Colin Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Colin Kennedy was a notorious 19th century criminal in San Francisco, California
. An Ohio native, Kennedy left his family to make his name and fortune in the west. However, Kennedy became a well known criminal and committed one of the most notorious multiple-murders of his time.
, Ohio
in 1823, Kennedy was the second of five children in an unstable family. His father, Andrew, was an alcoholic and it fell to Colin and his older brother to run the family farm. Kennedy fled west at age of 16 after his father beat him in a drunken rage. Kennedy brought with him only that which he could easily carry. The only item of value that Kennedy brought was his father's prized possession, one of Samuel Colt
's first revolvers. Colin reached San Francisco by working as a paid worker on a western-bound convoy
.
during the California Gold Rush
, crime and corruption were rampant. Kennedy quickly sank into a life of violent crime after a few years working construction in the developing city. A regular and heavy drinker, Kennedy earned a reputation as an ill-tempered man and one who was easily goaded to fight. Kennedy had few companions and was known to be a petty thief and a bully. After his death, James Anderson, a miner, discovered one of Kennedy's hide outs and found some $700 worth of missing mining equipment. Kennedy did not stop at theft and quickly made the jump to higher crimes. He gained widespread notoriety for his robbery and murder of John Sutter
's brother (Sutter's Mill
had been the location of the initial gold find behind the rush).
was found in the chest of one of the late Sutter's companions. A shovel was left outside, most likely used to break down the door. Kennedy also used a revolver, hatchet, and knife to butcher the six men and one woman present that night.
The press quickly labeled him "That Dirtiest Criminal of the Golden State," and the public outcry was overwhelming. The local sheriff and deputies quickly organized search parties and the US Marshals
were brought in. Faced with the choice between death at the hands of vengeful miners or hanging in San Francisco, Colin fled into the Rocky Mountains
. After a month of searching, the hunt was eventually abandoned.
Kennedy lived as a mountain man in the Rocky Mountains and is rumored to be responsible for as many as thirty murders. He is rumored to have died falling off a cliff in a drunken stupor in 1867. A body was found at the base of a cliff in late 1867. Due to the gruesome nature of the fall, identification of the body was impossible. However, his pistol and several other incriminating items were found in a camp site at the top of the cliff. The body was buried in an unmarked grave near the base of the cliff. That pistol, which was below average in size, the one used in the Sutter murders in 1853 and Kennedy's prized possession, remains in the Museum of the City of San Francisco
to this day.
and the desolate desert regions of Nevada
that "the Dirtiest Criminal of the Golden State" has been reincarnated as Colin Michael Kennedy on February 27, 1985. Kennedy, also known as "Ricky the Scatman", is a talented musician, heavy drinker and drug abuser. He enjoys guns and motorcycles. Ontario Provincial Police
have linked "the Scatman" to many crimes throughout the region, but due to lack of evidence and his ability to manipulate females, he remains a free man to this very day.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. An Ohio native, Kennedy left his family to make his name and fortune in the west. However, Kennedy became a well known criminal and committed one of the most notorious multiple-murders of his time.
Early life
Born in HamiltonHamilton, Ohio
Hamilton is a city in Butler County, southwestern Ohio, United States. The population was 62,447 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Butler County. The city is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in 1823, Kennedy was the second of five children in an unstable family. His father, Andrew, was an alcoholic and it fell to Colin and his older brother to run the family farm. Kennedy fled west at age of 16 after his father beat him in a drunken rage. Kennedy brought with him only that which he could easily carry. The only item of value that Kennedy brought was his father's prized possession, one of Samuel Colt
Samuel Colt
Samuel Colt was an American inventor and industrialist. He was the founder of Colt's Patent Fire-Arms Manufacturing Company , and is widely credited with popularizing the revolver. Colt's innovative contributions to the weapons industry have been described by arms historian James E...
's first revolvers. Colin reached San Francisco by working as a paid worker on a western-bound convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
.
