Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-28
YOUNG MAN ENDS
HIS TROUBLES IN
ROOM AT A HOTEL
Harry Crinigan Blows Out His
Brains at the Rock Island
House.
WAS FORMER NIGHT CLERK
Had Been Melancholy Supposedly
Over Love Affair-Resided
at la Sale.

Entering his room on the fourth floor
of the Rock Island house shortly after
IS O'Clock yesterday afternoon, Harry
CrinigaR aged %, of LaSalle, ILL.,, for
mer night clerk at the hotel, after care
fully drawing the shade, locking the
door and the transom, lay down on the
floor, aad pressing the muzzle Of a 81
calibre bulldog revolver to his right
temple, pulled the trigger.
The ifeless body was found in pool
Of blood at 7:35 this morning by Night
Clerk W. "A. Sheahan, Jr., after the
door had been broken open. No mes
sage of any sort was left to throw any
light upon the affair, but it is believed
that dependency over love affairs
prompted the deed. In the dead mans
coat pocket we're found several post
cards, on which were the likenesses of
girl, presumably the boys sweet
heart. The body was removed to the
Kent undertaking parlors. The par
ents of the deceased, who live in La
Sale, were notified of their sons death
by Chief of Police James Brinn, and
/ it is probable that the inquest will not
I be held until they arrive.
LAST SEEN ALIVE.
Crinigan was last seen alive shortly
before 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
He sat in the lobby for about Is min
utes, his head bowed>,down, and ap-
parently in the deepest melancholy.
After brooding for time, he suddenly
arose, and walking over to the desk,
wrote letter, which he dropped in the
mail box. Then securing the key to
his room, he went upstairs. The shoot
ing must have occurred some time be-
tween and 9 o'clock last evening, at
a time when no guests were On that
floor, as no one is able to recall hear
ing a shot At midnight bell boy re-
ported to the night clerk that there
was no key to No. 3S. The boy was
given a pass key and instructed to
open the door All efforts proved I'M
availing.
About 1880 this ;morning a bell boy
again attempted to gain admittance
with a pass key, but was unsuccessful
Suspecting that something was wrong,
a ladder was secured with a view to
gaining access 10 the room through the
revealed the method of death.
THE DISCOVERY.
AS the door crashed open, it was
stopped by coming in contact with the
dead mans feet, as the body was lying
within three feet of the entrance. A
CHASTITY sight met the gaze Of the clerk.
The suicide was lying on his right
side, his head in a pool of blood. A
gaping wound in the right temple and
a revolver clutched in the right hand
revealed the method of death.
The unfortunate young man was clad
in his street clothes and the room was
] in perfect order, the bed not having
been disturbed. The police and the
coroner were notified and the body was
removed from the hotel to the Kent
undertaking parlors.
Crinigan was formerly employed as
bell boy and night clerk at the Rock
Island house. and had also worked at
the New Harper. He acted in the ca
pacity of night clerk at the Rock Is
land house until Oct 81, when he re-
signed and left for his home in La
Sale.
HERE SINCE SATURDAY.
He returned to this city last Satur-
day and secured a room at the hotel
about 230 that morning AS far as
| can be learned. he had not worked
since his arrival in Rock Island A
] search of the dead mans clothing dis
closed a number of business cards of
LaSalle merchants, and some post
cards. One of these was taken at
Starved Rock, and showed two young
ladies'. The theory held by many is
that Crinigan had been unsuccessful in
his love affairs, and growing despond,
ent after continuous brooding over the
fact that his love was unrequited, had
determined to end his existence.
More light may be thrown on the
mystery when the parents arrive in
the city.
According to advices received from
LaSalle this morning, Crinigan had
lately been employed as a street cal
conductor in his home town. He hat
also worked in a LaSalle restaurant
4 He had always appeared cheerful, and
no reason can be assigned for the
act by his acquaintance. Crinigan il
4 the son OF Mr.. and Mrs. Bernard
Crinigan. His father is a mining en-
gineer. Besides the parents, tive
brothers and four sisters survive.