Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-11
A SENSATIONAL SUICIDE.
Tragic End of the Lunatic Who Killed
the Venerable Joseph G. g. Kennedy.

HE srRANoLEs HrNsxLr TO DEATH At ST. xLrzA-
BErH's HosPITAL-HE HAD A MuRDKRous
MANIA-wRAr DR.. ooDDINa SAID OF HIN
The tragedy which startled this community
on the evening of July IS. 1887. has had a sequel
almost Is startling. John Daley, the murderer
Of the venerable Joseph G. G. Kennedy. COM
mitted suicide ct St Elizabeth hospital for the
insane Monday afternoon. Since Daley was
admitted to the hospital, nearly two years ago,
he has been more closely watched than most
Of the other inmates on account
OF his murderous propensities. There
was nothing about his conduct indicative OF
suicidal propensity, and for that reason the at
PENDANTS were better satisfied when he was in
his room alone than when he was near others,
any moment
Since he has been in the hospital he has been
haunted by the same idea that troubled him
before he murdered Mr.. Kennedy, which was
that he was being prosecuted by an order of
Catholics and was being pursued by them. He
was consequently very apprehensive of danger
and was in constant fear that some one
would take his life. He never appeared
rational, but was always in fear. He talked
very little and had to be closely watched most
of the time, especially if any one was near
him. Monday afternoon he went to his room
and was perfectly quiet He had not been
there long before one of the attendants, who
looked in to see if everything was right, wit
messed
HORRIBLE SIGHT.
The poor lunatic had taken his own life in a
manner that must have caused him great phys
ical suffering He had torn a strip from the
cotton sheeting on his bed, which he had fast
ened about his neck. while the other end of the
string was tied to the bed-post. His body lay
on the bed with his head hanging to the side.
His tongue was protruding from his mouth
and his features generally indicated
that he met with horrible death. Not being
fully satisfied that Daley was dead the string
was cut and notice was sent to the physicians.
When they reached the bed room they pro-
nounced life extinct.
Coroner Patterson was then notified and he
inquired into the case. He gave a certificate
of death as follows: John Daley, aged fifty
two years, widower; primary cause of death,
chronic mania; secondary cause, suicide Chang
ing).
The certificate gave the information that the
81 years, 10 months and 26 days and that his
last illness was but few minutes.
THE BURIAL
The body was prepared for burial, and this
afternoon the remains were carried to the hos
pital cemetery and quietly lowered into the
last resting place of the man who caused so
much sorrow to the family and friends of one
of our prominent citizens. The English burial
service was read.
HOPELESS CASE OF MANIA.
Speaking of Daley DIR. Goddng said to
STAR reporter that his ending was an unfor-
tunate affair. but it was one of those things
that could not be helped. 1t was something
that could not have been prevented by
the ordinary vigilance Of the attend
ants. He regretted the affair very
much, although the case was a
hopeless one and death was certainly the best
thing that could have happened him. The
doctor said that it was the end of worthless
career and his radiance, had he died natural
death, would have been a good thing for the
community. As il is he has taken the law
in his own hands, as he did on former occasions,
and committed an act, as he supposed. to es-
cape the prosecutions of his enemies. His act,
the doctor said, illustrates more distinctly that
the verdict of the jury that tried him for muir
der was just one.
HOW MR.. KENNEDY WAS KILLED.
1t was about o'clock on the evening of July
10, 1887, that John Daley, the deceased, stabbed
and killed Joseph C. G. Kennedy, an aged and
esteemed citizen. at the corner of New York
avenue and 18th street, as the latter left his
real estate Office on 18th street for the day and
Daley made no effort to escape and was i'm
mediately arrested He had led dissolute life
for many years, being often in jail and the poor
house, and was incapacitated for manual
labor by a partial paralysis from child
hood. He had number of
years before loaned his father some money to
buy from Mr.. Kennedy a humble home al 1882
NJ street northwest, and after the death of his
stepmother, in 1873, the property had been re-
purchased by Mr.. Kennedy seemingly without
the knowledge Of John, whose father died a
few years later without ever paying
the loan. Mr.. Kennedy afterward sold
the property at a considerable advance and in
brooding over these circumstances Johns
weak mind fancied he had a grievance that
called for vengeance. Concealing a case knife
in his clothing he waited some time at the cor
ner of 18th street and New York avenue for
Mr.. Kennedy to appear, and plunging the
weapon into his victims body waited for him
to die on the pavement.
After DALEY's ARREST
for killing Mr.. Kennedy DR.. w. w. Godding of
st. Elizabeth's and John b. Chaplin of Phila-
delphia were appointed to inquire into the
prisoners mental condition. They visited
him on more than one occasion
and reported that they found that he
was insane on the day he committed the homi-
eide.