Generally not mentioned by those who are aware of it is the fact that Gov. Kendall had an elder brother (by a different mother) named Abbott Kendall (1858-1920), above, also a native son of Lucas County.
Under the pseudonym Edward Black, Abbott was described as a "self-confessed murderer, bigamist, burglar, thief, incendiary and degenerate" when sentenced to life in prison in Indiana during 1906 for committing one of that state's the most shocking murders while living in Garrett, just north of Fort Wayne.
I'll write more about the background and outcome of this case another time, but for this morning will share a report on the murder published in The Garrett Weekly Clipper on Aug. 9, 1906, a week after the killing occurred. Be warned, some of the reporting could curdle your oatmeal. The headline reads, "Act of a Fiend."
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A murder that for extreme brutality and lack of motive or provocation stands alone in the criminal history of northern Indiana was enacted in this city early last Thursday morning. Edward Black, a flue-cleaner at the B. & O. roundhouse, went to his home in the southwest part of town, broke open the window and poured the contents of a shotgun into his mistress, Mattie Cannon, killing her instantly. He then crawled through the aperture, turned over the corpse, reloaded his gun and deliberately fired another shot through her body, the first having passed through her head. Still not satisfied in his craving for the blood of the woman whom he now claims "did him dirt," this beast in human form grasped his weapon by the barrel and battered the head of his dead victim into an unrecognizable mass, splattering her brains all over the room and smashing the stock of the gun to splinters in his ferocious attack. In the midst of his grewsome work he cooly laid down upon the bed, from which the young woman had arisen, to await the coming of the officers.
Within a few minutes after the second shot was fired, Night Policeman Caldwell and W.H. Pember, whom he had hurriedly deputized, were on the scene. The former had been notified that Black was going about the homes of neighbors with a shotgun looking for Mattie and avowing his intention of killing her. They found he had placed a building tile below the window to stand on and Mr. Pember assisted the officer into the house through the hole. Black arose and stood over the corpse, cursing the inanimate object as though it were still alive, repeating over and over, "I got you, you ...." His violent actions were finally subdued and Marshal Schudel was summoned.
The murderer made no effort to resist the officers, said he had committed the deed, was glad of it and ready to die for it. The tragedy occurred at 1:30 o'clock. Black was in jail within two hours and Coroner Baxter had conducted his inquest and the prisoner landed in the county jail early in the morning.
At the inquest he pleaded guilty, repeatedly said he had committed the crime, muttered time and time again "A life for a life," said "Old Ed's neck is good for it" and offered to place a rope around his neck if they wanted to hang him. He showed not the slightest trace of remorse and said he would do the same thing over again. When asked why he fired the second shot, his reply was, "Because it was paid for and I might as well use it."
Details of the Tragedy
The events leading up to this awful tragedy date back over two years. Mrs. Cannon, whose maiden name was Hopkins and who was divorced from Guy Cannon last spring, was but 21 years old. She kept house for Black off and on for quite a while. They quarreled frequently and on several previous occasions he threatened to kill her. At one time he made a will in her favor, but later destroyed it. The fore part of last month she entered into a deal with him to purchase the property in which they were living. A contract was drawn up by the terms of which she agreed to pay him $950 for it, in installments of $5 monthly. The day before the crime, someone asked Black if he knew the contract had been altered to make the purchase price read $850. His suspicions aroused, he demanded to see the papers. Mrs. Cannon refused, stating that she feared he would tear it up, but offered to go with him to Justice Chew's office and have a duplicate copy made for him. They did so that evening, being accompanied by Adam Houser. When Mrs. Cannon produced the document it was found correct. About nine o'clock they parted, Mrs. Cannon and Houser going home. Before they separated Mrs. Cannon asked Black if he was going to work, informing him that her boarder, one of the proprietors of the Greek fruit store, wanted to come down, but was afraid of him. Black is said to have replied, "You tell him I'll be around."
At 11:20, Black was in Mayor Thumma's place listening to a graphophone and talking about buying one. Apparently his mind was free and he was not drunk. He is known to have taken one glass of beer in which he poured a drink of whisky, his customary way of indulging in intoxicants. He never drank unless he was mad, however.
