New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-21
FOUND DEAD AT HIS CLUB.
A MEMBER OF THE MANHATTAN TAKES
POISON
JAMES ". M'MAHoN WROTE HIS OWN pREscRIP.
TIoN FOR MORPHINE WAS 1T
SUICIDE OR ACCIDENTS


SUICIDE OR ACCIDENTS
James v. Mcmahon, of the firm of j. V. Mcmahon &
Bro. realestate and insurance agents. at No 172
Montague-st Brooklyn was found dead in bed at the
Manhattan Club yesterday morning A box from
which about twenty half grain morphine pills had been
taken showed the cause Of his death. Whether the
overdose Of the deadly drug taken accidentally or
with suicidal intent is largely matter Of conjecture.
Mr.. Mcmahon lived with his father at No. 81 Nc
Donough-st, Brooklyn, and did not visit the Man
haitian Club frequently. While he did not drink
heavily habitualy he occasionally remained more
less under the influence of liquor for several days at
time. On last Wednesday night he began one of his
periods Of heavy drinking The members Of his family
tried 10 persuade him to stay at home the
next day, but he insisted on going to business He
drank moro less Thursday and Friday, and on
Saturday morning attended ex-senator Murthas funeral
In the afternoon Mr.. Mcmahon resumed his drinking
and went TO New York. When he reached the Man
haitian Club in the evening" hd was evidently not him
self for liquor. He had drink or two at the club,
and then took a room intending to spend the night
there. His room on the top floor Of the house,
overlooking Fifthave. Mr.. Mcmahon apparently
slept well, for the next morning when employe Of
the club answered his bell he seemed to be in excellent
spirits He sent the young man for some tincture
Of opium, having written ont prescription himself.
The employe took the prescription to Bartlett &
Plummers drug store, Thirty fourh-s and Broadway,
who have rooms in the building filed The prescription
read "Tlnct. opi CIR I. directed" and was sighed
DIT. Mcmahon in q shaky, uncertain scrawl. Know
Ing the messenger, the clerk filed the order
one pramme beinp a harmless Quantity The
messenger took the drug back to Mr.. Mcmahon and
saw him take It, Mr. Mcmahon remained in his room
gil day. reading a Sunday paper part of the time
In the afternoon ne had another prescription, also
signed by DR.. Mcmahon, filed. This one was for
fifteen grains CT sIlphate Of morphine to be maze lh'o
thirty pills. and the word for" was written before e
signature to show that it the physician himself
who wanted the drug.
The second prescription was taken to the same
drug store as the first had BEEN and as 1t was drawn
ND In technical style, unhesitatngy filled Dy inc
clerk. Incidentally the druggist asked II the heciuo
was for the doctor himself. The messenger saiu d"
was The poison was delivered to Mr.. Mcmahon VINO
rave instructions that he be awakened at $40
O'Clock the next morning. At that hour yesterday
morning an empoye of the club could get no .I'"e'
to his knock the door of the room occupied W WI
Mcmahon. The door was unlocKed' anu u .
who entered the room found its occupant e'Vno
dead on the bed. About twenty OF the
pills were missing
Word WAS sent to the dead mans relatives ana W
the police Coroner Louis w. Schutze was summoheu
10 the club and he had the corpse taken TO an uuei
taking shop in Flrst-ave. He intended 10 haVo ca
autopsy made but afterward concluded tha' 'ne PI,H
empty box of morphine pills was sufficient PROOF oi Oo
cause OF death Jury will be called upon TO deter
mine whether the death accident or otherwise"
No money or Jewels were found In the deao mans
clothes or on his person. In the room "ere euaP'
of paper ON which Mr. Mcmahon had practsed writing
out prescriptions and signing his name 10 uieni' LILO
body was afterward taken 10 Brooklyn
The news of the death of the young man reachcd
his father James Mcmahon, and his elder brothef,
Charles Austin McMahOrL at the Emgrants InuuS'ria
Savings Bank In Chambersst Of which the tatler Is
vice presidept and the son counsel The dead mans
brother at once went to the Ma1hattan Club lie was
NJ the opinion that James had taken the morphine
without intending TO kill himself. The lawyer couu
think Of no reason for James's committing SUICIDE un
less IL were Illness When In his tunor year al 'eoise
town University d. c.. James Y. McMahon had pee"
compeled to give up his studies on account Oh MS
weak health He then travelled in COLORADO ana oIer
Western States for time, becoming manager OF the
Peacock shoe Manufacturing Company on his return 10
Brooklyn. 81 49,. -
travel in Europe. On coming back to this country
ne entered the real estate and insurance business
His brother said that the firm in prosperous con-
dition and that James not mixed up IN any love
affair The only thing that had been wrong VII.
him was that he was melancholy lately on account Vi
MS james gESs =. McMahon, was the second son Of
James Mcmahon, one Of the TSe gotb npia is
a wealthy shipping merchant IN New iOra.
The suicide an active young business nga ,ras
twentye eight Years old and we'll educated, and iona OF
music literature and art lie joined me ManH Hf
Club on June a. 1855 being RrVPoSSge S tamX The
senior Mr. Mcmahon was chairman OF the comniIUee
which gave the dinner last fall to Bishop L9ughn III
man recently entered convent. His elder brother
WAS recently married largely attended reception
was given by the McMehOns in honor OF the hohe-
coming of the eldest son and his bride.