The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-08-01

suicide 5y shooting herSeiI IN the leIt Slue
al the Lindell Hotel on Monday afternoon
was foretold by her own words and actions
before she left her home in Springfield. Mo-
TO come 10 St. Louis.
Ii is reported in special dispatch from
Springfield to The Republic, received last
night. that she was departing she said
to a woman friend:
If anything happens to me while l am
away, please come down. won't you?" 1t
has also been ascertained that she visited
ihe establishment of her photographer and
had him destroy every picture that he had
OF her in the place.
Doctor Hubert. who is attending Mrs.
oDay, announced at midnight that there
had been decided Improvement in her
condition and unless complications set in
her recovery would be speedy. He said
that she had passed a good day and
resting easy.
Mrs O'Day still occupies room NJ. 1o5 at
the hotel and no one is allowed to see her
but the physician and nurses. \ large riurn-
Der Of friends and acquaintance called TO
inquire to her condition, and to offer
sympathy. None of these was allowed TO
communicate with the SICK room, the ply
sician having given positive orders that she
be not disturbed on any preteNt.
Several of her intimate friends wishe. to
have her removed to private hospital for
treatment. but for the present she will re-
main where she Is.
Colonel O'Day at the Hotel.
Colonel John O'Day v:as at ne hotel yes
terday for few moments, but II IS SAID
that he did not visit his wife. Later he
went to the office Of Doctor IuGw;g
Ey~.,, ,,,-r.
weeks. Doctor Bremen refused 10 allow his
patient 10 be interviewed, saying he needed
absolute rest
The shooting was discussed very generally
throughout the city yesterday. on account
of the prominence Of the O'Days and the
mystery which envelops the affair. The
exact details of what transpired in the room
Immediately preceding the shooting have
not been learned, and in the absence Of any
definite information on this point. the mo-
tive which inspired Mrs. ODay TO attempt
her life Is matter of speculation. The
three persons who could furnish this in
formation are silent on the subject.
Mrs. O'Day is guarded from interviewers
by her physician. her husband has sue
ceeded in keeping himself secluded from
newspaper men. and E. w. Banister, his
attorney while reticent In discussing the
topic of conversation which Immediately
preceded the shooting, declares himself al
loss 10 account for Mrs. ODays act, as
he says there was absolutely nothing said
or done 10 irritate or provoke her.
Probable Motives Suggested.
Gossip in ST. Louis and Springfield was
busy inventing probable motives and circu-
ladng rumors. each of which in turn was
denounced as false by friends of the couple
The theory that Mrs. O'Day was temporari-
ly deranged mentally, which has been ad-
Tanced by her husband and his son, was
accepted by some and doubted by others
1t was said that this condition of mind was
probably superirduced by worry over un-
satisfactory property settlements which had
been arranged for her by her husband, and
which they Were discussing at the time
FROM Springfield sources came a story
that Mrs O'pay was jealous of attentions
said TO have been paid hy her husband 10
MISS Sue Baldwin a stenographer formerly
in his employ. Miss Baldwin is almost as
well known here as she is In Springfield. as
she has divided her time between these two
cities for several years. She had been
''@'Nr1" nDay's confidential clerk for a
long time, and when his health began TO
fan she transacted much of his business for
him.
friendly relations existing between
Colonel ODay and his clerk aroused Mrs.
her husband had some so :spats" @ over owe 1T. it.
Miss Baldwin resigned her position. About
that time Colonel O'Day's health failed
aban6on his work and seek the Northern
health resorts.
Mrs. O'Day. through her attorney, Henry
c. Young, of Springfield. whom she had re-
tanned to look after her property interests
employed the Furiong Detective Agency of
this city to keep an eye on her husband.
Just what she learned as a result of this
surveillance has not yet been disclosed to
the public.
Rumors as to His Intentions.
when Colonel ODay's health besraE TO
fail several months ago he settled con-
siderable property upon his wife. includ-
ing the Or.el building in this city. the val
liable homestead near Springfield. farm
Of 100 acres in the county and about 900
IN cash At the time the transfer Of this
property was made it was whispered about
Springfield that the transaction was pre-
l.minary to a separation between the
couple. 50 that he could remerry his first
wife. Colonel O'Day Is a Catholic, and: 1t