Evening star., 1900-05-01
JOHN MERNA'S SUICIDE
RECENT LOCAL TRAGEDY RECALLED
RY \ CABLE DISPATCH.
Merna's Connection with Those
Charged with Participation in
n Plot in Canada.

Information has reached here in the form
OF n cable message from LoHdon that may
.xp!ain the suicide oC John Merna in this
city the 12th of March of this year Merna
ended his life by shooting himself through
the heart. The deed was committed on
9th street northwest near the Center mar
kct. where the unfortunate man was en-
pIoyed as bartender. His act was a mys-
terry to the few friends he had made, and the
Information from London is the first thing
which has been learned that would tend 10
throw any light on the shooting.
The cable from London. dated April 30.
says:
Reports come from Dublin of consider
able uneasiness in the circles there with
which Nolan. Walsh and Rowan. the three
men arrested in Canada in connection with
the blowing up of a lock Of the Weiian3
canal. near Thoroid. Ont. on the evening
of April Il. are alleged to be connected.
ard the authorities anticipate some hasty
depaEtures from the city. 1t is said that
John Nolan had previously been arrested
for completely in the Exchange Court ex
plosion. near Dublin Castle.
Nolan. Walsh. Rowan and John Merna
sailed for Philadelphia in November, and
it is now suggested that Merna has been
removed by his comrades. 1t Is further
alleged that if Nolan and the others are
convicted. light will be thrown on several
noted crimes"
1t is stated that the men under arrest in
Canada have had a hearing, but the
suit of it is not known here
Arrival in United States.
According to the Information received
from London. Merna and his companions
reached the United States in November or
December of last year. Merna and a man
named Walsh appeared in this city about
Christmas. and they managed to get EN-
ployment at the 9th street saloon bar
tenders They were Irishmen from the old
country and were apparently good friends.
Their employer knew nothing of them
cept what they told him. 1t stated
by them that they had come to this coun-
try only a few months before and that they
were out of work. Being in need of help.
the salOonkeeper employed them.
Merna. who was thirty-six years Old was
in good health and spirits the night he
shot himself. During the day and until
about \ O'Clock at night he was behind the
bar Leaving the saloon, he went upstairs
and soon afterward his dead body was
found Beside him was his revolver, and
as there was nothing to show that he had
been murdered. the coroner gave a certifi-
cate Of death by suicide So far as is
known by his friends here. there is nothing
to show that he had been removed by
his comrades. as is suggested in the Lon
don message.
Given Decent Burial.
The body OF the bartender was given a
decent burial and his effects were turned
over to the police. In addition to the suit
of clothes he wore at the time of his death,
he had only underwear and an overcnat.
Several pieces of jewelry We're among his
effects.
About a month later. or about ten days
before the blowing up of the lock of the
Welland canal. Walsh left here, saying ne
was going to Philadelphia.
y letter found III Mernas room was from
his sister. Mrs Mary y Cannon. written in
Dublin. Ireland. the 18th of February. The
pcs mark shows that Jerna received the
letter ten days after IL was written Mem
ton was male Of unanswered letters and
the letter concluded:
'Gou need not be sorry for leaving Dub
lin.
A Receipt found in his room showed that
he had received draft from ireland for
$40 five days before he killed himself ON
a piece of paper discovered among the dead
man effects was written: &c. Merna II
Company. Linster Regiment, Halifax"
story DisbeIieved.
The proprietor of the saloon where Merna
was employed said to a Star reporter this
afternoon that there could be nothing in
the suggestion of Merna's having been
removed" by his comrades. There was no
one in the room with him at the time the
shot was fired. said the saloonkeeDer and
the weapon used. he added, belonged in the
bar. He said he had not heard from Walsh
ne felt certain that this particular John
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