The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-10
DEATHS SUDDEN CALL
J. L, Mecorney Dropped Dead
at Lewis Academy
WHILE LAUGHING AT A JOKE
He Established Wichita Shirt
Factory Last August

]. j.. A1ecorney, senior member Of the
Mecorney & Mcknight shirt factory on
North Main street, dropped dead in the
audience at Lewis Academy last night.
His death was due to heart disease,
from which he had been a sufferer at
times for many years past.
The sudden death caused an excite
ment in the audience which came near
frustrating some Of the participants on
the program and rendering them inca
pable OF performing their parts. The
program had not yet begun. The enter
tainment was the mid-year oratoricaI
contest Of Lewis Academy students, and
the class were lined up in an extra room
waiting for the music to begin by which
they were to march into the audience
room. The fatality was reported in a
modified form and the exercises were
delayed until Mr.. Mecorney's body could
be removed TO his rooms at Mr.. Grimes
just north Of the Hawk boarding house
on North Market street It was report
ed at first that the man had tainted, 50
the exercises began as soon as the audi
ence became quiet, and were carried out
as wei as possible under the circum-
stances.
Mr.. Mecorney was in high spirits al
day yesterday, and about his hotel and
rooming place he was the same jovial,
good-natured gentleman that he had al
ways been. In the evening he decided to
attend the exercises at Lewis Academy,
and was accompanied by Miss Nora
Noel. a student at the academy, and
Miss Verona Hanback,, a saleslady at
Cash Henderson's store.
Miss Hanback, said that Mr.. AIecorney
had been unusually happy during the
evening and seemed to be enjoying the
best Of health After they had been
seated at the entertainment and while
he was laughing at joke she was tell
ing, just before the class Of contestants
entered, he threw his hands suddenly
to his heart and exclaimed: ooh, girls,
I believe 1 shall have TO retire. 1 am
taking one Of those Spells With these
words on his lips ne dropped over as
limp as death itself. Help was called
and he was removed into another room
Of the academy and Undertaken Dunbar
was summoned. who removed him to his
rooming pace.
It was thought that Mr.. Mecorney
might not be dead, and race for a
physician began with as little success
as nearly always occurs in this city in
case Of a fatality. one prominent physi-
clan absolutely declined to make the call,
because, he alleged, II the man died he
would have no time to attend the eoro-
ners inquest. The woman calling him said
You're i brute" and rang off the |
phone. Several physicians were called |
but only one responded, and his ser !
vices were of no avail. An hours work /
on the means Of resuscitaton failed TO
bring back the heart beat and he was
finally, after heroic work by his friends,
surrendered to the angel Of death.
Mr. and Mrs. Grimes, with whom Mr..
Mecorney had been rooming, said that
he had been attacked by a very severe /
spell with his heart last Sunday at his
daughters 5. Mrs. T. c. Holcomb. a Zen
da, whom he had been visiting. In that
attack Mr.. Mecorney lay lfeiess for an
hour out was Tesuscitated.
Nj Mecorney came here last July and
in August started the Wichita Shirt
Factory. He had been in the business |
formerly in Galesburg, Illinois. for thirty
years. After he sold out there he en-
gagged IN rauching and merchandising at
Rochester. Kansas. He came here with
the highest recommendations from his |
old home of GaIesburE and Rad sue
ceeded in building W good business. |
He was Wen satisfied here. Besides his /
daughter at Zenda It is not known what /
other relatives he has