The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-11-23

Jack Quail Hunter NeHHeuy, Ill.,
torious train robber slain Friday BY
officers near Wittenberg, Mo-, seemed
to know the psychology Of the human
mind when it came to framing al
alibi says Kansas City Star.
Il remember Jack we'll, Joseph b
Keshlear, 3611 Broadway, county
marshal twenty-siX years ago, said
last night. Il was the first officer tC
arrest Jack for the robbery Of q
Chicago & Alton train back in 1895
The loot totaled $4,000. And fo1
two years afterward | tried to SEND
Jack to the penitentiary for various
train robberies near Kansas City, but
he was acquitted whenever he faced
a jury in this county. Jacks defense
was invariab bly, an alibi and he was a
past master at it,
A Rival of Jesse James's Career.
Mr.. Keshlear, now guard at the
Federal Reserve Bank, recalled his
experiences with Kennedy, whose
bandit career in Jackson county rival
ed that of Jesse James.
Saloons were generally the set
tings for Jacks alibis," keshlear said.
Before robbing a train Jack planned
his alibi. He would saunter into some
saloon, then loudly order round of
drinks for the crowd. so as to attract
attention.
Jack then would noisly sit at a
table and joir in game Of cards. He
bought drinks so often that many of
the card players would become drunk.
After an hour or so drinking and
card playing Jack would quietly
saunter out of side door and once
outside the saloon, would leap on a
horse, then speed to where his gang
was waiting.
"Then would come the train rob-
berry, after which Jack would hasten
back to the saloon resuming his same
seat, pick up an abandoned hand of
cards then noisily shout for more
liquor.
His Witnesses Believed 1t.
And do you know there were
many men who would honestly testi-
fy on the witness stand that Kennedy
was in such and such saloon
throughout the night of the train
robbery, playing cards and drinking
with them?
Several incidents arose after the
Chicago & Alton robbery which
caused the arrest of Kennedy Kesh-
lear continued. First we learned
that on the night of the hold-up Ken
edy went on drunken spree in Kan
sas City, spending several hundred
dollars on women and booze. l recall
he bought a rocking chair for the
wife of one of his friends. The next
day he bought several suits of cloth
ing, discarding his old, tattered suit.
Then he purchased seven hats, which
he gave to friends.
Second, We learned of Jacks visit
to one of his favorite loafing spots, a
fire station at Fourteenth and Penn
streets, the day following the train
hold-up Jack entered the fire station
all drunk and dressed up.
Talked Too Much to Fireman.
lone of the firemen remarked:
Say, boy, wasn't that a big train ROD
berry last night Kennedy showed out
his chest, then drew from his pocket
a roll of bills. Il should guess there
was a hold-up.' Kennedy laughingly
remarked. The sudden display OF
wealth caused oIle Of the firemen to
tip off our Office.
And another bit Of evidence was
information we received from girl
named Madge. who lived on a farm
near Kennedy. Jack, the day after
the Chicago & Alton hold-up, visited
Madge, telling her he was prosperous
now and able to marry her. But she
turned down the proposal. Jack then
showed a handful of jewelry into
pocket of the girls apron, saying fol
her to keep the presents and maybe
later she might change her m!no
about him. The girl told US about
Jacks boasted prosperity and she
gave US the jewelry, which was later
identified as having been stolen in the
train robbery.
"Madge, now dead, was a witnes:
against Jack at his trial. The state
introduced all this evidence, together
with confessions of two other men ar
rested in connection with the robbery
The confessions implicated Kennedy
"WeIl the results of the Chicago