Kenney, Sile L. "Si"

Alleging his reputation had been injured and that he had been "brought into public hatred, contempt and ridicule," Sile L. Kenney of Picher Oklahoma, widely known mining superintendent, Tuesday filed a slander suit in the United States District Court at Fort Scott Kansas, against L. D. Brewster of Baxter Springs Kansas, millionaire mining man, for $600,000 damages. Kenney, who, until a few weeks ago, was superintendent of the Huttig Lead and Zinc Company, sets forth he lost his position with the company as a result of alleged slanderous remarks by Brewster. The petition charges Brewster referred to Kenney as "a damned thief and crook" and accused him of "padding the payroll," of "getting a rake-off on everything you buy" and of "burning the blueprints so no one would be able to know what he is doing." Alleged remarks made by Brewster before A. C. Wallace of Miami, an attorney for the Huttig company, from one of four counts set forth by Kenney in his petition. Among other things, Kenney alleges Brewster told Wallace: "That fellow is a damned thief." "He is a damned crook, and won't sell to a reputable ore buyer." "He stole 25 sacks of ore." The petition says Brewster "opened up an attack on his [Kenney's] good name" in the latter part of 1926 after Brewster had been prevented from building a sludge mill near the mining company's mill. Brewster owns the land on which the Huttig Mine is situated. Kenney, according to the petition, incurred the hatred of Brewster when he advised officers of his company that erection of the tailing mill Brewster desired to build would interfere with the Huttig Company's mining operations. Kenney, who was born at Granby Missouri in 1887, is one of the most widely known mining men in the Tri-State district. He has been actively engaged in hard rock lead and zinc mining in the district since he was 15 years old. For several years he operated the Boska Mine in the Kansas field, where it was said he made an enviable reputation as a superintendent. He later was appointed superintendent of the mines of the Huttig Company to succeed Henry Hartzell, who resigned to accept a position with the Hope Lead and Zinc Company. He remained with the Huttig Company until the difficulties with Brewster. Hartzell was reappointed as superintendent of the Huttig property after Kenney was discharged. Recently the Huttig Mine was sold to the Eastern Lead and Zinc Company. Brewster, who is one of the wealthiest men in Southeastern Kansas, is reputed to be several times a millionaire. Most of his fortune was amassed from royalties paid by the Huttig Company and the Federal Mining and Smelting Company which operated mines on his 200-acre tract east of Picher. Brewster acquired the lands from the Indians before the real boom opened in the Picher field and when they were chiefly hay lands. He first came into prominence several years ago when he was elected mayor of Baxter Springs Kansas, where he has lived for 50 years. Although a millionaire, Brewster lives in the same frame house that was his home before wealth came to him. Kenney is represented by W. P. Dillard of Fort Scott Kansas and the law firm of Madden, Freeman and Madden Kansas City associates of Senator James A. Reed.

Since Si Kenney started wearing a new blue sweater, equipped with a blue zipper, he has donned Oxford gray spats and a new brand of cigars. He is only awaiting a pair of ear muffs to enter the role of the "well dressed young man of 1939."