St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-04
He Believed His Wife Loved
Him Less Than a Baltimore
Individual.
Last of the Litigation Grow
ing Out of the Cable Car
Accident.
Rifle Practice to Be Given an
Impetus at This Years
Eneampments.

AS deliberate and premeditated case
of suicide as has ever been chronlcled
was that of David R. Shannon. for
year past superintendent of the Taylor
81 Craig establishment on West Fifth
street. Shannon was found lying dead
in his bed at $40 West Seventh street
yesterday afternoon by Mr.. Taylor, of
the firm by which he was employed,
with a bullet hole in his breast just
over the heart. Beside him lay the
revolver with which the deed had
been committed, and on chair
near the bed were carefully pre-
pared documents giving his reasons for
the deed he was about to commit.
Shannon had been seen in apparently
good health and spirits on Sunday morn
ing, and everything points TO the con-
clusion that the fatal shot was fired
after Shannon had retired on Sunday
night. The superintendent did not ap-
pear at business on Monday morning.
and although this was unusual with him
no inquiry was made into the cause.
Yesterday, however, his continued alb
sence excited the curiosity OF his en-
ployers. which led to an investiga-
ton, with the result stated. The body
when discovered was clad only III UNI
| dergarmentS.
Coroner Quinn was at once notified
of the affair. and at once proceeded to
the scene, The papers left by the dead
man. which partake to some extent OF
the form of a will, are now in the coro-
ner's possession. A GLOBE representa-
tive visited the Office of Taylor u Craig
| in the afternoon, and in response to
questioning with reference to the habits
of the suicide, Mr.. Taylor replied that
he was first-rate business man, and
had had no difference of any kind SO far
as his business with the firm was con-
cerned. The motive for the deed is shown
plainly in the statement left by Shan
non to have been derived from domes-
tic trouble. Mrs. Shannon wished to
visit Baltimore and the husband OBJ
iected to the trip. A few days ago
Mrs. Shannon packed her effects dur
ing the day and left for Baltimore on
an evening train, taking the baby with
her. Shannon knew nothing about this
until he arrived home at night, when
he found the house in disorder and
his wife and child absent. When
he discovered the true state
of affairs he seemed very much upset,
and, it is stated, drank good deal on
that night. Sunday Shannon was seen
during the afternoon with some friends
of his from Philadelphia, and seemed
then to be in his normal state of mind.
Rudolph Frey, druggist in business
near where Shannon resided, was with
him until midnight Sunday. He no.
ticed nothing abnormal In his behavior.
1t must have been shortly after this
that the suicide occurred.
Shannon had been married before.
and has several grown-up children who
reside with his mother in Cincinnati.
By the terms of his will, written in a
hand scarcely legible, he leaves all his
property in st. Paul, which amounts to
good deal in real estate, ETC., to his
present wife and child. His property
| in Cincinnati he wishes to be used for
the benefit of his children by his first
wife. The document in another chap
ter accuses West side married woman
of having led his wife into evil ways,
and of being in a great measure re-
sponsible for all the trouble. 1t
also, however, goes on to say that Mrs.
Shannon loved a certain Baltimore man
better than she did her lawful husband,
and that, taking all things into consid-
Grafton, he had concluded life was not
worth living. The names of the West
side parties are given in full. and that
of the Baltimore lover Mrs. Shannon is
said to favor
Coroner Quinn decided that no in.
quest would be necessary, the facts in
the case being selt-evident. The body
was taken to Dampier's undertaking
establishment on Third street. Messrs
Taylor q Craig will look after the
funeral, which occurs this morning.