San Francisco
With the influx of wealth and gold prospectors in the San Francisco areaSan Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
during the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
, crime and corruption were rampant. Kennedy quickly sank into a life of violent crime after a few years working construction in the developing city. A regular and heavy drinker, Kennedy earned a reputation as an ill-tempered man and one who was easily goaded to fight. Kennedy had few companions and was known to be a petty thief and a bully. After his death, James Anderson, a miner, discovered one of Kennedy's hide outs and found some $700 worth of missing mining equipment. Kennedy did not stop at theft and quickly made the jump to higher crimes. He gained widespread notoriety for his robbery and murder of John Sutter
John Sutter
Johann Augus Sutter was a Swiss pioneer of California known for his association with the California Gold Rush by the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall and the mill making team at Sutter's Mill, and for establishing Sutter's Fort in the area that would eventually become Sacramento, the...
's brother (Sutter's Mill
Sutter's Mill
Sutter's Mill was a sawmill owned by 19th century pioneer John Sutter in partnership with James W. Marshall. It was located in Coloma, California, at the bank of the South Fork American River...
had been the location of the initial gold find behind the rush).
Sutter Murder & Later Life
What drove Kennedy to commit the crime is still unknown. Sutter was not an easy target for robbery. Other prospectors and businessmen were wealthier than Sutter and many did not guard that wealth nearly as closely as Sutter. However, it is rumored that Sutter called into question Kennedy's sexual prowess and orientation while at a saloon. Whatever the cause, the result was a shockingly brutal crime. Kennedy was seen near the Sutter property on several occasions during the days leading up to the crime. Finally, on April 9, 1853, Kennedy broke into Sutter's home through a back door. Colin stole an estimated $4,000 dollars from the prospector, brutally murdering him and his companions while allegedly raping Sutter's mistress. A bloody pickaxePickaxe
A pickaxe or pick is a hand tool with a hard head attached perpendicular to the handle.Some people make the distinction that a pickaxe has a head with a pointed end and a flat end, and a pick has both ends pointed, or only one end; but most people use the words to mean the same thing.The head is...
was found in the chest of one of the late Sutter's companions. A shovel was left outside, most likely used to break down the door. Kennedy also used a revolver, hatchet, and knife to butcher the six men and one woman present that night.
The press quickly labeled him "That Dirtiest Criminal of the Golden State," and the public outcry was overwhelming. The local sheriff and deputies quickly organized search parties and the US Marshals
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
were brought in. Faced with the choice between death at the hands of vengeful miners or hanging in San Francisco, Colin fled into the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
. After a month of searching, the hunt was eventually abandoned.
Kennedy lived as a mountain man in the Rocky Mountains and is rumored to be responsible for as many as thirty murders. He is rumored to have died falling off a cliff in a drunken stupor in 1867. A body was found at the base of a cliff in late 1867. Due to the gruesome nature of the fall, identification of the body was impossible. However, his pistol and several other incriminating items were found in a camp site at the top of the cliff. The body was buried in an unmarked grave near the base of the cliff. That pistol, which was below average in size, the one used in the Sutter murders in 1853 and Kennedy's prized possession, remains in the Museum of the City of San Francisco
Museum of the City of San Francisco
The Museum of the City of San Francisco, operated by the San Francisco Museum & Historical Society currently has exhibits at Pier 45 and San Francisco City Hall...
to this day.
1985, Ontario, Canada
It is widely believed throughout southern OntarioOntario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and the desolate desert regions of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
that "the Dirtiest Criminal of the Golden State" has been reincarnated as Colin Michael Kennedy on February 27, 1985. Kennedy, also known as "Ricky the Scatman", is a talented musician, heavy drinker and drug abuser. He enjoys guns and motorcycles. Ontario Provincial Police
Ontario Provincial Police
The Ontario Provincial Police is the Provincial Police service for the province of Ontario, Canada.-Overview:The OPP is the the largest deployed police force in Ontario, and the second largest in Canada. The service is responsible for providing policing services throughout the province in areas...
have linked "the Scatman" to many crimes throughout the region, but due to lack of evidence and his ability to manipulate females, he remains a free man to this very day.