The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14
A POLICEMAN SELF-SLA1N.
HEFFERON RHOOT HIMSELF IN
THE TENDERLOIN STATION HOUSE.

Ht IL Not KNOWN whether the Shooting was
intended or Accidentni-There was Apunr.
emily No aunctent Motive for suiclde-Oo-
cnsionnI Intoxication Was His Oniy Fault.
Policeman Matthew D. Hofreron. who had
done duty for five years In tho Tcndorloin dis
trict, killed himself in the West Thirtieth street
station house yesterday morning with bis own
revolver. Thursday night from o to IL o'clock
no patrolled his post on Madison avenue. lie
returned to the station house at midnight and
slept there. together with Policemen Shea and
Horo.
At 1925 yesterday morning Hefferon called
Horc and Shea. saying:
Get up; you fellows nave got to get TO court
"""hhii' rig Rttt,""U answered Ted H i s'r rubbing ,s's his eye,
and jumping out OF bed.
Billy, the doorman. went up, to the dormitory
n little later and shouted thu It, WAS hnlf.p at 4,
time for all to BIO up. Shea jumped out OF bod
and followed iHorc down stairs to tho sitting:
room, after telling Hcfleron TO get up.
on his cot;
had come Off duty, entered tho station house,
saluted Sergeant Tins. and passed upstairs 10
Keenan, L0wicss.n seeing Hefeeron still in bad :
| Whnlcn shouted to Lawless:.
cal Natl he's {, owe SySrsloGPing himself"
blood and a pistol on ,Heferon's bod exclaimed,
Hes blec1ingi He's shot himself p
Then Lawless ran downstairs to report the
matter to tho Sergeant on duty. Other polioo-
men came %trooping. into, the sleeping room and
crowded about HeiTcron's bed.
The, doorman, who, had, Joined the crowd,
moved Hrferon's head on the pillow and found
an ugly bullet wound Just above the right ear,
In the mean time Sergeant Tins had telo-
phoned for an ambulance. and ten minutes later
Heferon was removed to the New York Hos
pital. where he died at half-past 9.
An invcstigat on showed that Hefferon had
partly, dressed himself and had taken his pistol
from his closet. Whether he had shot himself
intentionally or accidentally could not be ssCer-
tanned. AS lar ns could be learned. there was
apparently in good spirits yesterday morning.
His fellow officers believed that he had shot
himself accidentally.
Acting Captain McDermott reported the facts
to Chief Conlin. without commenting on the
case further than to say that Hefferon was to. bo
put on trial next week on a petty charge OF boz
ing off post.
Hefferon was ordinarily a jolly, good.natured
fellow. A liking for liquor was his only fault
He was appointed to the force on Nov. 8, 1892
His brother. John Hefferon, is a ronndsman at
a young daughter, to whom he was greatly at
tached. The little girl lives with her aunt al
liz. East Ninety-second street Hefieron will b
Soon after Theodore Roosevelt became Presi-
dent of the Police Board Hcfteron got drunk,
and, throwing his shield on tho desk in the West
business and wanted to get out. Men who do
that are usually dismissed, but Mrs. Hefferon
went down to Police Headquarters and asked
Mr.. Roosevelt not TO let her husband leave the
Mr.. Roosevelt took an interest In the matter
and had Capt. Pickett. who was then in the
Nineteenth precinct, Hetferon, and Mrs. Hef-
feron call on him and talk the matter over. Mr..
Roosevelt decided that there was much good in
Heffcron, and induced him TO sign u pledge not
to drink during his wife's, life. So far as 10
known, ,Hefferon kept his pledge. His wife died
began to drink q little.