Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-03-11
MRS. OBElVCHAlN
Is GIVEN REST
UNTIL MONDAY
Will be Questioned Next
Week on Events Leading
Up to Murder.

Los Angeles, Cal, March 11.-Ma-
dalynne Obenchain, in her cell in the
county Jail. rested today from the or
deal of two successive days on the wit
ness stand in her trial TOR the murder
Of J. Belton Kennedy, her sweetheart
No session of her trial was held,
court having adjourned yesterday un-
til Monday morning, when she will
be returned to the stand and the pros
ecution will resume Its cross examina-
ton.
1t is expected the state will devote
considerable time Monday to cross
questioning the defendant on events
Immediately leading to the staying Of
the young broker in her presence on
the steps of his cottage in Beverly
Glen. a suburb, August last.
Already she had been quizzed rigid
ly concerning her relations with the 3
men who have occupied the most
prominent places in her life-Ralph
r. Obenchain. Chicago attorney, her
former husband. and her present suit
or and a member of her counsel; Ar
thur c. Burch of Evanston. ILL.,, joint
ly indicted with her for the murder
Of Kennedy, and the young broker
himself.
Los Angeles, CAL. March 11.-Mrs.
Madalynne Obenchain, on trial charg-
ed with numbering ]. Belton Kennedy,
the man she swore she loved, matched
wits Friday with Deputy District At
torney Asa Keyes in an all1day cross
examination. The young defendant
was called upon to tell of her relations
with three men who had to do with
circumstances leading up to her pres
ent situation. These men were Kenne-
dy. Arthur c. Burch, jointly indicted
with her on the charge of numbering
Kennedy, and Ralph R. Obenchain
her divorced husband. now one OF
Showing Strain.
AS Mrs. Obenchain stepped from
the witness stand at the adjournment
of court, her appearance gave evidence
of the strain under which she ha6
! been all day. In answering questions
put to her she hesitated frequently
F. which was the more noticeable on &C
. count of the ready answers she gave
| in her direct examination Thursday.
The prosecution opened its cross
examination at the time she first mel
Kennedy in 1917 in Los Angeles. Sh'
early In their acquaintance and sait
that while he cared for her, he wa
under obligations to another girl
| Their enEagement. was made on Au
gust 81. lsfs; sf1e aaTd.. and they wer,
together frequently. She reiterated
ner testimony Of Thursday that hel
former husband, Ralph Obenchain
arrived in Los Angeles December "a
1918. Her engagement to Kennedy
she said. was broken on Christmas da,
in q telephone conversation.
| When asked the reason. she replie,
that it was apparently impossible t
reconcile Kennedy's parents to tn
marriage and that their opposition
would not permit him to start lif
with me as it should be started"
She admitted that she was in low
with Kennedy when she married
Obenchain on January 1, 1919.
The deputy district attorney sprung
the principal surprise Of the day whel
! he asked Mrs. Obenchain il she ha,
I ever been married to Kennedy ION tn
high seas" After a long pause. sh
| replied, no"
This was the first intimation OF any
thing of the kind in the case, and MI
Keyes did not indicate what, if any
thing, was behind the question.
Questioned concerning Burch, Mrs
Obenchain repeated he was simply ,
friend she had known since they ha'
attended college together and that sh
never had any agreement with him t
take the life of Kennedy.