The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-31
HAD ENOUGH OF LIFE
Harry O'Dye Writes Farewell
to His Wife Before Her Eyes.
And Then Swallows a Fatal Dose of
MOrphine-Drink and Loss of
Position the Causes.

Harry O'Dye, gate keeper at the Union
Station. died at o'clock yesterday after
noon from the effects of a heavy dose of
morphine, taken undoubtedly with suicidal
intent. The act was committed at his own
home, No. II South Pine street, almost in
the presence of his wife. O'Dye left a let
ter, which is Of the usual character, and
throws little light upon the cause which
led to the desperate step. The epistle read:
Dear, Dearest Wife-After thinking this
morning of my past life and how i have
abused you and my friends | cannot look
them In the face, and i have suffered the
torrents of hell Dear Nell, cannot look
you in the face. You have been such a
good woman, and how / have abused you
with drink. Tell August and some of my
friends if there is a hereafter perhaps T
will see some of them. After it is all over
you had better go TO Dayton to live your
life Goodbye, and God bless YOU"
ODyes troubles are attributed by his
wife TO his appetite for drink and to a
slight difficulty which he had Saturday
night with his employers. For the past
several months he has been working in
various capacities at the Union Station
and for month stationed at the west
gate, punching tickets. Some time during
Saturday night it appears that he left his
post Of duty, and was afterward found by
the station master sleeping in the office
AS punishment for the offense the gate
keeper was suspended for month On
Sunday he informed his wife of the trou-
bic. and seemed greatly distressed Yes
terday morning he did not get UP until
late, and acted queerly during the MORN
ing. Shortly. after noon he left the house
with the statement that he would go down
TO Kalker's saloon on the corner and get a
drink. He returned in about half hour
and requested his wife to prepare for him
a change of underclothing. She did So and
he then drew her into the Kitchen placed
his arms about her and kissed her. AS he
did this he said: Goodbye, Nell" From
various other demonstrations INDUCED in
by her husband for several hours before he
took the drug Mrs. O'Dye believes that he
was carefully arranging for the act. Once
during the morning she spoke to him about
his untidy appearance, and suggested that
he needed shaving.
"Oh, no, L don't" he replied, "there will
be barber in the house before night" +
After he had kissed his wife goodbye
O'Dye called for sheet of paper and pen,
stating that he desired to write letter to
of his friends He was provided with
writing material and sat down to table.
His wife stood by his side, and looking over
his shoulder. saw him indict the words:
Dearest wife,
Why, Harry" she exclaimed. do, you
oa thai Sne Sa coyeraS the na ts and
impatiently requested to be undsturbed for
a moment His wife stepped into the kitch-
en-, and before she returned 10 the room her
husband had completed the letter. Then he
asked for a glass of water, and taking the
tumbler walked upstairs TO his ROOM His
wife followed and reached the door a mo-
ment after he entered the apartment. O'DyI
stepped before the mirror, and for severa.
minutes prayed earnestly for the protection
of his wife after he was gone. Then. he
retired TO bed. and about 2:30 O'Clock Mrs.
ODye went up to his room. He was heath
ing heavily, and complained that he was
left him. but short time later she returned
10 find him unconscious. DR.. Hoover was
summoned. and DIR. Dale, of the City Dis
pensary, called but the physicians were
unable 70 revive the dying man.
A small box which had contained ten or fif-
teen grains of morphine was lying on the
floor and told the stC,y. The victim died
about 4 o'clock, and undertaken Gretn-
steiner and Coroner Beck We're sent for.
The letter which ODye had left his wife
found lying on the sewing machine where
he had placed il. The dead man was forty
four years of age. With his wife he came
has since been employed by the Union Rail-
way Company. He was considered a valu-
able man about the station, and was very
popular. He drank considerably, and of
late IL Is said has been indulging his appe-
tite a great deal. The couple had no chill
dren