St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-28
HANHAFIA SUICIDE CLUB.
SEVENTEEN MEMBERS HIVE THUS
FAR SUfCiDE0.
CHAPLIN WAS THE LAST ONE.

Dennis Hannafin, OF North Da-
kota, the Prime Organizer OF
the CIub-The Member Who
Has an Incnrable Political
Grievance Must Stake His Life
Against Cards With Hann6fin.
The suicide of j. 3. Chaplin, who was
succeeded by Dennis Elannafin as squat
ter governor of North Dakota, led Ham
nafin to tell the story of his suicide club
at the Merchants yesterday, which was
organized about the time of the Brooks
murder. Hannatin was running the
house in which it occurred, and it broke
up the game, besides calling for wake
and incidental expenses connected with
the entertainment OF the corps" as
fully set forth in the bill of particulars
presented to the administrator. As the
Brooks estate consisted entirely of
mules, Hannafin insisted that, Brooks
being gentleman, his estate would not
kick at the expense necessary TO give
him Il decent burial.
The club was organized and consisted
OF thirteen members, all of whom had a
political grievance. Hannafin's was the
refusal of the administrator to pay his
bill. He agreed to make him pay it in
pennies or commit suicide. He won his
case and got his money. w. Aug Fonda
had his grievance of private nature.
Hannafn offered to play seven up with
him 10 see which should commit suicide.
Fonda objected on the ground that it
was gambling, and to dice for the same
reason. Hannafn was disguised and
told him to prove his sincerity by throw
ing himself before a train. Fonda did
as suggested and WAS the first of the
club to redeem his pledge. Seven had
committed suicide, or having been cured
had died natural deaths at the beginning
of the senatorial campaign in
North Dakota last winter. After
the election the new recruits
broke over the limit, and the number is
now seventeen. One editor Joined as
an lncurable under an agreement, which
all are now required to assent to, that if
HanDatin can't cure them they are to
play Seven-up with him. the one losing
to suicide. He stated his case, which,
Hannafin says, was one of too much
Republican treachery and too much
Democratic taffy. Hannafin insisted
that his grievance resulted from trying
10 serve both parties, with the natural
rusult that both repudiated him. He
recommended war OH both, and says the
member is now a PopuiiSt, and is maxi
Ing money and fame through fol-
lowing his suggestion. He spoke OF
other cases where cure had been
effected and success followed. His
theory is that when he can get fellow
to stop thinking of his own troubles
and to engage with his whole heart in
making trouble for the other fellow he
is Oh the way to recovery, and is capable
of success. He spoke of one member
who had not been sober for years until
that night Of the Brooks murder. He
quit then. and did not drink drop for
fourteen years, and not until few
hours before his death, when he Sug-
geStcd glass of brandy would
strengthen his hand for the showdown.
His last chip was in. Hannafin gave
him the brandy, and he died game. In
his own case it is over twelve years
since he has drank drop of intoXlcat-
ing liquors. He thinks the suicide club
beats the fear of death or the hope of
heaven as a Stimulant to action.