Omaha daily bee., 1915-07-08
FRANK HOLT KILLS
HIMSELF In CELL
Assailsnt of John P. Morgan Frac'
lures His Skull by Jumping
from Top Of Door
HE LEAVES NOTE FOR HIS WIFE

NEW YORK, July Frank
Holt. the man who shot ]. p. Nor
gan, lay dead today in an undertak-
ing establishment at Hemstead, l.. l.,
and the New York police had in their
possession his trunk, containing 1874
half-pound sticks Of dynamite with
which, IT is believed, he planned to
wreck public buildings in New York
and other cities.
An autopsy early today established the
fact that Holt committed suicide by leap
ing from the top OF his cell door in the
Mincols. l.. l.. jail.
Walter r.. Jones' the Mineola coroner,
issued a statement after an autopsy had
been performed by the prison physician.
He said:
''Holt came 70 his death by a compound
fracture Of the skull and cerebral hem
orrhage caused by q faI.''
Although the autopsy performed on
Hollis body early today by DIR. Guy Cleg-
horn established definitely that his death
was due to a fractured skull. Walter r.
Jones, the coroner, said that he would
hold an inquest into the manner in which
Holt met his death. This. Mr.. Jones
said. was purely formal.
Guard Tells His story.
jeremiah Organ. the keeper VINO was
on guard at Hollis cell when Holt COM
mitted suicide today. gave connected
story OF what happened Organ said
that he had been employed by Sheriff
Petit TO guard the prisoner. with instruc-
tions to watch him from o'clock at
night TIL in the morning. Last night
when Organ went to the entrance of
Hollis cell Holt seemed to ne cheerful.
II had some food today and managed
TO retain IT," Organ said Holt told him.
II feel much better now. but must get
some sleep. These detectives have been
coming in and asking me all kinds OF
Questions, and they have been botherjng
me day and night. 1 must get sleep. ]
have got an important statement to make
tomorrow. and I must re aole to corr
vince people that what I say Is true"
Organ said he told Holt TO go ahead
and sleep and that Holt turned over on
his side with his back to O'Ryan and
remained there for about an hour Then
Organ heard a noise in the next corri-
dor. He glanced at Holt and saw that he
was facing the door, but apparently Holt
was sleeping. Organ then crept, he says,
on HIS hands and knees down the corri-
dor to check the disturbance 20 that
Holt might sleep. He looked into the
other corridors and found there was moth
ing there. As he was about to start
back, Organ said, he heard a noise like
revolver shot.
Trips over His Body.
II ran back to the cell and said to
myself He's done il. Somebody slipped
him a gun. I looked into his cell and
didn't see him. Then I thought that
maybe he had been shot from outside ]
said to myself. He might shoot me, "a
l drew my revolver and went into the
CELL expecting him to Jump at me. II wss
dark and 1 couldn't see him 1 tripped
and fell. When l looked down saw
that had fallen over his body"
Martin w. Littleton. who had been re-
tanned as counsel for Holt. reached
MineoIa today and examined Hollis cell
closely. Mr.. IAttleton climbed up the iron
bars on the side OF the cell as Holt APP
parently had done before committing sui
eide to see II It were possible for a man
4 70 NIL that M. ldl-
Teton was convinced that It was
On leaving the Jail Mr.. Littleton SEN
the following telegram to Thomas r
JONES at Dallas, Tex:
Holt q suicide here. Undoubtedly de
mented. De you wish body shipped e
Texas?''
The following letter was found IL
Hollis cell:
| III
more. The more ] think about It. tn,
more ses the utter uselessness OF LIVING
under these circumstances. Bring UP the
dear babies in fear Of God and man
Good bye, my sweet. Affectionately.
CsIsned) FRANK"