The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1893-03-25
HE TOOK HIS OWN LIFE
Suicide of T. L. O'Connor, a
Young News paper Man.
LEFTALETTER OF EXPLANATION
Found Dead in His Bed at the Palace
Hotel Yesterday Afternoon
Took Morphine.

.. . H~'pP"PSi man AAOAil 1ANlAo-
pell, Mont, committed suicide yes
terday. He was found dead in his
room at the Palace hotel about 8
o'clock in the afternoon, and paper
containing morphine, left lying on
the bureau, told the tale.
The discovery Of the dead body
came about by the chambermaid
being unable to find the door un-
locked at so late an hour, after hav-
ing knocked on the door on several
occasions. This led to an investi-
cation which resulted in the discov-
cry Of the suicide. The body was
still warm when found. DR.. Barker
was Immediately called, but pro-
nounced the man past all earthly
aid, he having expired probably an
hour before the body was found.
In O'Connor's coat pocket was
found an envelope addressed "To
the Finder" 1t contained letter
which read as follows:
BoNNER's FERRY, Idaho, March
%, 1893.-To those who find me
cold in death: When friends and
relatives turn to traitors and perse-
cutors then man yields to tempta-
ton. Such has been my case, and
life hath lost all charms for me.
Misfortunes have marked my career.
Those whom | befriended, when
tried, proved my most dangerous
enemies. There seems to be nothing
in this world for me but hardship
and sorrow, and | have concluded
to blot out my life. My last wish
is that | may be buried here.
I. L. O'CoNNoR.
The letter proves that the act was
premeditated.
O'Connor was, with his brother,
Ed OConnor, the founder of the
Kalispell Graphic, the first paper
to be issued in Kalispell. He came
from Minnesota to Kalispell, having
edited paper at Plainfield. The
brothers sold their plant in Kalis-
pell last summer, and since then
the deceased has not been in bus
mess. lie went to Kaslo about two
months ago with a view to estab-
fishing paper, but Is seems he
could not secure the necessary
financial backing to carry the
scheme through. He returned to
Bonner's Ferry about ten days ago
and claimed to be waiting for his
brother, who resides in Kalispell, to
come to Bonner's Ferry. He ex-
pected his brother to go into part
nership with him. His brother
failed to come, and for the past few
days he seemed to be undecided in
his plans.
He was a member of the Knights
Of Pythias and attended the local
lodge the night before he committed
the rash deed, and appeared in his
usual spirits. He must have written
the letter on his return from the
lodge as it is dated that day, but
the poison was evidently not taken
until the following morning.
O'Connor was fairly well fixed a
year ago, but was in hard financial
circumstances at the time of his
death. His financial condition
probably led to dependency and
then to suicide.
The Knights of Pythias of this
place Immediately conferred with |
the Kalispell lodge and received in
to ship his body to Kali
spell, which was done last night
O'Connor was a young man, less
han thirty. He was a bright and
'eady writer and a man of pleasing
address. But for his rash act he
night have lived many years and
Won fame and fortune in this world.