Evening star., 1938-08-31
KENNEY PLUNGE
IS CLOSED CASE,'
SAYS CAPT. KECK
No Effort Will Be Made to
Reopen Investigation of
legislators Death.
STATEMENT ANSWERS
WIDOWS PLEA FOR QUIZ
$1,000 Diamond Ring Is Held
Missing, but Officer Scouts
Murder Possibility.

Capt. Ira Keck. acting chief of de-
tectives, said today no effort will be
made by Washington police to reopen,
investigation of the death of Repre-
sentative Edward A. Kenney, who was
killed January u in a plunge from a
sixth-floor window Of the Carlton
Hotel.
Commenting on statement by Mrs.
Mary L. w. Hicks. political associate Of
the widow of Representative Kenney,
that she and Mrs. Kenney had been
pressing for months for new investi-
CATION Of the Representative death,
Capt. Keck said:
AS far as we're concerned, this is
closed case
Mrs. Hicks statement, issued to
newspapers in Hasbrouck, N. j., last
night, said she and Mrs. Kenney were
positive Representative Kenneys
death was not accidental" according
to an Associated Press dispatch.
Mrs. Hicks, who said she was man
ager OF Mrs. Kenney's campaign for
the seat of her husband, declared she
had accompanied the widow on several
trips to Washington and they had
talked to prominent lawyers and high
Government officials in efforts to get
a further investigation.
Mrs. Kenney, she said, had discussed
the case with ]. Edgar Hoover, direc-
tor of the Federal Bureau of Inves-
tigation, but got no satisfaction from
the police because they hushed it up"
F. B. I. officials said today they
talked with Mrs. Kenney some months
ago, but decided. after study. that no
Federal question was involved in the
death and that the bureau would nos
conduct an investigation.
$1,000 Ring Missing.
A $1,000 diamond ring was missing
from Mr.. Kenney's finger, although
he wore it at dinner Immediately
preceding his death, Mrs. Hicks said,
adding that she had received informa-
ton that the room from which he
plunged showed signs of a struggle.
Capt Keck asserted there was no
basis for a murder theory in Mr..
Kenney's death, there was no sign
Of violence in the room, the police
had not investigated since the coroner
issued verdict Of accidental death
and that a friend who was with the
Representative the night he died said
he was not wearing diamond ring.
Mrs. Hicks was understood to be
seeking reopening Of the investigation
on the theory that Mr.. Kenney was
pushed through the window and was
not killed in an accidental fall.
When questioned about Mrs. Hicks
statement, Mrs. Kenney said she could
not discuss the case "at this time-at
least until I get a statement from
Washington
Il have been given very little infor-
nation about my husbands death right
up to today" she said. Il have never
been officially notified that my husband
is dead. I was never allowed to see
the room where he died. although
made several trips. I am heartbroken."
Found Dead January -.
The partially-clad body of Repre-
sentative Kenney was found on a con-
crete walkway beside the Carlton
Hotel early in the morning of January
81. No one saw him plunge to his
death in the patio below, although a
friend, Harry A. Xelleher, occupied
the adjoining twin bed in a suite which
had been turned over to guests at the
annual congressional dinner Of the New
Jersey State Chamber of Commerce
held at the hotel the night before.
In issuing certificate of accidental
death. DR.. A. Magruder Macdonald,
District coroner, said there were indi-
cations the Representative went to
open the French window during the
night. grasping the handle which re-
leases a catch with the right hand
and following through with shoulders
turned sideways. He said Mr.. Kennsy
apparently had thrown his weight
downward as he pushed against the
window, which opened outward Mr..
Kelleher said the window was closed
when he went to bed.
Dr. Macdonald said the fact that
the body struck almost directly be-
meath the window, and not at some
distance from the wall, indicated fur
ther that the plunge was accidental.
1t was thought the Representative
might have been confused by un-
familiar surroundings and stumbled
or fell through the French window.