DRAMATIC STORY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 117, 15 February 1928, Page 11

DRAMATIC STORY

; OF ARREST OF KENNEDY AND BROWNE CHARGED WITH MURDER OF CONSTABLE By Telegraph.—press association. Copyright. (Rec. February 14, 7.30 p.m.) London, February 13. A dramatic story of the arrest of Kennedy and Browne was told in the outlining of the Crown case by Sir Travers Humphreys, who traced the history of the murder of Constable Gutteridge. He told of the prolonged fruitless searcli by Scotland Yard officers, and detailed how nearly four months afterwards police suspicious centred on the accused. The police visited a garage at Clapham conducted by Browne, where Kennedy was employed, and lived at the rear of the premises with his wife. Browne was arrested, after a watch liad been kept up by a squad of detectives, and he was charged with stealing a Vauxhall motor-car. Counsel told of the finding of four revolvers, two in the side pocket of the car, one loaded in Browne’s pocket, and one inside the house; also several doctors’ articles, which Dr. Lovell would swear were his property, 1 and were in the car when it was stolen. One revolver was loaded with Mark 4 bullets, which were extremely uncommon, yet were identical with those which killed Constable Gutteridge. Referring to the revolvers, Browne was alleged to have said, “You have found them. I am done for now.” Later, it was alleged, he said, “If you had found me in the car I would have shot you and saved the other for myself.”’ .Describing the arrest of Kennedy at Liverpool, counsel said he put the barrel of the. revolver against the ribs of Detective Mathieson, who closed with him, but the revolver misfired. Kennedy, according to a statement put in by Sir Travers Humphreys, saw his wife, in the presence of the police, and said: “These officers are inquiring about the murder of a policeman in Essex.” His wife said: “You did not murder him, did you ?” Kennedy replied: “No, but. I was there, and I know who did.” Sir Travers Humphreys referred to the scene in the police station, where Kennedy made a statement. This was not read, - owing' to the' defence raising an objection, but Sir Travers Humphreys'outlined the events preceding the statement, and said Kennedy, ’when Constable Gutteridge’s murder was mentioned, asked permission to see his wife, to whom he said: “If I am found guilty of murder I shall be hanged, and you will be a widow. On tbe other hand, if I am charged as an accessory and face imprisonment, will you wait for me?” The wife replied: “I will wait any time.” Kennedy said: “Then what shall I do?” The wife replied: "Tell the gentlemen the truth.” Kennedy thereupon, according to Sir Travers Humphreys, said: “All right. Take down what I want to say, and I will sign it.” The accused men were remanded.