Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-03-09
MURDER
CHARGE
DENIED
Murdered Broker Re-
fused To Accept Her
Proposal To Sever
Relations

Los Angeles, CAL, March 9.-s
The story of Madalynne Conner
Obenchain of Chicago which she
said she had waited seven months
to tell, concerning J. Bolton Ken-
nedy, local broker, for whose mur-
der she is on trial here, began at
10:0S o'clock today when she was
called to the stand as a witness
in her own defense.
She smiled at the clerk as she
was sworn as a witness. Her
opening testimony was that she
had been in the county jail for
seven months, since the morning
of August g., last, when she was
arrested, following the shooting OF
Kennedy at his Beverly Glen buns
galow. She said she was not al
lowed access to her letters or props
erty since that time.
Refers to Diary.
She was pale and spoke quite
low, although appearing composed
and not hesitating in her answers
to questions, but it was necessary
for her attorneys to admonish her
to speak higher. Her eyes were
upon the jurors most of the time.
Saying that she kept a diary OF
her activities in 1921, she referred
to it frequently to refresh her
memory.
II arrived in Los Angeles Jan-
uary 7, 1921" she said. Il did
not meet Mr.. Kennedy for some
time, although / saw him once or
twice on the street. On January
IA / telephoned to him asking
that he return my letters. He res
fused to return them until l con-
sented to see him."
Il refused to see him. On my
second telephone conversation
January "a, he said he would new
er return unless l saw him that
night.
Father Accompanied Him.
Il consented to see him that
night and waited for some time
in the street and then saw him
approaching, accompanied by MIA
father. We talked for some two
hours"
Referring to her diary for tho
dates, which were every three or
four days after this meeting with
Kennedy, she testified that she
had meetings with Kennedy. She
continually asked him for the re-
turn Of her letters, saying that she
wanted everything ended, bes
lieving that would make 1t hap-
pier for everybody"
; Kennedy wanted to continue
their relations, pleading her to
bear with" him further.
Kennedy told her that owing to
his mothers Illness he could not
do that which his heart asked him
. to do, she testified. On one occa-
= sion, she said, Kennedy followed
her in a taxicaD and on others
waited for her outside of her
Q abode.
Letter Brings Tears.
Mrs. 0benchain's first tear aft~
er she took the stand came when
: her counsel read what purported
to be.a letter from Kennedy to
her, as 1t was printed in a local
newspaper, and which was not
produced by the district attorney
when he offered other corresponds
ence. The letter as read was writ-
q ten by Kennedy to Mr.. obenchain
Just after she had left suddenly,
and without informing Kennedy
of her intention, for Chicago.
After the purported text had
been read, drawing Mrs. Oben-
chains tears, argument began on
the admissibility of the letter in
evidence.
III l could die tonight. B is
false. The foregoing phrase was
read by Mrs. Obenchain from her
diary as of about July IT. She
said "B" meant Bolton, Kennedy's
given name. This entry was made
l during her visit to Los Angeles
within three weeks of the death Of
Kennedy.
This was written after Ken-
! nedy's mother was said to have
: made slanderous statements about
her and visited Mrs. Louise wills
J son, Mrs. Obenchaln's confidaGta
y in an effort to prevent a marriage
i between Kennedy and Madslynne.
Kennedy did not see her for sew.
eral days and failed to keep q
o promise to telephone to her, thia
CONTINUED on Page Seven.)