The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-15
BuRNET HOUSE TRAGEDY.
Inquest in the Hickey Mel Donald Case.

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Coroner Carrick began the inquest to-day
on the body of Florence Mcdonald, alias
Smith, who, after trying to kill her lover
(Hckey) at the Burnet House last Sunday,
killed herself by fatal shot through the
head.
Hickey has almost entirely recovered,
ard is in charge of his brother.
Mrs. Leonora Russell, wife of the propre-
tor of the Russell House, 243 West Fifth
street. and her husband, testified that the
deceased came to their place on last Thurs
day, and that she registered as Mrs. C. A.
Prentice, of Syracuse, N. Y. She came in
hack and alone. She never mentioned
Hickev'sname.
DR.. Richard Sheppard, of New York, tes-
titled that he was introduced to the de-
ceased, and on Friday evening escorted her
to Pixies Opera-house. On Sunday he took
her to the Burnet House, as she wanted to
see Hickey, but he was not found, and he
left the deceased. ..
DR.. O. E. Davis submitted his post
mortem examination, the result of which
is already known.
House, testified that while outside Of the
uObtl llc lcoi " q oilOG. 1lC iuoJCu Ill w buo
main entrance to the door of the reception
room, when Hickey ran against him.
Hickey was bleeding. Looking into the re-
ception room, Lange saw Miss Mcdonald
standing near the mantelpiece. She put
she fell he turned around aud left for his
hack.
Sylvester NJ. Hickey testifed-Am thirty
80 30 IN Noxxy Varl,
City, l was acquainted with the deceased,
Florence Mcdonald; l made her acauaint-
ance in Syracuse, N. Y, two years ago;
she was then occupying furnished
room. heard that she was an attractive
prostitute. My intimacy with her was
very irregular | never paid her any more
attention than l would any other woman
of her class. She sent me notes OCCASION
ally. first learned she was in Cincinnati
on Friday, by receiving note from her.
1t was in an envelope with mourning bor-
der. l received another note on Satur-
day, which destroyed with,
out opening About year ago
she drew loaded pistol and said she was
going to kill herself. I never heard her
threaten my life. On Sunday morning
about half-past 8 o'clock 1 received a note
from neT. 1 ueSITOyeu IL WitnouI opening
| it. In the afternoon l saw note
in the box, and it was in these words:
'Lady in the parlor wants to see you." !
paid no attention to it, and started to 20
up stairs, when messenger of the District
Telegraph Company met me and handed
me a note. ] opened it and found
| it was from Florence. / went to the re-
ception room. l walked in hurriedly. !
noticed something in her hand, but
paid no particular attention to what
t was. She said "hello hellop'
| l asked why she had come all
the way to Cincinnati and told her she had
no right to follow me. She said she wanted
money to get home. got up to put
my hand in my pocket, for the
purpose of getting out my money,
when, with cat-like movement,
she fred l fell on my hands and knees.
rolled over and over till got to the door.
1t strikes me that she fired second shot
before I got out of the room. There was
no loud talk between us. When got out
of the room heard another shot.
was taken to my room and saw nothing
more Of her. 1t is my impression that she
asked me for money as subterfuge, think
| ing that while was getting 1t out Of my