Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-13
DONAHUE'S DEATH.
He Fired a Bullet Through
His Head.
Suicide Yesterday of a Well
Known Business Man.
The Facts as Elected at the Coroner's
Inquest.
Failure of the seymour-JohnsonC Compa-
Dy Caused Him to Be Despondent.
His Movements Before Com
mitting the Act.

Charles E. Donahue, the well-known
grocer, of this city, committed suicide a
short time before noon, yesterday, in
the Breed block, where he had room.
The suicide fired bullet from heavy
caliber revolver into his right temple,
and the deadly missile ploughed its way
through his brain, coming out behind
the left ear. Death was instantaneous,
for persons who rushed into Donahue's
apartment at the very sound OF the pis-
tol, found the unfortunate man dead.
Donahue came here about eleven
years ago, and built up fine reputation
in the grocery business. He was the
owner of the Economic store in the Ra-
mona block about a year ago, and was
doing well, when tempting offer was
made him by the Seymour-Johnson
company to enter their firm. He ac-
cepted the offer, and threw his entire
stock, which was large one,
into the Seymour establishment.
When the collapse of the firm
occurred, Donahue lost every dol
lar he had. He had been married
OulY u BUOTb Llluc UClOiO, anu LIS now
responsibilities, together with the heavy
loss he had sustained, weighed heavily
upon him. He grew respondent, then
reckless, and began to drink excessively
in order to stimulate his waning cour-
age. His dissipated habits next led
him to neglect his wife, and when the
latter found that she was about to be
confined, she went to the home of her
parents on Fourth street, 80 that her
mother might take care OF her during
her trial. On January 1st babe was
born, and since then Mrs. Donahue has
been nursed back into health. In the
meantime her husband had let the
house they had lived in, and wanted
her to 90 with him to take rooms in a
lodging-house. This she refused to do.
Yesterday morning at about 10 80
O'Clock, Donahue came to the howe of
his father-in-law, T. Mccarthy, on
Fourth street, and asked to see his wife.
He was under the influence of liquor,
and Mr.. Mccarthy attended the inter-
view between the couple in order to
prevent possible trouble. Donahue
asked his wife to 90 with him, and she
refused. The husband then started out,
and Mr.. Mccarthy spoke to him, and
asked him to go to the Hammam baths
to get Strengthened out. Donahue refused
abruptly, and remarked: mo. Pm
going to hell"
He then left the house, and walked up
Fourth to Main, being followed at dis
tance by his father-in-law, who was
anxious about him. Donahue went to
Third street on Main, and entered the
corner saloon for drink. He then went
up Third street at rapid gait, and
was lost sight of by Mr.. Mccarthy
at the corner of Spring street. AS it
afterward turned out, he went directly
to his room in Mrs. Brandon's lodging
house, No. 3081s South Spring street,
and living down on the bed fired the
fatal shot. The landlady heard the
explosion and called down stairs for DIR.
Slocum, whose office is in the building.
She then looked into several rooms,
until she discovered Donahue's body.
DIR. Slocum examined the remains and
found Donahue dead. From the time
Mr.. Mccarthy had lost sight OF his SON
in-law until the fatal shot was fired was
only fifteen minutes.
Mrs. Brandon Immediately after the
discovery sent downstairs for Mr.. Mason,
the grocer, with whom the suicide had
intended to enter business relations.
The coroner was next notified, and the
body was taken to the morgue. Coroner
Weldon held an inquest last evening,
and the verdict was in accordance with
| the facts as here stated.
Donahue was a brother-in-law of Dan
Moriarty, assistant chief OF the fire de-
partment, and was well known through
out the city. Hundreds of persons
yesterday afternoon seized the oppor-
tunity of taking last look at his re-
| mains.