kinney and his thugs specialized in armed robbery, burglary, and extortion. snake's biggest early rival was george "baldy" higgins, an alcoholic sadist who was jealous of snake's success. kinney killed higgins in a street fight in the early morning hours of september 20, 1896. snake was acquitted on a charge of self-defense. kinney eventually married tom egan's sister catherine, with whom he would have a daughter named florence.