Waterbury Democrat., 1902-06-21
WAS POPULAR POLICEMAN. N.
The Death of Officer Linehan Last

The Death of Officer Linehan Last
 Night Surprise to Everybody. John ". Linehan, a member of the police department, accidentally shot himself shortly after 4 o'clock yester- day afternoon at his home, lO3 James street while cleaning a revolver, killing him almost instantly. Mr Linehan and his 6-year-old boy, Harry, were up town during the forenoon viewing the parade, and in the afternoon they wis 1ted the circus grounds, where MT Lin- chan talked with such acquaintances as he happened to meet. On West Main street he had short chat with Commissioner Lahey or the board Of public safety and at that time the off cer appeared in his usual good health and spirits. He bought one Of those combination balloon and whistles for the boy and immediately the youngster commenced to operate on 1t. When the officer heard the unearthly noise he I jocosely remarked to Mir Lahey that he could see all the sleep he'd get that afternoon with the boy blowing that about the house. On the way home Mir Linehan met Lawrence LawIor of Drayer street, who was appointed to the police force last Tuesday. The men stopped to talk at the corner of Bank street and James street, and in l the course of the conversation MT Law lor told MT Linehan about present of 8 revolver he had received from his shopmates. After few remarks about | the weapon it was decided to call at the Lawlor residence and look at it. The place where the men stood was but short distance from the homes of both parties, and Mr Linehan told the boy to run home and that he would be back in a few minutes. Iinehan did not like Lawlor's, revolver and the men agreed to call up town in the evening and change it for another. With the understanding that they should meet at Bank and James streets at q quar- ter of 6, Linehan started for his home When he reached there he inquired what time the boy got in and talked
 in his usual cheerful manner about other things.
 Mrs Iinehan was preparing supper and was pairing potatoes when her hus-
 band asked her for piece of flannel.
 He had his revolver in his hand, and the barrel being rusty, he wanted to
 brighten 1t up. The woman was busy
 with her household duties and took no particular notice of the request Then
 Mr Iinehan pulled .,his handkerchief out of his pocket and started to clean
 the weapon. A few seconds later Mrs
 Linehan was startled by the discharge
 of pistol shot and looking around she
 saw her husband rise from the chair
 and fall to the floor She rushed into
 the street and alarmed the neighbors.
 few persons entered the house and
 found the man lying on the floor and
 the revolver under him. A messenger
 was at once dispatched to st Patrick $ rectory, and although a priest respond,
 ed promptly, still the man had breathed
 his last before the clergyman reached the house. Medical Examiner Axtelle
 viewed the body and gave permission
 Tor burial. Undertaken Mulyille was
 called. The medical examiner signed
 the certificate 'ssuicide, but in so doing
 he had nothing to support that theory
 except that he could not see how inc
 man could have shot himself in the
 side of the head if he had been clean
 Ing the weapon and it was discharged
 accidentally.
 It was reported to-day that the off
 cer called at Ruby's stone yard yes- terday and ordered a vase and flowers
 such as are used i'll cemeteries. This Il was looked upon as evidence that the
 man had been contemplating suicide
 A Democrat reporter talked with Mir
 Ruby about the matter and learned
 that there was nothing in it. AIr Ruby said that he put up q vase for MT Lin chan last May over the grave of one of his children i'll the new St Joseph's cemetery and added that there was nothing unusual in that. He put an other the same day in old St Joseph's $ l above the grave of the wife of Sheriff l Mcdonald.
 Mr Linehan was native of Water bury, Vt He was 37 years old and
 had resided in Waterbury for several iyears. He worked for the ScoviI $ Manufacturing Go and other concerns e and was also clerk for time at :, Snow's fish market and later engaged s in the fish business on his own ac- e count and kept at it until 1901 when h he was elected a member of the police l, force He was an athlete and took r an active part in the contests held here s some time ago among the different e tug of war teams. He was a member II of the Third division, A. O. H., Court } Shields, F. of A., and an ex-membel 5 of Company G. Besides his widow ht ' leaves two children, sister in Water 2 bury and sister in Ansonia. He wa: 4 possessed of happy disposition ant q had a host of friends in all parts O. o the town.
 n When Mrs Linehan learned that tn, # wound had proved fatal she collapsed if and did not revive for over four hours e The funeral will take place to-mor 1t row afternoon at 80 o'clock with ser Il vice at St Patriclk's church and inter
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