Omaha daily bee., 1912-08-23
DONAHUE SUCCUMBS
AFTER A PROLONGED
And HEROIC BATTLE
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CONTINUED from First Page)
affairs In shape. Through the long days
and weary hours OF. night the chiefs
brave little wife bore up under the strain,
and friends say that she was responsible
for the prolonging of her husbands life.
.-..-.-.-... Bern In Iowa, .r.s--~
John j. Donahue was born on Septem-
ber Is, 1857, on farm near Iowa City.
The farm was owned and cultivated by
his father, who came to this section Of
the country when redskins were his next
door neighbors. Young Donahue titled
the soil until he reached tie age of
20 when he bade farewell to his parents
and went to Creston, Ia, where he
worked steadily in the Burlington ma
chine shops until 1884.
In 1854 the lure of the brass buttons
and the policeman's billy" overcame
him and he was appointed patrolmnn
on the small Creston force.
1t was at creston that Donahue first
sprang into prominence during the big
Burlington strike In 1888, when the
switchmen and engineers tied up the
road, His fearless work caused him to
be appointed assistant marshal Of Cres-
ton and In that capacity he captured
single handed the only murderer con-
nected with the strike in that vicinity.
Shortly afterwards he was advanced to
the rank Of marshal. which office he
held until 1891, when he came to Omaha.
Donahue became a. patroln1an on the
local force on July 20. 1891, and was soon
made detective. at which work he made
an excellent record for the next six
years. 'o "
Detective Donahue made many sensa'
tional arrests and participated In several
important cases, among which were the
capture Of Sam Payne. the convicted
murderer Of Maude Ruble, and George
Morgan, the murderer of little Ida Gas.
kill. -
Is Appointed Chief.
On November 2. 1893, Donahue was ap.
pointed captain of police under Chief
Martin White. White died the following
year, after lingering Illness, and Dona.
hue was appointed chief of police No
vember 10, 1892. Thus his rise from q
common patroman to the place Of chiel
OF police was made in less than eight
years.
| During his regime Chief Donahue han
died several large strikes and gained the
highest esteem of everyone with whom
he came in contact The teamsters
strike, the South Omaha packing house
| strike, the telegraphers strike and thu
street car strike were all policed undel
Donahue's direct supervision, and al
| incipient trouble quelled before it hat
time to get good start
| Mr.. Donahue was married to Anna
Fitzgerald in Iowa City In 1885. To then
was born three children, who are still
living, They are Frank j., John j., jr.
and Mrs. Joseph Borghoff, all Of whom
live in Omaha.
Policemen Are Depressed. :
A general air of depression was fel
at the police station when the news o.
the chiefs death was received. All thu
officers, to a man, heard with sorrow tha
their chief had passed to the great beyond
and would no longer be able to fight fo
their rights. There Is not an officer OIL
the force who fhas not saids that Chic
Donahue has been the best chief tn
city has ever had ~ y%
The conversations at the station durinI
the last few weeks has concerned th'
chief Many Incidents have been cited b,
the officers before roll call where thei
chief had gone out of his way In orde
to fight for their rights.
Estimate of Associates.
Mayor James c. Dahlman--The deatl
of Chief Donahue is a great Joss to tn
community. I had known him for man!
years and always found him a careful
efficient official, level-headed and cool
He had been mlsrepresented, but at las
he was nearing time when he woult
have a stretch of smoother sailing. Hi
death is most regrettable.
Dan B. Butler, Commissioner Of Fl
nances and Accounts-chief John ]
Donahue was a quiet, unassuming man
His actions In his official life were al
ways tempered by cool calculation ant
prudence. He was kind and gentle an,
never severe, man OF many friends
whom his kindly nature and genial man
ner had drawn towards him during hi
active life. His taking away is indeed
severe shock to his family and an ir
reparable loss to the city over which HI
SO ably fulfilled the duties Of chief O
police.
C. H. withnell, Commissioner OF Fir
Protection and Water Supply Chile
Donahue was square man. He was th'
best man we ever had In that office HI
will be missed
Wappich EnIoRises Chief.
Chief Donahue stood at the head of al
the chiefs of police Of the country" sale
William F. Wappich. member Of the las
board of fire and police commissioners,
and his death will be mourned not only IL
Omaha hut throughout the United States
His ability as an executive head of !
police department and as man of sounC
Judgment In dealing with police affairs
was recognized by all the criminologists
police chiefs and detective agencies th'
country over.
I'm recognition Of his ability he wa
| placed on the national bureau of identifi
cation which is quite an honor since Their
are only five members on that bureau
and they are chosen for their expertnes
in handling criminals and their knowleog,
Of the criminal and his tactics.
During his years of service as the heat
of the Omaha department other cities o
the country changed their chiefs number
of times. He was recognized for his ef
ficiency.
"In dealing with strikes he was alwsy'
a man OF judicial mind, hearing both side