It seems a few days previous, Black and Mrs. Cannon had quarreled and he moved part of his effects from the house to an old shanty a few feet distant. He evidently went there, procured his gun, made an attempt to get in the house, thought it was locked on the outside, visited the neighbors, returned and secured the building block upon which to stand to reach the window. When the crash came, Houser ran for the door and made his escape. Black says he was in bed with the woman, but Houser insists he was not, that he was only there to protect her. Circumstances go to show that the latter was probably true. A pillow was on the floor at the foot of the bed where Houser says he was lying and both were fully dressed, neither having even removed their shoes. When asked why he had not shot Houser, Black answered, "He wasn't the ... I was after. I had a bead on him and could have killed him, but he's old and his time is short anyway." It is generally thought, however, that had the Greek been there a double tragedy would have been enacted as Black was known to be very jealous of the fellow who had succeeded him in the woman's affections.
Black's Dealings With the Girl
To several people Black has related the details of is blood-curdling act. When searched $19 and a few cents was found on his person. He offered to pay all the funeral expenses of his victim, saying "there's money enough to give us both a decent burial." It is really thought he has some money though not any great amount hidden about the place as he has been a steady worker, making about $55 a month, and was never known to spend a penny foolishly.
Undoubtedly he was deeply infatuated with the Cannon woman. He seldom spoke to anyone, but whenever his reserve was broken talked freely and especially so if anyone would listen to him speak of the girl. His dealings with her, however, were always on a commercial basis. She applied to him several times for the position of housekeeper, but when she refused to accede to the additional favors demanded by him was on each occasion turned down, until she finally consented. He was a dirty, uncouth fellow who apparently had nothing in common with soap and water and his peculiar characteristics and looks caused him to be regarded with more or less disfavor among his fellow workmen. His treatment of the girl was much as might be expected from a man of his temperment. He bought her a great deal of clothing, always of the better class, and indulged her in many luxuries. A part of the time he treated her kindly, but on several occasions he choked and beat her shamefully. A year and a half ago he was fined $9 in a local justice court for choking her. He nearly killed her at that time. She was warned frequently that he would put her out of the way, but never expressed the least fear of him.
Mystery in Murder's Life
Black has been here about seven years. Little is known of his life previous to that. He has no known relatives, though at one time he said his only living relation was a sister whom he thought was somewhere in Iowa. There seems to be some mystery about his early life and the opinion of several who knew him best is that Black is not his right name. He says he has worked in coal mines in Pennsylvania, Colorado and Ohio. It is also reported that he has remarked to several people that if he had his just desserts he would have been in the penitentiary long ago. He is 50 years of age. It is thought he was married at one time through nothing definite has developed as to that.
Victim's Career in Garrett
Mattie Josephine Hopkins came to Garrett just before Christmas in 1903. She was born in Doniphan, Kansas, but her father, J.W. Hopkins now resides in Kansas City. Four weeks after her arrival she married Guy Cannon. Their wedded life was brief and stormy. One child was born, but it died. Besides her father. one brother and three sisters survive, Mrs. C.V. Dowse being among the latter. While she led a wayward life, Mattie was an attractive girl and far too intelligent for the pathway she chose. She was aged 21 years, 7 months and 29 days. The body was taken to Moore, Satterfield & Co.'s undertaking rooms to be prepared for burial and at the request of relatives no one was allowed to view the remains. The top of her head, hair and a small portion of her face were all that was left of her features. The shot through her body was about an inch and a half in diameter where it entered the abdomen and twice that size at the opposite point.
Her brother, Harry, came from Kansas City to attend the funeral, which was conducted from the Baptist church by Rev. Roadarmel Monday morning, burial being made at Calvary. A contract was entered into Monday evening between the brother and Black's attorney, W.W. Sharpless, whereby the household goods are to be sold to defray the funeral expenses, in consideration of which the contract for the sale of the property is annulled.
Besides Mr. Sharpless, the murder has retained D.D. Moody to assist in his defense. He changed his plea to one of not guilty and is held to await the action of the grand jury. Undoubtedly temporary insanity will be the foundation of the legal fight to save is life. Houser was held as a prosecuting witness.
In cases such as this the laws of our state are inadequate. While the Clipper does not believe in capital punishment, briefly because two wrongs can never make one right, it should be possible to try, convict and send such wretches as Black to the penitentiary all in one day. As it is the county will have a heavy expense and his crime was so revolting, without a single extenuating circumstance, that he is not entitled to even the mercy and protection provided by our slow acting courts.
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