The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-06
HIS NERVOUSNESS
SAVED HIS LIFE
John O'Meara's Unsuccess-
full Attempt at
Suicide.
Was Assistant Cashier of the
New York Life Insur.
arce Company.
Overwork Drove HIM Temper arily
Insane-His Wound Not Con.
sidered Dangerous.

Overwork, continued on week days and
on Sundays, broke down the constitution
of young John E. O'Meara, assistant
cashier of the New York Life Insurance
Company. and his mind gave way under
the strain.
That is why he attempted to kill him
self yesterday By firing a bullet in the di-
rection of his heart. Being nervous the
muzzle of the revolver wobbled and the
bullet. after entering below the left nipple,
was DETECTED by rib from its inward
course and passed downward between the
skin and the rib, emerging about four
inches below the point of entrance.
He walked into his Office, room 20, in
the Mills building, at o'clock in the
morning and seemed to be in his usual
spirits. Cashier Fred G. Redding was en-
gagged in looking over the mornings mail
in the adjoining room. O'Meara had not
been in room 20 for more than five min
utes when Mr.. Redding heard the report
OF a pistol. He ran in and saw O'Meara
lying on the floor with a revolver beside
him. ii is Office coat and shirt on the left
side were blood stained.
II wish to make dying statement "
said O'Meara, land that Is that I am not
short l cent IN my accounts"
Mr.. Redding helped the young man to
rise to his feet and assisted him to a lounge
in Manager McLane's room.
In the meantime, the report of the
revolver had attracted the attention OF
several persons passing along the corridor,
and in response to their demands for ad-
mission, Mr.. Redding ordered them off
the premises. He denied that any one had
been shot or that firearm had been dis
charged at all. This faIsehood naturally
caused the bystanders to believe that Mr..
Redding was trying to conceal a crime,
and they went down stairs and called for
the police. Mr.. Redding attempted to
keep out even the police, but the three
patrolmen who were summoned by the
alarm convinced him that they had right
to investigate an affair which from the
mystery sought TO be thrown around it
might have been an attemp t at murdcr.
= Young O. Meara was able to walk with
out Difficulty and was escorted to the DC.
cidental Hotel, and shortly afterward to
room 81 in the Lick House. where Drs. P.
J. II. Farrell, E. n. Johnson and w. E..
Martin examined the wound and dressed
his residence, on the southwest corner OF
Bush and Laguna streets, where he re-
sides with his parents and his sister.
When the reporters called at the Office
of the New York Lie Insurance Company
they were told by Mr.. Redding and every
one else of whom they inquired that there
was no truth whatever in the report that
had been shot. Charles A. McLane,
agency director for the company, how
ever, was wise enough to make plain
statement, which made the attempts at
mystery on the part of the others all the
more ridiculous.
He denied that young O'Meara had
been short in his accounts. The books
had been exported only two or three
weeks ago. and the accounts of the assist
ant cashier were found absolutely correct.
OMeara had been working very hard and
his nervous system had begun to break
down, SO much SO that he was given va
cation. He came back from his vacation
about three weeks ago, and there was not
much i'm provementi in his condition. Re-
Gently physician had been prescribing
for him.
The pistol with which the shooting was
done belonged to McLane, and was left in
drawer in his Office. The drawer was
not locked, and O'Meara under a mo-
mentary attack of insanity seized it and
shot himself.
II came back from the East recently"
added Mr.. McLane, land 1 greeted
O'Meara very cordially. That, perhaps,
may nave uudu6 ulL1 suspect lQdL ne was
not giving satisfaction or that there was
something wrong about his accounts. He
had been worrying lately about some
missing vouchers for something like 10 or
Is cents apiece, paid to agents for postag e,
ETC., and which the agents had neglected
to send. He had the handling OF pre-
miums paid in and checks. so that if
there was shortage it could not have
been large. But there was no shortage
whatever. He was oversensitive, and his
nerves were unstrung. That was what was
the matter with him."
Mr.. and Mrs. O Meara and Miss O'Meara
declined to allow the reporters to see the
wounded man. They said his mind had
given way mporarily on account of over
work. They said he worked up to 10
o'clock nearly every night, and that he
worked on Sundays as well. He had been
under the care of DR.. Leonard for some
weeks, they said.
Miss O. Meara, his sister, said his actions
and speech recently showed SO much de-
rangement that she had intended to have
had him examined yesterday evening to
ascertain whether he was sane or not
The young man had been connected
with the New York Life Insurance Com
pany for many years, beginning work
there as an Office boy. He had held the
position of assistant cashier for about
three years.