips, it was also testified.
Mrs. Obenchain and Kennedy went
driving the night of August AMI
about nine o'clock went to a small
cottage owned by Kennedy in Beverly
Glen, Is miles from Los Angeles. AS
Kennedy was mounting a flight of
steps on bank in front of the cottage
two shotgun shots were fired. One
truck Kennedy in the back Of the neck
causing instant death, an autopsy sur
geon swore.
Mrs. Obenchain told officers she saw
two rough looking men disappear in
bushes from which the shots were
fired, and that Kennedy, after he was
shot exclaimed, "Good night, NADIA
lynne" A woman living near the
Kennedy place, testified, however, she
heard man say, 'I've got him." after
the second shot and then mans and
a woman's voice mingling in conver-
sation she could not distinguish.
Burch, it developed, was out in a
rented car that night, and two per-
sons swore they saw him in Beverly
Glen. He left Los Angeles the next
morning for Chicago, but was arrested
at Las Vegas, New, and brought back
to Los Angeles. He refused to dis
cuss the case, and his attorneys be-
sides denying he had anything to do
with the tragedy, made a defense of
insanity. One Of the two jurors who
stood out for the acquittal declared
she believed Burch was insane, the
other that the prosecution had not
convinced her Burch was in Beverly
Glen at the time of the shooting.
Mrs. Obenchain's eformer husband
was retained by her as one Of her at
torneys, and they secured a marriage
license some time ago and announced
they would be remarked if Mrs. Oben-
chain is released.
The prosecution contented that
Burch, daughter of Bishop Matthew
Burch, of st. Louis, Mo-, was in love
with Mrs. Obenchain and subject to
her will in the alleged conspiracy
e-s-