The New York herald., 1922-03-11
SURPRISE TRIAL
/ OF MRS. OBENCHAIN
Accused Asked If She Was
Married 'on High Seas to
Kennedy, Murder Victim.
TELLS OF HER DIVORCE
Defendant to Be Cross-Exam-
ined About Shooting at
Mondays Session.

Los ANGELES, March 10 Mrs. NADIA
lynne Obenchain. on trial charged with
numbering ] Bolton Kennedy. the man
she swore she loved. matched wits to-day
with Deputy District Attorney Asa
keyes In an all day cross-examination.
She was asked to tell Of her relations
with Kennedy. Arthur C. Burch, Jointly
indicted with her on the charge of muir
der, and Ralph II. Opencnaln. ner di-
vorced husband, now one OF her attor-
neys.
Kennedy. Mrs. Obenchain told Prosecu-
tor Keyes, was the one who commanded
her love. She said she never loved
Burch and believed he never loved her.
She declared Kennedy induced her to leave
Mr.. obenchain within month of her
marriage, which took place January l.
1919.
Mr. Keyes had read from a letter
dated in January, 1919, sent by Mrs
Cbenchain to Kennedy in which was the
following passage
My love Is yours 1t won't be long
until we can be together"
What did you mean by that?" Keyas
asked.
Il meant he had induced me to leave
my husband replied the defendant.
She said Kennedy had besought her to
have her marriage annulled, but that
later 1t was decided she would seek a di-
vorce. .
Mr.. Keyes sprang a surprise by asking
Mrs. Obenchain if she had. ever been
married to Kennedy ION the high seas" "
After long pause, she replied, NO
only Friendship OF Burch.
Mrs. Obenchain again went over In
detail her reltions with Burch. She told
of meeting him at the train when he
arrived last July and said he did not
have q gun case as a part of his hand
baggage. 1t is ths contention of the
state that Burch carried OH his trip
West the gun with which it asserts
Kennedy was killed Sh esaid she was
surprised when Burch told her he
had obtained a room at a. hotel across
the strset from Kennedy's office.
though she testified yesterday that she
mentioned the hotel to him.
She declared her relationship with
Burch was nothing more than friend
ship.
II know / nsver loved Arthur" she
said, referring to Burch.
Was Burch in love with your" she
was asked
49, dOii = OctCN0 Hc was, cIS
replied.
She told of automobile rides with
Burch the first week he was here. of
conversations in which she told him OF
her relations with Kennedy, and of
Burch's promise to see Kennedy. She
denied she had sent for Burch to come
vest
Did you at any time ask Burch to
watch Kennedy's movements" she was
asked
NO" she answered.
She told of her efforts to get Kennedy
to meet Burch after the latter's arrival
Kennedy refused to do so. believing the
man she wanted him TO meet was Oben-
chain.
Touched Kennedy After Shooting.
Asked whether she had ever been In
BurchS room standing at the window
with him. she replied, NO
Ut was after her cross-examination
with reference to Burch that counsel
for the State suddenly propounded the
questions whether n marriage between
Kennedy and Mrs. Obenchain ever had
been performed by the captain of
ship while on the ocean.
Mrs. Obenchain testified that she had
no recollection OF being in the District
Attorneys office on August s, 1921, the
day following the killing. She said she
could not recall making a statement to
officers, but would not deny making one.
Asked when IL was that she lost her
recollection of events on the night of
the killing she replied:
When touched Belton."
She testified yesterday that she
touched him after the shooting occurred.
DISCUSSIONS OF separation from Oben-
chain were held with Kennedy soon af-
ter her marriage to Obenchain, she tes-
titled. In June. 1919 Kennedy suggest
ed that she obtain an annulment.
One of the February letters was
signed by Mrs. ObenchaiE. "Your Sweet
heart Wife" The prosecutor asked her
what she meant by the phrase. She
answered that II was meant as an en-
dearing term, that she had never been
married to Kennedy.
Must we patiently sit and wait? No,
Bolton, no. Don't let the conventions
OF the earth deny our happiness" Mr.
Keyes read from a letter she had writ
ten to Kennedy:
What did you mean by that?" the
prosecutor asked.
II meant that 7 never believed in
DIVORCE" she replied
The cross-examination had not been
completed when court adjourned until
Monday. Mr.. Keyes eaid he then would
question Mrs. Obenchain about the
shooting of Kennedy in Beverly Glen OH
the night of August 8