The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-07-13
HOLT KILLS SELF
IN M|NE0LA JAIL
DEATH OF MAN WHO TRIED TO
KILL MORGAN SURROUNDED
BY MYSTERY.
DIES OF FRACTURED SKULL
Believe Prisoner Leaped From Cell
Window to Courtyard - Search
Fails to Disclose Any Weap-
on He Could Have Used.

Mineola, N. Y, July Frank Holt
the Cornell university professor who
shot j. P. Morgan in his home near
Glen Cove, last Saturday, committed
suicide in jail here Tuesday night.
While several of the Jail authorities
declared that Holt killed himself by
climbing through the opening at the
top of his cell door and then plungine
to the narrow court below, Hollis keep
er said he was positive that the prison.
er was killed in his own cell, where he
said he found the body.
There were 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 fractured
skull.
Skull Fracture Kills.
The excitement that followed
brought Warden HuIse and other iail
authorities to the scene. District At.
torney Lewis ]. Smith and DR.. CIeg.
horn, together with several constables,
ly began an investigation.
DR.. Cleghorn denied a report that
Holt had killed himself by chewing a
percussion cap. He repeated that
death was caused by fracture at the
top of the skull. An explosion which
would have blown his head off would
have followed an attempt by Holt to
chew percussion cap, the physician
said.
A thorough examination of Hollis
cell failed to disclose, according to the
Jail authorities, any weapon or nipple
ments of any kind which Holt could
have used to kill himself
Coroner Walter R. Jones, after view
ing the body said:
Undoubtedly a suicide, and I'M
doubtedly the man jumped l can not
give an official version until an autop.
sy is performed by the jail physician,
DR.. Cleghorn'
Letter Is Found.
District Attorney Smith searched
Hollis cell Immediately after arriving
at the Jail and found a letter writ
ten on yellow paper. This letter,
which Holt must have written before
he attempted suicide early Tuesday
morning, before the pencil with
which he tried to sever an artery was
taken from him.
Il must write once more. The
more | think about it the more I see
the uselessness of living under cir
cumstances such as these Bring up
the dear babies in the love of God
and man. God bless you my sweet.
Affectionately. Frank.
'P. S.-All please pardon me for
all the heartache l have brought you.
Pray with me that the slaughter will
stop. My heart breaks. Goodbye"
Holt earlier admitted to detectives
that he lied when he said that he
made the capitol bomb out of sui
phuric acid and match heads and
said also that he did not tell the
truth about his movements in Wash
ington and New York.
Gashes Wrist Veins.
Frank Holt attempted to take his
own life during Monday night in his
cell at the Mineola Jail.
Only the prompt action of a turn
key frustrated his attempt doc
tor was hurriedly summoned and the
wound sewed UP. Holt lost consid-
cradle blood, but it was stated he was
in no danger.
1t was learned that Holt fashioned
a knife like weapon out of a. pencil.
He took the rubber eraser from the
end and with his teeth mashed the
tin container together, making
sharp edge. With this he was en-
abled easily to cash his wrist.
Turnkey John Lecherstriker watch
ed Holt at intervals during the night.
Soon after midnight he noticed blood
trickling down the prisoners clothes.
He found that blood was pouring
from a cash in Hollis wrist. The Jail
physician was summoned. He sewed
up the wound. The turnkey found a
bloody pencil on the floor of the cell.
Morgan Out of Danger.
Glencove, L. l., July ii. P. Nor
CANS physicians announced on Tues
day that because their patient is
practically out of danger" no more
bulletins will be issued from the Nor
gan home. In the future all infor-
nation concerning the bankers con-
dition will be given out from the
offices of ]. P. Morgan and company,
in New York