Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-10-28
SHOOTS TO CLOSE
LIFE NEAR CRAVE
Andrew MCGEE Wearing Veter-
ans Jewel, Commits Suicide
in Odd Fellows Cemetery
FORMER LARGE MINE OWNER
Letter Left for Friends Tells of a
Desire to Join Deceased
Wife

Wearing the veterans jewel, the
tribute of odd Fellowship to those who
have been members of the order 20
years, and sitting on monument IN
the Odd Fellows cemetery at 5oIO
stephenson avenue, Andrew MCGEE, DO
years of age, shot himself through the
head yestei dgY at noon. lie dled III
the receiving hospital an hour later.
MCGEE left two letters, one addressed
to the coroner-originally to the coro-
ner at Stockton-and the other to his
wife. AS Los Angeles had been sub
stituted for Stockton in the letter to
the coroner, it is supposed MCGEE
planned TO kill himself in Stockton
but changed his plans for some rea-
son. He gave failing health as the
principal reason for ending his life.
George Hutchinson, caretaker Of the
cemetery, heard the shot fired and
rushed from his house adjoining the
cemetery. He found MCGEE lying on
the ground, the revolver with one
empty cartridge in it, by his side. He
summoned DR.. c. Il. Palmer, who lives
at Stephenson avenue and Jane street,
and then telephoned police headquart-
ers The police ambulance made
hurried trip to the cemetery and took
MCGEE to the receiving hospital. De-
spite the efforts of the police surgeons,
he died a half~hour later. The bullet
entered the head back of the left ear
and passed out on the other side of
the head
Hutchinson stated yesterday that he
recognized MCGEE as a man who was
p the cemetery Wednesday morning
At that time, he started q conversa-
ton with him and MCGEE then told
him he was a member of the odd Eel
lows lodge and that he had recently
come to Los Angeles from Stockton
A-e noticed the man at the cemetery
yesterday morning but did not think
anything of his presence The last
time he saw him before he shot him
self Vas hen he asked the time.
Hutchinson stated that the shot was
fired on the stroke of twelve.
CLOTHING SENT TO WIFE
From letter. found in McGees pos
session, he appears to have been a
mining engineer and owner of several
valuable mining properties in the
northern part OF the state. a Wells
Fargo receipt was found in his pocket,
dated October 81, which indicated that
he had sent package to his Wife at
Mar vile, Cal. The package was val
ued at $50 and was said to contain
clothing. His wife was notified of his
death late yesterday afternoon and is
expected to arrive in Los Angeles this
morning. According to a letter in his
pocket, he was in Stockton. October Is
In the letter addressed to the Odd
Fellows lodge, he referred to being a
member of Excelsior lodge No. 5 at
Helena, - and also enclosed a
card and receipt from that lodge show
ing his standing in the lodge.
The body of MCGEE was sent to the
undertaking parlors of j. r. Button
where an inquest probably will be held
toda-
McGee's- letter to the brethren of his
order follows:
To the Brethren and Lodges of odd
Fellowship of Los Angeles, Cal:
In disposing of my affairs of this
world 1 have, so far as I know,
pursued a course strictly conscien-
tious in every respect, and in re-
sorting to the action of hurrying
my departure from here to the
beyond 1 ask not to be censured too
severely, for the reason, on ac-
count of indisposition of both body
and mind, [ feel that 1 can do no
more good here.
In every respect, so far as /
know, 1 am square with the world,
excepting that dear one called wife,
and for her can do nothing more
than that which I am about to do,
and [ pray from my heart that
hereafter blessings and protection
be placed upon her, the most de-
serving little person on this earth.
Place my remains in any kind of
q rough, strong box, without either
paint or varnish, as my feelings are
very much opposed to the gaudy
appearances being exercised today.
In closing these few lines to you
7 will Just say that I have always,
since being a member of Excelsior
lodge No. 5, Helena, Montana, 1. 0.
o. F., endeavored to live the life
as taught by our order and consti-
tuition, and in so doing, without
any fears and feelings Of remorse
in meeting the call of departure
from this earth, am yours in F.,
L. and IT., ANDY MCGEE.
P. S.-Letter and card from Fx--
celsior lodge, herein contained, will
identify to you my standing of
twenty-five years, to which have
the honor of wearing a veterans
Jewel, which you will please retain
until further on. F., L. and T.,
A. MCGEE.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUNERAL
instructions regarding the simple
funeral he wanted are contained in
the letter left for the coroner. 1t
follows:
Mr.. Coroner: Be so kind as to
accept these few lines in explana-
ton of the action of your humble
servant Andy MCGEE, as 1t appears
here to you. In confession of the
act l merely have this to say: My
time has come, and without any
lear OF uedIH L HSISDy ICSpOLu ny
simply remarking that can battle
no further for honor and for
riches, as my health is failing me
fast. but be it understood that my
good and devoted little wife will
be much better off without me
and eventually will live a much
happier life to the end.
Place my body under mother
earth in compliance to the forms
and customs of the I. o. o. Fellows,
as you will see that am honored
by the presentation of a veterans
Jewel from Excelsior lodge No 5,
Helena Mont. You will also please
find a receipt and card from said
lodge establishing the standing of
the deceased member, and I ask
of you to urge upon my brother
members to have my remains
pIaced away as readily as possible
in the confines Of some Odd Fell
lows cemetery in Los Angeles.
So far as my most devoted and
deserving wife is concerned, I do
Il. I, fgkr hal