SHOPKEEPERS TERRORISED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 5 January 1931, Page 5

SHOPKEEPERS TERRORISED

STORY OF THE TRAGEDY HOUSE A VERITABLE ARSENAL SYDNEY, 3rd January. The man responsible for the afternoon’s slayjing of two at Bondi Junction is John Thomas Kennedy, powerfull built, strong and wild looking. He has been terrorising shopkeepers in t!ie Oxford street neighbourhood for some weeks past, by walking and demanding goods and declining to pay therefor, saying: ‘‘l do not pay for these. I am a Communist.” After ho shot Constable Johnston, Kennedy struggled like a maniac in the ambulance) en route to hospital An investigation of the house where he lived in Lawson street disclosed a miniature rifle range showing signs of much practice. Kennedy terrified the residents in the street by walking up and down banishing a pea rifle, and behaving eccentrically. It appears that he entered Mick Simmon’s shop and demanded tobacco and cigarettes. He appeared grimly determined, with his eyes glaring and he clasped a small repeating rifle. The manager of the shop. Air Dibly, gathered some goods, made up a parcel and gave it to the man who walked out. On being recalled and asked to pay he refused, putting the parcel back on. the counter and declaring:.‘‘You have got an order on me for those.” The manager denied this suggest ion, whereupon Kennedy said: “All. right. I will have this shop shut up and you will have to face a firing squad.” He then walked out. Constable Allen was called and told what happened, and went out saying. “All right, I will look him up,” and followed Kennedy, whom he picked up a hundred yards away walking carelessly along the footpath aiming the rifle at terrified passers-by. The constable accosted the maniac who turned and seeing a man in uniform placed the gun against his chest and fired. Allen fell, and Constable Andrews was given a revolver by a ’bus man who saw the slavinsr, and followed Kennedy with others to his house. There Constable Andrews made his way in, but Kennedy who had barricaded hnnselr in opened fire, at, least one shot taking effect. Not satisfied with that Kennedy rushed the fallen man and inflicted a fearful wound with a bowie knife A crowd gathered and Constable Johnston, of Wftverley, stepped towards Ihe house onlv to be met by a fusillade which did not harm him or several civilians who went to his support. Constable Johnston got sight of the maniac as he sprang to make a iresli attack on the besiegers, and in? evidently quicker on the draw, as Kennedy fell shot in the body. His house proved a veritable arsenal, hundreds of rounds of ammunition being found in different rooms.