New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-09
SUICIDE AFTER Nj URDER
James Ahearp Hangs Himself in
Cen 1cith Bit of Hire.

James Ahearn, who arrested Friday morn
ing charged with numbering his wife hanged himself
In his cell in the Queens County Jail Long Island
city. yesterday. His neck broken. Whether he
was driven commit the deed through remorse or d
sudden freak OF insanity will never be known
Since he taken 70 the jail following his exam
ination before Magistrate Smith. the accused man
was an object OF anxiety to Warden Van Sise AMI
the keepers. With Intuition sharpened by long
experience in prison affairs they scented danger in
the sullen attitude Of the prisoner.
Protesting his innocence and determined appar
entity TO fight the accusation 20 the uttermost
equipped with ample means the result Of a life Of
frlgality, Ahearn had ALREADY taken preliminary
steps to shift the crime from himself 20 two
known suspicious characters who seen lOiter-
ing around his house the DAY before the murder
This. coupled with his statement that the DAY be-
fore tho murder he had drawn $500 from the bank
20 pay outstanding bills AMI turned the money
10 his wife and that when her clothing searched
following the murder but s14 found,
brought forth 10 show that robbery prompted the
crime Of which Ahearn stood accused
Despite this show OF determination on the part
Of Ahearn try his fate before JURY. the suspi-
cion OF the prison officials alayed. So he
placed IN cell where he could be watched and
Keeper Evans placed in the corridor as a spe-
cial precaution. Saturday Ahesrn complained OF be-
ing compelled 10 use the common prison towel and
requested To have separate towel sent his cell
This further increased the fears Of the Jail keep
ers. trusty placed in the cell adjoining
Ahearn who stripped OF everything he wore
his trousers. shirt and pair Of slippers
But they had counted the cunning and
prodisious strength Of the imprisoned man. II was
about l:5o o'clock In the afternoon when n crash in
the direction CT Ahearns cell shook that side Of
the building With drawn revolvers two keepers
dashed 10 the cell but their weapons we've not need
ed Still gasplng Ahearn hung suspended by n
small wire rope from the window OF his cell. He
taken down. and Or. Halinan. 81 ST. Johns
Hospital summoned He said that Ahearn's
neck was broken and that death was instantaneous
II was Ahearn's great strength thai aided him
In his plans for self-destruction. With his hands
he snapped from the prison wall small wire rope.
about one-siXteenth OF inch In thickness. which
used to haul the cell out OF the way when
not in This steel rope about yard
I'm length Standing top Of the toilet in the
cell. he reached the iron bars OF the window which
looked out toward his old home in Laurel Hill. and
using a hook which In end Of the rope re
caught II in Of the bars There was also
hook the other end. which he put around his
neck. making He then leaped of the
elevation.
Ahearn was hfty-one years old and hts Wife was
day morning that their daughter Catherine was
aroused from her sleep. and going 10 the room oc-
cupted by her parents called fCr her mother. but
received only a mumbling reply from her father
Then she caught sight Of blood stains on her
fathers clothing. and on the bed she her
mothers motionless form. She had been killed
with Ahearn. when arrested. denied that
animation of Mrs Ahearu's body showed that she
had been killed while asleep.