The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-01
PaWtucket Physician Who Was
Charged With Insurance Frauds,
Drank HydrOcyaniC Acid.

DIR. Michael w. Iseiliher of Pawtucket,
n very prominent physician, ended his
life al, his home on Broadway, that city,
last night in very sensational manner.
The prominence OF the doctor, and the
fact that he had been under Indictment
charging conspiracy to dcfraud the Berk-
shire -IHsuEanea-compa pany-o of -Pltts=
field, Mass, out of $500. and which case
was to have been heard on Saturday next,
made the suicide doubly important, as the
trial was expected to bring out facts or
startling nature.
Nor was this. particular instance OF sup
posed successful attempts to defraud the
insurance companies believed to be an
isolated one. The claim OF the detectives
was that following this trial a deep-root-
ed plot covering o. period of years, and
incriminating men high in business and
social life of conspiracy in defrauding In
surance companies. which had caused a
loss 10 the insurance people OF over $780,
0no. would be made public.
Dr. Kelliher committed suicide by TAX
ing a full ounce of hydrocyanic acid, 2
per cent. solution of which quantity
would have been sufficient to kill 200 men.
lie died almost instantly.
MAY HAVE BEEN INSANE.
Or. KeiTiher had been considered for
some time mentally unbalanced. He had
once been arrested by the police, when IL
was said that he had intended to commit
suicide and probably murder the members
OF his family, and an effort was made by
his friends to confine him in an asylum
or a sanitarium but this was abandoned
on the advice of a physician.
Yesterday morning he went To the cell
lar OF his home and attempted to hang
himself.
Nothing was known OF this attempt un-
I'll he came upstairs and told his wife
that II was impossible for him TO die by
hanging, as he could not adjust the moose
so that II would strangle him.
During the afternoon he went to a drug
store and procured an ounce of hydrocy-
anic acid, purchased on prescription. the
directions of which stated that a tea
spoonful of the acid should be placed IN
half a gallon OF water, and the arm in
serted,
The supposition as to this procedure Is
that II was done to throw the clerk off tho
scent on the plea of getting the mixture
for a patient.
This bottle was supplemented by an
ounce bottle. which was sent To his resi-
denee about 9 o'clock hast night by mes
senger. the doctor having stated that the
other acid was not satisfactory. The sup
position Is that he took the entire con-
tents OF both bottles.
HE DIED IMMEDIATELY.
Immediately after swallowing the
dreadful dose the doctor dropped dead TO
the floor the noise attracting his wifes
attention. Physicians were Immediate
ly summoned, but he was beyond help
from the moment he swallowed the po-
tion.
Dr. Michael William Kelllher was born
IN Palmer Mass, February %, 1864, and
was the son Of Cornelius and Mary KeI-
liner. He was educated in teh public
schools OF Palmer.
He studied two years at The University
of Vermont, and afterward two years. at
the Medical College OF the University of
New York, where he was graduated In
1856. Later that year he came TO Paw
tucket.
He was appointed medical examiner for
Pawtucket districts by Gov. Davis In 1890
for term of six years. In 1889 he was
elected member OF the school committee
for three years. and was its chairman.
He was consulting physician for 81
Joseph's Hospital. was a member OF the
Rhode Island Medical Society. the Provi-
dence and Pawtucket Medical Associa-
ton, and had been president OF the Rhode
Island Medico-Legal Society.
In October. 1897. he was married 20
Miss Catherine Breen, one child. that
died some time ago. resulting from their
union.
SERIOUS CHARGES MADE.
The case In which Dr. Keliiher was seld
90 be implicated was, In brief. tho fol-
lowing: On July IS. with Hugh J. Nc
Ohm OF this city, he was arrested nv
Pawtucket police officers and Boston de-
tsctivss. charged with forgery and con-
spiracy. and NcGinn was charged with
forgery. II being alleged that they had
conspired TO dcfrand the Berkshire LIE
Insurance Company OF Pittsheld, Mass.
OF s3Do
To these charges they pleaded not gull
~ IN The district court. and were held
for hearing assigned later They both
appeared. however, IN the district court.
waived examination. and were held for
the grand Jury Of the Common pleas divi-
sion OF the supreme court for investiga-
tfon.
shs charge was based on the presents-