Then he became a saloon-keeper, first he opened two saloons on the waterfront, later another at the corner of Pearl and Eagle Streets.
He was an alderman of Buffalo from 1885 to 1910, and at times president of the board of aldermen and acting mayor.
According to unnamed sources Treasurer Kennedy feared to be indicted for perjury which was denied by his attorney.
His cousin Thomas H. Kennedy was the police officer on duty at the train station and was called to the hotel at the time of the incident.
The New York Times later reported that the treasurer had a train ticket in his pocket and that an audit of his records balanced to the penny.