The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1915-07-08
REPORTER TO HAVE
LEAPED FROM WIKDOW
SKULL FRACTURED BY FALL
Had Attempted Suicide Earlier That
Day by Opening Artery In Arm.
RumOred the Shot Was Fired
From the Outside.

MineOla, N. T., July b.-frank HolI,
the Cornell university professor who
shot ]. p. Morgan in his home near
Glen Cove last Saturday, committed
suicide in the Jail here tonight.
While several of the Jail authori-
ties declare that Holt killed himself
by climbing through the opening at
the top of his cell door and then
plunging to the narrow court below,
Hollis keeper said he was positive
that the prisoner was killed in his
own cell where he said he found the
body.
There are many conflicting reports
as to the manner in which Holt met
his death, but it was definitely estab-
lished through DR.. Cleghorn, the jail
physician, that Holt died of a frac-
tured skull.
Several of~those about the Jail said
they heard an explosion, the report
coming from Hollis cell. This noise,
it was believed, was due through the
falling of boards from the top of the
CELL
Jeremiah O'Ryan, the keeper, de-
tailed to watch Holt, said he was fif-
teen feet away from the cell when he
heard a loud report. He looked in
the direction of the cell. but it was
dark, Entering, he found Holt's
body in pool of blood in the corner.
Excitement in Jail When Body Is
Found.
The excitement that followed the
noise brought Warden Hulse and
other Jail authorities to the scene.
District Attorney Lewis ]. Smith AMI
DR.. Cleghorn, together with several
constables, were soon on the scene
and Immediately began an investiga'
ton.
DIR. Cleghorn denied report that
Holt had killed himself by chewing
percussion cap. He repeated that
death was caused by a fracture al
the top of the skull. An explosion
which would have blown his head
off would have followed an attempt
by Holt to chew percussion caps, the
physician said.
A thorough examination of Hoits
cell failed, according to the Jail au'
thorities, to disclose any weapon OF
implements of any kind which Holt
could have used to kill himself.
Coroner Walter r. Jones, after
viewing the body, said:
Undoubtedly a suicide, and un
> doubtedly the man jumped. I cannot
give an official version until an au
topsy is performed by the Jail physi
: clan, DIR. Cleghorn."
The body was then taken to tht
: morgue in Hampstead, where DR.
Cleghorn was prepared to perform
an autopsy Immediately.
The autopsy is expected to dispose
8 of a report current here immediate
y ly after the finding of Holt's bodl
, that he had been shot and killed
from the outside. This was the onl!
3 one of number of reports.
! Keeper Organ declared that Hol
appeared unusually cheerful early II
. the evening. He could not under
' stand why Holt should write let
ter which was found after his death
4 in which Holt addressed presumabl!
4 his wife and children as follows;
"My Dears:
t II must write to you once more
o The more l think about it, the NOR
7 see the utter uselessness of livinI
under these cir6 instances. Bring VI
the dear babies in fear of God AM
v man. Goodbye, my sweet,
fSipnedl "Affectionately,
!. FRANK"
4 An evidence of the great confusion
t which followed the report and tn
!. finding of Hollis body was a secon
statement by Keeper Organ to tn
= effect that he was not sure If Holt
body was found in his cell or in th
" corridor. This tended to strengthe
n the theory of District Attorney smit
and Warden Hulse that Holt kille