Jack Kennedy (criminal)

John F. "Jack" Kennedy ["Robbers' Bodies Lie Unclaimed", "Los Angeles Times", November 4, 1922, p. 3.] ("ca." 1870 — November 3 1922), American outlaw, was described as "the West's last notorious train robber". ["West's Last Notorious Train Robber Dies Fighting Officers in Hold-Up", "The Washington Post", November 5, 1922, p. 2.]

Kennedy, nicknamed "the Quail Hunter", was from Missouri. He had a record of seven train robberies within three years (1896-99), and served twelve years in the Missouri Penitentiary. He was at liberty from 1912 until his death.

Several weeks prior to his last robbery, a railway inspector ran into Kennedy near Memphis and learned that he was making frequent short trips on the line from Memphis to points in northern Arkansas. The inspector became suspicious and notified a colleague."Ambushed Officers Kill Jack Kennedy and Pal after Missouri Train Robbery", "The New York Times", November 4, 1922, page 1] It was decided that the train to watch was the night train from St. Louis to Memphis, which frequently carried considerable amounts of money from the Federal Reserve Bank, sent south to move the cotton crop.

Early on November 3, 1922, Kennedy and his companion Harvey Logan, a former railroad employee, stopped a southbound passenger train of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway. The train, traveling from St. Louis to Memphis, was forced to halt at a station 7½ miles north of Wittenberg. Logan cut the mail and express car from the rest of the train. The engineer and fireman were ordered off the locomotive and Kennedy took the two cars down the track several miles. Stopping the locomotive, the two bandits entered the mail car. The three clerks were lined up against a wall. Kennedy inspected the mail, taking several pouches to the cab of the locomotive. The locomotive then was detached and Kennedy and Logan rode to Wittenberg. About 150 yards from the station they jumped from the engine and left it running wild.

Their automobile was nearby and concealed in the brush along the right of way were six postal inspectors, three railroad special agents and two Deputy Sheriffs. An inspector commanded them to halt. It was bright moonlight and the officers could see the robbers reach for their weapons. Several of the officers opened fire and the robbers fell dead, still clutching their revolvers.

The stolen mail, about 100 registered letters, was recovered.

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