Kennedy, William E. "W.E." 1882-1920

KENNEDY, BURKHOLDER, MARCH, HANSON

Posted By: Plymouth County Coordinator (email)
Date: 11/15/2003 at 21:08:49

W. E. KENNEDY BRUTALLY MURDERED BY BOOTLEGGER

From the Adrian, Minnesota paper dated May 27, 1920:

W. E. Kennedy, of Sioux Falls, quite well known in Adrian, Minnesota, and husband of a former Adrian girl, Fern Hanson, was brutally murdered at Winner, S. D. on Saturday, May 15th, by one Vern Ross, an alleged bootlegger of Winner, S.D. The following account of this crime appeared in the Sioux City Journal under the date of May 20th:

"In the most brutal murder ever committed in this city, Vern Ross, an alleged bootlegger, attacked and killed W. E. Kennedy last Saturday night.

For some unknown reasons some persons had conceived the idea that Kennedy was a U. S. Revenue officer, and it was also rumored that Ross had told this to Kennedy, and advised him to leave town or he would get him.

At the coroner's inquest it developed that Ross had cut off the heavy end of a billiard cue and wrapped the small end with heavy cord to form a grip and braided a loop to go around his wrist and with weapon attacked Kennedy. When arrested Ross told the sheriff that he first struck Kennedy in self defense, but later is alleged to have told him that he sturck him from behind.

The verdict at the coroner's jury was premeditated murder, while Ross' friends expressed a desire to furnish bail for him, the judge at the preliminary hearing bound Ross over to the next term of court without bail.

Mr. Kennedy was highly esteemed by all who knew him in Winner, and the body was taken from here this morning by his wife, mother, brother, father-in-law and his wife's uncles."

Mr. Kennedy was quite well known in Adrian, having visted the Prideaux familes here at various times. He had accepted a position with a Sioux Falls company and Mrs. Kennedy was there visiting with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hanson, awaiting her husband's arrival, when the news of the tragedy was received. She immediatly left for Winner accompanied by her Father, and her uncle. F. J. Prideaux. The body was brought to Adrian where a short funeral service was held at the Frank Prideaux home on Thursday afternoon of last week. Interment was made in the Adrian cemetery.

The sympathy of the many friends and neighbors of the bereaved is extended in these hours of bitter sorrow. William Emerson (W. E.) Kennedy, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Kennedy was born November 24, 1882, at Marshalltown, Iowa. Most of his life was spent on a farm in Iowa. After the death of his father, he took up mechanical work, in which he was engaged until his death. On September 15, 1915, he was married to Miss Fern Hanson of Sioux Falls. In August 1916 they moved to Council Bluffs, where they resided until last fall. At the time of his tragic death, Mr. Kennedy had accepted a postion with the Scott-Bedford and Scott Tractor Co., in Sioux Falls, also where Mrs. Kennedy was visiting her parents and was expecting him there daily. Mr. Kennedy was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Akron, Iowa and was highly respected by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife; his mother, Mrs. W.H. Kennedy and his brother, Watson D. Kennedy, both of Denver, Colorado.

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Another newspaper, Sioux Falls, dated May 18, 1920

MEETS DEATH IN WINNER TRAGEDY
William Kennedy Has Skull Crushed--
Vern Ross Under Arrest---Jealousy responsible

(Special to the Argus-Leader) Winner, May 18, --William Kennedy of this city is dead, and Vern Ross is under arrest on the charge of being responsible for his death.

The tragedy resulted from jelaousy on the part of Ross to alleged attentions paid by Kennedy to Mrs. Ross. It is said that Ross warned Kennedy to cease his attentions, but the warning evidently was not heeded.

Ross is said to have discovered Kennedy following Mrs. Ross to her home at night and went after him. Kennedy is alleged to have been armed and when he drew his pistol Ross attacked him with a club, crushing his skull and breaking his upper and lower jaw in five pieces.

Kennedy was rushed to a hospital where he died. Ross gave himself up to Sheriff Coleman.

Another report....Sioux Falls Argus-Leader dated Thursday, May 20, 1920

VICTIM OF ASSAULT TO BE BURIED AT ADRIAN, MINN

A message was received this noon by Mrs. A. Hanson, 1112 South Second Avenue, from her brother, F. J. Prideaux of Adrian, Minn, dated at Norfolk, Nebraska, in which he stated that Mrs. William Kennedy and A. Hanson were bringing the body of William Kennedy who was murdered at Winner on Sunday to Adrian for burial.

The message also stated that the reports sent out regarding the manner in which Kennedy met his death were false and he had been brutally murdered. No further deatils regarding the death of Kennedy have been received.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at the Prideaux home in Adrian at 4 o'clock and will be conducted by the Methodist Church minister at that place and the Masonic Lodge.

~Family Note: W.E. Kennedy married the first time to Jessie March, Seney, Iowa, 1906. Two children were born in his first marriage: a son, Emerson & a daughter, Erlynne Kennedy.