Milo John Kennedy

Officer Milo John Kennedy was on night foot patrol on August 7, 1932, Officer Kennedy was drawn to a group of gang members who had assembled in Logan Circle Park in Washington, D.C. One of the gang members had thrown a rock at the policeman and Officer Kennedy immediately arrested him.

While he was walking his prisoner to the call box, Officer Kennedy was knocked unconscious from behind by a thrown brick. Then the gang closed in. As many as 15 people in all took part in the savage beating. Officer Kennedy died the next day from the terrible injuries he had suffered.

Justice in the case was swift. Within a few months of the crime, three men were convicted of first degree murder. And just two years later they were led one by one to the electric chair at the D.C. Jail. It was only the second triple execution in D.C. history, lasting a total of just 27 minutes.

From the Archives of the Washington Post®

Edited for content

The following are the actual headlines and abstracts from the Washington Post archives that chronicle the mob action beating that led to the death of U.S. Park Police Officer Milo J. Kennedy in 1932, from beginning to end. Note: Words in parentheses have been added.) Research done by Bob Harvey

MOB'S ATTACK CAUSES DEATH OF POLICEMAN

August 8, 1932

Private Milo J. Kennedy, of Park Force, dies from injuries. Private Milo J. Kennedy, 28 years old, of the United States Park Police, died shortly after 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon in Garfield Hospital, as the result of a brutal beating at the hands of a mob twelve hours before, as he sought to arrest one of their number at Logan Circle.

MURDER LAID TO SIX IN PRIVATE'S DEATH
August 9, 1932

Police say five admit part in brutal mob attack on Park Policeman. Six men were charged with murder last night in connection with the fatal beating administered to Park Policeman Milo J. Kennedy in Logan Circle early Sunday. Three others were charged with being accessories and police are still seeking three more men who are supposed to have had a leading part in the gang attack on Kennedy.

NINE WILL FACE JURY IN PRIVATE'S DEATH

August 10, 1932

Three men charged as chief assailants of Park Policeman Kennedy. Nine colored (black) men, three of them charged as principals and six as accessories, were held for the grand jury yesterday by a coroner's jury in connection with the death of Park Policeman Milo J. Kennedy, who died after being beaten by a gang of men early Sunday in Logan Circle.

MILITARY FUNERAL IS GIVEN KENNEDY

August 11, 1932

Policeman, victim of mob beating, is interred in Arlington plot. Private Milo J. Kennedy, of the United States Park Police, fatally beaten by a mob of (black) colored men early last Sunday in Logan Circle Park, was buried in Arlington Nations Cemetery with full military honors. A large delegation of park and metropolitan police attended the rites.

9 INDICTED IN DEATH OF PARK POLICEMAN

August 26, 1932

3 are fugitives as 6 remain in jail without bail on murder charges. In a 37 page indictment, returned yesterday to Justice Daniel W. O'Donoghue, in the District Supreme Court, nine Negros (black men) were charged with the murder of Park Policeman Milo J. Kennedy, in Logan Circle, August 7. Three of the indicted are fugitives and the other six are being held without bail in the District Jail.

SIX MEN ARE ARRAIGNED IN KILLING OF POLICEMAN

August 31, 1932

Six of the men accused in the slaying of Park Policeman Milo J. Kennedy were arraigned in the District Supreme Court yesterday on charges of first degree murder. Each entered a plea of not guilty. Three others also named in a murder indictment are fugitives and Justice Daniel W. O'Donoghue issued bench warrants for their arrests.

PROSECUTION OF SIX IS OPENED IN DEATH OF PARK POLICEMAN

October 19, 1932

Three women and nine men on jury hearing evidence in fatal attack. With a jury of nine men and three women, the Government yesterday opened the prosecution of six colored men (black men) on a charge of murdering Park Policeman Milo J. Kennedy in Logan Circle, in August.

U.S. RESTS IN TRIAL OF 6 CHARGED WITH SLAYING POLICEMAN

October 20, 1932

Jury hears attack described and conspiracy outlined; Defense opens today. Graphic descriptions of the manner in which a group of (black) colored men first knocked down Park Policeman Milo J. Kennedy, and then beat him to death in Logan Circle last August, yesterday were given the District Supreme Court jurors sitting in the trial of six men charged with the slaying.

3 FREED IN SLAYING OF PARK POLICEMAN; OTHERS GO ON STAND

October 21, 1932

One accused of doing most of "Dirty Work," testifies he was drunk. Over the strenuous objections of the Government, Chief Justice Alfred A. Wheat yesterday freed three of the six (black) colored men who are being tried in his court on a charge of murdering Park Policeman Milo J. Kennedy last August in Logan Circle.

BRUTALITY IS DENIED IN INVESTIGATION OF POLICE SLAYING CASE

October 22, 1932

Suspects in killing were not mistreated, Court is told by probers. Six policemen, all of whom were actively identified with the investigation into the slaying of Park Policeman Milo J. Kennedy in Logan Circle in August, yesterday took the stand in District Supreme Court and denied that they had mistreated any of the suspects.

TRIO TO GO TO CHAIR IN POLICE MURDER

October 25, 1932

Men found guilty of slaying Milo J. Kennedy at Logan Circle. Three (black) colored men last night were convicted by a jury in District Supreme Court of the slaying on August 6 in Logan Circle of Park Policeman Milo J. Kennedy.

NEW TRIAL SOUGHT IN POLICE SLAYING

October 29, 1932

Three convicted of killing file plea in District Supreme Court.

KENNEDY'S SLAYERS DENIED NEW TRIAL

November 11, 1932

Justice Wheat gives trio death in chair for killing policeman. Three (black) colored men, convicted two weeks ago of slaying Park Policeman Milo J. Kennedy in Logan Circle last August, were formally sentenced to electrocution yesterday by Chief Justice A. A. Wheat, in the District Supreme Court, when he denied a motion for a new trial. The date of execution will be set next week.

THREE KILLERS LOSE FIGHT AGAINST CHAIR

June 27, 1933

The District Court of Appeals yesterday affirmed the conviction of three (black) colored men who were sentenced to electrocution on a charge of slaying Policeman Milo J. Kennedy.

3 JAILED FOR SEEKING TO AID DOOMED SLAYERS

August 6, 1933

Three (black) colored men were arrested yesterday in the District Wood Yard, where they appeared with a petition urging the United States Supreme Court to release three (black) colored men sentenced to the electric chair for the death of Park Policeman Milo J. Kennedy, who was beaten to death by a mob on August 6, 1932.

ROOSEVELT REFUSED TO AID 3 KILLERS

January 7, 1934

Policeman's slayers to die Thursday. Three (black) colored men, convicted of slaying Park Policeman Milo J. Kennedy, will be electrocuted at the District Jail Thursday, it was indicated yesterday when word was received that President Roosevelt had refused to interfere.

LABOR DEFENSE SEEKS TO SAVE DOOMED TRIO

January 10, 1934

Demonstration planned tomorrow in hope of clemency. A massed demonstration and final plea for clemency in behalf of three (black) colored men, scheduled to be electrocuted Friday for the murder of Park Policeman Milo J. Kennedy, is planned tomorrow by the International Labor Defense.

MURDER TRIO PUT TO DEATH IN MESS HALL

January 13, 1934

Three men died in the District Jail mess hall yesterday. Scene of executions quickly converted for noon-day meal.