Morrow M. Kinney, son of Edward P. (1867-1955) and Minnie Sarah (Graham) (1869-1949) Kinney, was born 20 February 1905, Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan. Morrow's father was president of "Capital Electric Company" and "Electrical Equipment Company." Mr. Kinney in 1899 was award the $900 contract to wire the state capitol building in Lansing.
Morrow graduated in 1926 from Okemos High School. He attended Michigan State College but it is not known if he graduated. Morrow married Elsie H. Dietz 19 April 1930, East Lansing, Ingham County. The couple were married 57 years and raised a son and daughter.
Morrow in November 1921 was accused of being the driver of an auto involved in a hit and run accident in Jackson, Jackson County, Michigan. He was exonerated but the newspaper article left deep questions about the incident.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Wednesday 30 November 1921
EXONERATE KINNEY N JACKSON DEATH
E. LANSING MAN ESTABLISHES ALIBI IN REGARD TO ACCIDENT, TROOPERS SAY
Though suspicion has been attached to Morrow Kinney of East Lansing in connection with the death of Mrs. Alice Stimson (Error: Mrs. Ella Stimson) of Jackson, who was killed by a racing motorist at the Prison City, Sunday local authorities and the state police have exonerated him from any connection with the accident.
Mrs. Stimson, 66, was struck by the machine, her body falling onto the running board of the car. Without stopping, it is declared, the motorist continued on his way, swerving the car from left to right to dislodge the body of the woman which finally fell to the pavement. The accident was just before noon.
Bystanders reported the number of the car to be 24-256 which is the number of the Kinney car. Young Kinney has established the fact that he attended church at the People's church in East Lansing Sunday and that the car stood at the church Sunday morning. It is thought that the local man is either the victim of a duplication of numbers or that witnesses were mistaken in the number on the machine.
"I am satisfied that it was not the Kinney car that figured in the Jackson affair," said Major Robert Marsh of the state police today. "We are now at work on the case at Jackson and hope to be able to locate the driver of the machine."
Coroner Harry Mills of Jackson has been at East Lansing to talk with both Morrow Kinney and his father, E. P. Kinney, whose offices are located in the Strand Arcade. Jackson authorities apparently still hope to connect Kinney with the killing as they are still working on this angle of the case despite the fact that the Lansing boy has been exonerated by Lansing and state police officials.
Mrs. Ella (Church) Stimson was a widow. She succumbed to a skull fracture and was interred in Jackson County.
Morrow and Elsie lived their lives in the Lansing area. Elsie, born 28 July 1910, Ingham County, died 21 September 1987, Lansing. Morrow died 9 April 2002.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Thursday 11 April 2002
Kinney, Morrow M., 97, died Tuesday. There will be no services. Arrangements by Gorsline-Runciman East Chapel, East Lansing.