Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-11-14
JESSE JAMES, RIVAL
Jack Kennedy Always Had Allbl
When He Robbed Trains.
FIRST ARRESTED BACK IN 1896
Liquor And Girl Contributed to His
DownfalI-Last Robbery Planned to
Get Revenge. -...y.A

Get Revenge, $50 '..,r... ,
, Jack "Quail Hunter" Kennedy, no
torious train robber slain Friday by
officers near .Wittenberg,, Mo-, seemed
to know the psychology Of the human
mind when 1t came to framing an alibi
says Kansas City Star.
'I remember Jack well," Joseph B.
Keshlear, 3611 Broadway, county mar
shall twenty-six years ago, said last
night. II was the first officer to arrest
Jack for the robbery Of a Chicago &
Alton train back in 1895. The loot
totaled $4,000. And for two years af-
terward tried to send Jack to the
penitentiary for various train robber-
les near Kansas City, but he was ac-
quilted whenever he faced jury in
this county. Jacks defense was in
variably an alibi and he was past
master at it,"
A Rival to Jesse James Career.
y, Mr.. Keshlear now a guard at the
Federal Reserve Bank, recalled his
experiences with, Kennedy, whose
bandit career in Jackson county
rivaled that of Jesse James. 20
Saloons were generally the settings
for Jacks alibis," Keshlear said. Be
fore rotbing a train Jack planned his
aHbi He would saunter into some
saloon, then loudly order a round of
drinks for the crowd, so as to attract
attention. .-.E,E
"Jaci then would noisily sit at a
table and join in a game of cards. He
bought. drinks so often that many Of
the card players would become drunk.
After an hour or so Of drinking and
card playing Jack would quietly
saunter out Of a side door: and oncG
outside the saloon, would leap on a
horse, then speed to where his gang
was waiting.
Then would come the train robbery,
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 testify on
the witness stand that Kennedy was
in such and such a saloon throughout
the night of the train robbery. play
ing 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 or the night of the hold-up Ken
nedy went on drunken spree in Kan
sas City, spending several hundred
dollars on women and booze. recall
he bought n rocking chair for the wife
, Of one of his friends. The next day
he bought several suits Of clothing,
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,
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.
"One of the firemen remarked: Say,
boy, wasn't that big train robbery
! last night Kennedy showed out his
chest, then drew from his pocket
roll Of bills. l should guess there was
hold-up!' Kennedy laughingly re-
marked. The sudden display of wealth
| caused one 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 n
! pocket of the girls apron, saying for
her to keep the presents and maybe
later she might change her mind about
him. The girl told US about Jacks
hoasted prosperity and she gave us
| the jewelry, which was later identi-