The St. Louis Republic., 1900-08-02
Colcnel John O'Day Makes q State
ment in Reference to His
Wife's Attempted Suicide.
ANXIOUS FOR HER RECOVERY.
He Reiteratcs His Original Dccla,
ration That Mrs. ODay Was
Suffering From Temporary
Mental Alteration.

OIolci JDnil ~ l)dN yesterday Hduc -
statement to The Republic in reference to
the attempted suicide of his wife at the
Lindell Hotel on Monday afternoon, reiter-
ating his original declaration that she shot
herself while in a condition of temporary
mental alteration due to insomnia and
other nervous causes, and denying that the
transfer of property which he made to her
last spring was accomplished as a prepar-
atory step to a separation. He concludes
by saying that his chief anxiety now is for
her speedy recovery.
Mrs. O'Day's condition was materially i'm
proved yesterday and she seems to be on
the road to recovery.
When a Republic reporter called at MIR.
Banister's Office. in the Oriel building, Col
onel O'Day was engaged in a conversation
in the inner Office with the Reverend NJ. j.
Boarman a Catholic priest of Chicago. The
priest was for many years stationed IN
Springfield, and is an intimate friend oil
the ODay family. In the outer Office were
Attorney Banister. John O'Day, Jr.. Miss
Margaret Quinn Mrs. ODay's companion,
and Emmett Newton. q member of the
Democratic State Committee, formerly
ODays private secretary
The priest was closeted with Mr.. O'Day
for an hour. and when he departed the re-
porter asked II colonel U DAY would iiahe mar.
Il statement concerning the attempted sui
eide and the causes leading I'D to it.
Colonel ODay's Statement.
Mr.. Banister replied that Colonel ODay
had already said more than was good Tor
him, and that he would only further en-
danger his health by submitting to an IN
terview. His physician, he said, had forpid-
den him to speak of the matter as it might
aYnita hin, ana nrecipitnt, a collapse He
=, ia,,o,,, consanted tn allow Colonel ODay
at lens.h eo,ise,.n .s.i.,,,. ,,.h;ch f,IIows.
TO make a statement, which ioiio"s'
For more than IL year ! nave Deem Ill
such stcte of health that I have been prac-
tically unable to attend to business. have
% ''een Ue''I-n5 IT., ,'''
gam my heai,n. .
In December last became so SICK "a ti'is d.
for time my life was despaired Of ana as rs
soon as was able l made. my will IN
which l bequeathed to my wife a share OF
~ January | had sufficiently recovered to
bear railroad tourney and on alsa, the advice nee,
wife accompanying me.
Il remained in Florida between two ana
three months. While we were in Florida
my wife suggested that it would be more
satisfactory to her TO have me deed and
transfer to her the portion of my estate
to which she would be entitled on my
death. and after some consideration OF tHe
matter, on my return to Sprinsheid IN
March of this year. | did convey TO her
the south half of Park Place in Greene
County and gave her personal property
share of my estate would be IN case OF my
death. This was done, not in view of any
separation between us, foT that was never
clscusseo nol tnousit o1 @ 80 ase .U o'. M,
| banI+I n,.,s stilI vsrv nrecarious.
Homes for Her Sueedy Recovery.
"nIrs O.Dov.s health has not been good
| for several years, and on our return from
| the South in March last she became quite
| sick. SO that. when my phySicians lnslstea
that shouid go 10 AsieIIne' VIE N N ~, -, n sl.o
was unapIe 70 aecoihpa''s i''e' a'i' my 'o'
.I COW found that in consequence of the
floods and rains the climate in the South
| did not agree with me. so l returned to
! ST. Louis and placed myself under the
charge of Doctor Bremer; WI While so here ere, !
| Berlin.
while here l again had a very serious
attack and it was thought ! would die:
! rallied. however and in the latter part
of June went to Chicago. in which city and
| vicinity have been until my return here
this week.
refrained from reading the many sensa-
| tional articles which have appeared con-
| cerning myself and my wife. but those that
My wife's attempt at suicide was un-
doubtedy the result of mental alteration.
| has long been a sufferer with insomnia, and
recently her nervous symptoms seem to
! have been aggravated. For the last two
] weeks she has been in this city under treat
ment for her nervous condition. My chief
| anxiety now is for her speedy recovery"
| Denied the Stories.
| Colonel O,D.v refused to diecuss what
,ad transnirod IN tho room at the hotel
Monday at the conference saving II was a
| nrivato n,.tter in which tho nnhic could
la, n"ts ,1o ;".arast ona tha. =, Nd pr M bear
| irg on subsequent events He said that
| on the advice of his physicians he had re-
| inr himself and his wife which were nub-
iiS m, i, .n.ai ,,.u ,arar 80 ,,, fr,p,,5
hsa hseo ;,,;oataa II, tha s,,hstarnn ,. of snroo
| had communicates @ the substance OF some some
We're false. and without foundation.
| II care little for these attempts to in
ture me-" he said, because my friends
know me and a. IN have I'VE, faith i in me: My CHIEF
wife, who, l learn with great pleasure to-
day. Is in fair way to get We'll
Neither Mr.. ODay, his son, nor his t
torney would discuss the part taken in the
domestic troubles of the family by the Fur
| long Detective Agency and Henry G..
Young. Mrs, ODay's attorney. MIR. Young,
| Is still at the Laclede Hotel. and 1t was
said that he and young oDay held hriet
the hotel together. He has not been in
consultation with Colonel .ODay or Mr..
! canister. and has thus far held no commu-
Miss Quinn. who came here Tuesday from
Springfield occupies room No. 1O5 at the
| I.indell Hotel, adjoining that occupied by
Mrs. O'Day. Thus far she is the only. per
room outside of the physician and nurses
| Miss Quinn holds herself strictly ''inco
municado'' to reporters:
| ~ o,,.. ,a,o, - -, .,, 49, 49,, :,