John J. Kennedy
Encyclopedia
John J. Kennedy was an American businessman and politician.
-keeper, first he opened two saloons on the waterfront, later another at the corner of Pearl and Eagle Streets. In 1881, he married Ottilie Schupp, and they had two daughters and a son, William Kennedy.
He was an Alderman of Buffalo from 1885 to 1910, and at times President of the Board of Aldermen and Acting Mayor. As a Democrat, he was New York State Treasurer
from 1911 to 1914, elected in 1910 and 1912. On February 15, 1914, he committed suicide.
Kennedy had been the Resident Vice President at Buffalo of the United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company of Baltimore
, a bonding company
connected with Tammany, but upon his election in 1910 had turned over his business to his son William who became Resident Secretary at Buffalo of the company. William Kennedy was linked in the bonding
business with Charles F. Murphy, Jr., the nephew of Tammany Hall
boss Charles F. Murphy. Both Kennedys, Murphy and others had been investigated by Governor Martin H. Glynn
's Special Graft Investigator James W. Osborne and questioned by the Manhattan Grand Jury
and District Attorney Charles S. Whitman
. According to unnamed sources Treasurer Kennedy feared to be indicted for perjury
which was denied by his attorney.
He was buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery on Limestone Hill in Buffalo.
Life
He attended the public schools and St. Joseph's College in Buffalo. Then he became a saloonBar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
-keeper, first he opened two saloons on the waterfront, later another at the corner of Pearl and Eagle Streets. In 1881, he married Ottilie Schupp, and they had two daughters and a son, William Kennedy.
He was an Alderman of Buffalo from 1885 to 1910, and at times President of the Board of Aldermen and Acting Mayor. As a Democrat, he was New York State Treasurer
New York State Treasurer
The New York State Treasurer was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1776 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the new Department of Audit and Control headed by the...
from 1911 to 1914, elected in 1910 and 1912. On February 15, 1914, he committed suicide.
Kennedy had been the Resident Vice President at Buffalo of the United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company of Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, a bonding company
Bond (finance)
In finance, a bond is a debt security, in which the authorized issuer owes the holders a debt and, depending on the terms of the bond, is obliged to pay interest to use and/or to repay the principal at a later date, termed maturity...
connected with Tammany, but upon his election in 1910 had turned over his business to his son William who became Resident Secretary at Buffalo of the company. William Kennedy was linked in the bonding
Bond (finance)
In finance, a bond is a debt security, in which the authorized issuer owes the holders a debt and, depending on the terms of the bond, is obliged to pay interest to use and/or to repay the principal at a later date, termed maturity...
business with Charles F. Murphy, Jr., the nephew of Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
boss Charles F. Murphy. Both Kennedys, Murphy and others had been investigated by Governor Martin H. Glynn
Martin H. Glynn
Martin Henry Glynn was an American politician. He was the 40th Governor of New York from 1913 to 1914, the first Irish American Roman Catholic head of government of what was then the most populated state of the US....
's Special Graft Investigator James W. Osborne and questioned by the Manhattan Grand Jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
and District Attorney Charles S. Whitman
Charles S. Whitman
Charles Seymour Whitman served as the 41st Governor of New York from January 1915 to December 1918. He was also a delegate to Republican National Convention from New York in 1916.-Biography:...
. According to unnamed sources Treasurer Kennedy feared to be indicted for perjury
Perjury
Perjury, also known as forswearing, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. That is, the witness falsely promises to tell the truth about matters which affect the outcome of the...
which was denied by his attorney.
He was buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery on Limestone Hill in Buffalo.
Sources
- The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Kennedy, J. at politicalgraveyard.com Political Graveyard
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9B00E2D81239E433A25752C0A9669D946196D6CF The De. state ticket with short bios, in NYT on October 1, 1910
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A00E5DE133CE633A25757C0A9669D946396D6CF Re-nominated, in NYT on October 4, 1912
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E07EFDE113FE633A25755C1A9649C946596D6CF Obit in NYT on February 16, 1914
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9404EFDE113FE633A25755C1A9649C946596D6CF An outline of the investigation, in NYT on February 16, 1914
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9807EFDE113FE633A25755C1A9649C946596D6CF More info on Treasury, and on election of successor, in NYT on February 16, 1914
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9D04E6DF163AE633A25754C1A9649C946596D6CF His suicide in the middle of the "bonding clique" investigation, in NYT on February 17, 1914
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9900E7DF163AE633A25754C1A9649C946596D6CF His fears, and Whitman's investigation, in NYT on February 17, 1914
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9804E2DF163AE633A2575BC1A9649C946596D6CF His burial, and the bonding business, in NYT on February 18, 1914
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C07E7DD113FE633A2575AC1A9649C946596D6CF Denials by his lawyer, and his burial, in NYT on February 19, 1914