The Untimely Death of Dora Hand
By Kathie Bell / Dodge City Daily Globe / Jan 13, 2015
Legend has it James "Spike" Kenedy was just as much a victim as the woman he killed in cold blood.
Though all agree Dora Hand was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and was not Spike’s intended target, there is some disagreement as to why mayor James “Dog” Kelley was Spike’s target.
Some speculate that Spike tried to kill Dog because Dog was his rival in love for Dora. That would have been more than ironic – ending up killing the object of his adoration rather than winning her.
For whatever reason there was bad blood between Kenedy and Kelley. Things got out of hand in the summer of 1878 when Dog threw Spike out of his saloon. Spike vowed to bring vengeance upon Dog. He left for Kansas City to obtain the fastest horse money could buy.
This was the same summer Mrs. Hand arrived from St. Louis to perform in Dodge’s variety theaters. She was separated from her husband, Theodore, and sang under the name Fannie Keenan. She and a friend, Fannie Garrettson stayed together and performed at the Comique along with headliners Foy and Thompson.
At the end of the summer the Comique closed down and Dora left for St. Louis. But she returned to Dodge City before the end of September in order to file divorce proceedings against her husband. This return was an unfortunate move on Dora’s part.
Her friend, Garrettson, was still in town, working in Dog Kelley’s Saloon and was staying at Dog’s house. On the night of October 3, Fannie and Dora retired to Kelley’s home. Dog was at Fort Dodge seeking medical treatment.
This was the night Spike decided to make his move against Dog. He had no idea that Kelley wasn’t home and that Dora was at the house. Early on the morning of the 4th, Spike rode up to Kelley’s house and fired four shots into the building.
Three bullets passed harmlessly through the structure, but one passed through Garrettson’s nightclothes, through the wall and into a sleeping Dora Hand killing her instantly. Though unharmed, Garrettson was very shaken and within days left Dodge City never to return.
Immediately after the shooting, Spike tore out of town on his fast horse, but was implicated by a witness. Dodge City lawmen formed a posse that afternoon consisting of Bat Masterson, Charlie Bassett, Wyatt Earp, William Duffey, Bill Tilghman and others.
They caught up with Spike the next day, seriously wounding him and killing his horse. At this point Spike believed he had killed the mayor and was shocked, maybe even saddened, to learn that Dora had been his victim.
As a testament to her popularity, one of the biggest funerals in Dodge City’s history was held for the 34 year old Dora Hand.
Spike recovered from his wounds and the case was dismissed at a hearing held in Sheriff Masterson’s office. Nobody is sure why he was acquitted. Some say it was lack of witnesses, while others say he was let go because the killing was an “accident” as Dora was not his intended target.
It was probably Spike’s father’s influence that freed him. Miflin Kenedy was a well known and rich cattle baron who brought a lot of business to Dodge. Some say after this whole affair was over there was little talk about Dora Hand and the injustice granted her memory. The leaders of Dodge City did not want to offend the powerful Kenedy family who herded thousands of cattle into this area.
As for Dora herself, some argue she was a prostitute. After all, most women entertainers in early Dodge provided more than song and dance, and Dora was in the process of divorcing her husband – something unheard of in those days.
But others paint her as a kind and generous spirit with a beautiful voice. She did sing in church during her short time in Dodge City, and she often gave gifts of food, toys and candy to those less fortunate families in the area.
Fannie Keenan, better known as Dora Hand, was probably somewhere between a soiled dove and a saint. By everyone’s account she was liked, if not loved, and left this earth much earlier than she should have through the most bizarre set of circumstances.
Kathie Bell works at the Boot Hill Museum and is a history buff. Her column appears weekly in the Dodge City Daily Globe. She can be reached at 227-8188.
For whatever reason there was bad blood between Kenedy and Kelley. Things got out of hand in the summer of 1878 when Dog threw Spike out of his saloon. Spike vowed to bring vengeance upon Dog. He left for Kansas City to obtain the fastest horse money could buy.
This was the same summer Mrs. Hand arrived from St. Louis to perform in Dodge’s variety theaters. She was separated from her husband, Theodore, and sang under the name Fannie Keenan. She and a friend, Fannie Garrettson stayed together and performed at the Comique along with headliners Foy and Thompson.
At the end of the summer the Comique closed down and Dora left for St. Louis. But she returned to Dodge City before the end of September in order to file divorce proceedings against her husband. This return was an unfortunate move on Dora’s part.
Her friend, Garrettson, was still in town, working in Dog Kelley’s Saloon and was staying at Dog’s house. On the night of October 3, Fannie and Dora retired to Kelley’s home. Dog was at Fort Dodge seeking medical treatment.
This was the night Spike decided to make his move against Dog. He had no idea that Kelley wasn’t home and that Dora was at the house. Early on the morning of the 4th, Spike rode up to Kelley’s house and fired four shots into the building.
Three bullets passed harmlessly through the structure, but one passed through Garrettson’s nightclothes, through the wall and into a sleeping Dora Hand killing her instantly. Though unharmed, Garrettson was very shaken and within days left Dodge City never to return.
Immediately after the shooting, Spike tore out of town on his fast horse, but was implicated by a witness. Dodge City lawmen formed a posse that afternoon consisting of Bat Masterson, Charlie Bassett, Wyatt Earp, William Duffey, Bill Tilghman and others.
They caught up with Spike the next day, seriously wounding him and killing his horse. At this point Spike believed he had killed the mayor and was shocked, maybe even saddened, to learn that Dora had been his victim.
As a testament to her popularity, one of the biggest funerals in Dodge City’s history was held for the 34 year old Dora Hand.
Spike recovered from his wounds and the case was dismissed at a hearing held in Sheriff Masterson’s office. Nobody is sure why he was acquitted. Some say it was lack of witnesses, while others say he was let go because the killing was an “accident” as Dora was not his intended target.
It was probably Spike’s father’s influence that freed him. Miflin Kenedy was a well known and rich cattle baron who brought a lot of business to Dodge. Some say after this whole affair was over there was little talk about Dora Hand and the injustice granted her memory. The leaders of Dodge City did not want to offend the powerful Kenedy family who herded thousands of cattle into this area.
As for Dora herself, some argue she was a prostitute. After all, most women entertainers in early Dodge provided more than song and dance, and Dora was in the process of divorcing her husband – something unheard of in those days.
But others paint her as a kind and generous spirit with a beautiful voice. She did sing in church during her short time in Dodge City, and she often gave gifts of food, toys and candy to those less fortunate families in the area.
Fannie Keenan, better known as Dora Hand, was probably somewhere between a soiled dove and a saint. By everyone’s account she was liked, if not loved, and left this earth much earlier than she should have through the most bizarre set of circumstances.
Kathie Bell works at the Boot Hill Museum and is a history buff. Her column appears weekly in the Dodge City Daily Globe. She can be reached at 227-8188.
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