Arizona republican., 1922-03-09
OBENCHA|N SAYS
WIFE COULD NOT
DANISH KENNEDY
From HER LIE
TRepubIlean A. 2. Leased Wlrel

Los ANGELES, March S--Ths
love and tenderness which Ralph
Obenchain gave to his wife, Mad
alynne. were aot sufficient 10 make
her happy or make her forget her
former sweetheart, J. Bolton Ken
nedy, Obenchain testified here to-
day at the trial of Mrs. Obenchain,
charged with the murder of Ken
nedy here last August. Because of
his failure to make her forget Ken
nedy, as he had promised her before
marriage, the couple separated after
but three months OF married life,
Obenchain testified. Later they were
divorced.
Madalynne Obenchain was not
woman scorned," as contended by
the state, according TO Mrs. Mary
c. Demond, another witness. When
Madalynne told Kennedy that oil
was over between them and that she
was going away, the witness said
that Kennedy pleaded with her not
TO leave and that he could not live
without her.
Ralph Obencnain told OF his coll
leee life at an Illinois university, and
that Of his former wife. who was
then Madalynne Connor and a stu-
dent at the same college. Arthur G.
Burch, co defendant with Mrs. Oben-
chain. also was a student there al
that time. His first meeting with
Madalynne, the witness said, was at
a college dance, and from then on
their friendship ripened. Their en-
gagement was announced in June,
1914, about the time the witness
graduated from the law school of
the university. This engagement was
broken off the following September,
though they continued corresponding,
the witness said.
Obenchain testified that he came
to Los Angeles to see Madalynne
following his discharge from the
army in December, 1918, having then
earned that she was i'll. It was then.
the witness testified, that he learned
of her love for Kennedy. He told her,
Obenchain said. that it could be
nothing but a passing fancy: that he
would take good care of her and they
would return to Evanston, I'll, to
live. where she could get we'll and
forget Kennedy. They were married
January l, 1919.
Shortly after this conversation the
witness testified, ne went to Chi
cago.
Mrs. obenchain came to Chicago
in May. 1921, the witness said, and
he saw her frequently. She told him
then, Obenchain testified:
Ralph, hardly know what TO do.
I Just can't forget Kennedy. He
wants me to marry him
Obenchain said that hR wife at
that time asked him what she should
do and that he answered:
It's your heart; do whatever you
want" He went on: Before she
left she had made up her mind to
marry Kennedy in California"
Mrs. Demogd testified that Mad
alyune Obeuchain took a. room at her
house in Los Angeles under the name
of Connor. Kennedy called on Mrs.
Obenchain very often, the witness
said, and sent many gifts Mad
alynne had decided to return TO Chi
cago, she testified. and the witness
and defendant went TO the home of
Kennedy's parents to return the
gifts. Kennedy's mother told them
that he was not at home, but as
they were driving away Kennedy
came running to the car. When
Nadalynne told him that she was
going away and thought it best for
them TO consider everything off,"
the witness said, Kennedy COM
menced pleading: "Oh, Madalynne,
don't say anything like that. Please
don't go. I cannot live without you.
Just be patient with me-