Evening star., 1938-01-27
Body of Edward A.
kenney Found
by Waiter.
TRAGEDY FOLLOWS
NEW JERSEY DINNER
Coroner Thinks French
Window Swung Open
Suddenly.

tially-crushed body of Representative
Edward A. Kenney Of New Jersey was
found this morning on concrete
walkway beneath an open sixth floor
window at the Carlton Hotel, where
he had attended the annual congress
sional dinner of the New Jersey State
Chamber of Commerce last night.
No one saw the Representative
plunge to his death in the patio be-
low, although a friend, Harry A. Kel-
leher, occupied the adjoining twin bed
In suite which had been turned over
to guests c. the banquet, police were
told
Mr.. Kelleher, an official with a ma
tlonally known soup company in New
Jersey, told homicide squad detectives
he saw Mr.. Kenney asleep in the bed
near the window about $3.50 O'Clock
this morning He said he turned in
himself in the other bed. went to
sleep and. on awakening this morning
shortly before 8 o'clock, missed the
Representative and began a search
Meanwhile, the body had been dis
covered by waiter.
Ruled Accidental Death.
After interviewing friends Of Mr.
Kenney. examining the room from
which he fell and performing an au-
topsy on the body, Coroner A. Ma
gruder Macdonald early this after
noon issued a certificate of accidental
death
DR.. Macdonald said there were in
dications the Representative went to
open the French window, grasping
the handle which releases a catch
with the right hand and following
through with shoulders turned side
ways. The Representative apparently
had thrown his weight downward as
he pushed against the window. which
opened outward. Frost was brushed
from the window frames, apparently
by Mr.. Kenney's shoulder.
The fact that the body struck al
most directly beneath the window, and
not at some distance from the wall.
indicated further. DR.. Macdonald
said. that the plunge was accidental.
The Representative died almost in
stantly, the autopsy revealed, from a
fractured skull, broken back and
crushed chest.
There was a compound fracture of
the lower left leg which might have
been caused by the body striking
window ledge as it plunged downward.
Advocated Lottery Law.
Mr.. Kenney, who was So. was best
known in Congress for his advocacy of
q national lottery law.
The House adjourned at 1915 pm.
out OF respect to the dead member
Mr.. Kelleher told police the window,
which has a low sill about ls inches
above the foQr. was closed when he
went to bed Representative Kenney
had been suffering from high blood
pressure and his friends expressed the
conviction he fell wher he went to get
some fresh air.
The body was discovered about 7:45
am. and Mr.. Kenney apparently had
been dead for some two hours.
The French window is partitioned
by steel bar down the middle into
two l4-inch widths. It is about IS
inches from top to bottom.
Mr.. Kelleher told Sergt. John Dali
glish of the homicide squad that he
noticed the Representatives. clothing
in the room upon awakening and be-
gan q search. About 20 rooms on the
floor had been turned over to banquet
guests from New Jersey and Mr.. Kel-
leher inquired among the Representa-
tive's friends in an effort to locate
him. Shortly later he learned the
Representative had plunged from the
window. Mr.. Kelleher was a regis
tered guest at the hotel.
The first Identification was effected
through clothing found draped over
a chair. Later the Identification was
confirmed at the District Morgue by
John NJ. Stewart, Mr.. Kenney's Sec
retary.
When the waiter discovered the
body an ambulance was summoned
from Emergency Hospital and Mr..
Kenney was pronounced dead at the
scene by the physician who responded.
Was Speaker at Banquet.
MIR. Kenney had been speaker at
last nights banquet. attended by
many prominent New Jersey politicians
and business men. He was not reg
1stered at the hotel.
Mr.. Kenney remained after the din
ner to talk with friends in the room
set aside for the banquet guests. Cigar
butts and empty glasses, it was said
indicated several Of the guests re-
manned until late last night or early
this morning.
Mr.. Kenney apparently concluded tc
spend the night at the hotel rather
than return to his home in the Jeffer-
son Apartments at 1900 Sixteenth
street NV. His wife, Mrs Elizabeth
Kenney. was at their home in Cliff.
side Park, N. j., at the time of the
tragedy.
It was thought the Representative
might have been confused by un.
(see KENNEY, Page A-5.)