The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-22
O'BRIEN'S TRAGIC End
YOUNG CHICAGO MAN FOUND DEAD
IN HIS ROOM LAST
NIGHT
HAD BEEN USING MORPHINE
Death Is Attributed to an Overdose
of the Drug, Although an Au-
tOpsy May Re Ordered by DIR. Nell
son to Determine-LittIe Known
About the Young Mans Aatecc-
dents or Personal Affairs.

Thomas p. O Brien, a lodger at the
Pittsburg hotel, 80 East Seventh street,
for the last month. was found dead in
his room at ) o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Death is believed to have been due to
morphine poisoning. although 1t is a mat
ter of doubt as to whether O'Bren took
an accidental overdose Of the drug or in
tended to end his life. An inquest will
probably be held
The last seen of OBrien alive was
about O'Clock yesterday morning. He
was taken to the hotel about o'clock in
the morning by a stranger, and appear
Ell to be under the influence of liquor The
stranger informed Stephen Thompson, the
night clerk that he had found O'Brien
in helpless condition at Eighth and
Broadway streets. Thompson assisted
. Brien to his room on the third floor,
and helped him into bed O'Brien said
nothing about feeling unwell. and it was
supposed that he was merely under the
influence or liquor. AT o'clock Night
Clerk Thompson again visited O'Brien.
ana says he was still sleeping with his
clothes on. Later in the, morning groans
We're heard issuing from OBrien's room.
but he was believed not to be in a condI-
ton demanding assistance, and no par
tfcular attention was paid to him. When
Night Clerk Thompson went on duty
again yesterday afternoon he made a
round of the rooms according to custom
and found O'Brien dead
y Br1en was known to be q habituai
user of morphine, and, as several cap
sues containing the drug were found in
his room and the symptoms discovered
by Deputy Corner Ball indicated morphine
poisoning, the probability is that he died
from the effects of this drug.
Little is known of OBrien at the hotel.
lie was man of apparently TWENTY-FIVE
years of age, of light complexion. o,fet
manners and neatly dressed He register
ed at the hotel April "a from Chicago
He had no employment, but paid his rent
regularly. He spent considerable Of the
day time in his room. and was frequently
absent until late at night or early in the
morning. He made no confidants about
the hotel. and was never heard to dis
cuSs his home or family. Nothing to
throw any light upon his history was
round on his person, and 1t would seem
that he had destroyed any letters or
papers which he might have had.
1t is believed that O'Rrien was In no
way the victim of foul play, as he is said
TO nave possessed nothing that would
nave induced an assault or an attempt
to dope" him. He carried no jeweIry(
and before he left the hotel Saturday
night. borrowed a small sum of money
from the proprietor. Several days ago
" Srlen and another guest Of the hotel
discussed suicide, and the most effective
drugs for this purpose. This appears to
be the only basis of the suicide theory.
When the body was found it appeared AS
though O'Brien had died in a spasm. and
the more acceptable belief is that he
doubtless took an overdose of the drug
he was accustomed to using.
The body was removed to tho .co,,,,f,,,
morgue where an Inquest will probably
be held today