The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-01-21

terry at the time. No one Investigated
the shot, however Mr.. Landman, who
Is employed at the Catholic cemetery.
a few minutes later notified John
Kelly, the Catholic cemetery sexton,
OF hearing the shot, but the latter be
lieved that It was only tired by soma
hunter He had been working at a
distance from the cemetery entrance
at Nineteenth and Carroll street and
did not hear the discharge.
Discovery Of Body.
| About 2:30 o'clock, Kelly walked
toward the entrance to telephone. As
he approached the street, he first no
ticed hat lying on the ground about
seventy-f1ve feet from the road and
near the Sommer flower house. As
he drew nearer he saw a foot protrud-
ing over the grave. Feeling sure now
that something had happened, he
hurried over to the spot and found
the body, although he did not recog-
nize it at first. He did not noise his
discovery about for he did not want
a crowd to gather, but entered the
Sommer home just opposite the gate
| and notified first the chief of police
and then Acting Coroner Burrows.
When found O'Brien was lying on
his back His body was on his fathers
| grave and his feet on his mothers.
Because of the fact that his hat was
found about four feet from the body.
| it is believed that he shot himself
while standing up and not after he
had laid down. He was completely
clothed, and was wearing a dark
4 s<xS,k ho1y nv
ercoat
The overcoat and undercoat had
been opened but the shot had been
fred through the vest and shirt. His
arms were thrown back and an auto
matte revolver was lying at his left
side, mute witness to the tragedy.
| Don O'Brien had gloves on when he
fired the shot, Only one shot had
been fred. the bail piercing the top Of
his heart.
When ]. j. Crimmins Jr. entered
the cemetery at the main entrance,
one block below the Catholic entrance.
he heard the shot but thought nothing
| of it.. That was about 2:20 o'clock.
When he returned about 800 o'clock.
Mr.. Kelly called out to him. Mr.. Grim
Minis joined the small crowd that had
collected and identified the body as
that of Don O'Brien.
Coroner Arrives.
Shortly afterwards the coroner
came and viewed the body and had it
taken to Crimmins & Chase's. In the
| pockets were found the three letters,
also the letter Of recommendation
from Aver, a Catechism of Christian
Doctrine, published by Bentzinger
Bros, new manual Of prayer with
don O'Brien" inscribed on the fly
leaf, tooth brush, small. thin knife
a key ring and a thirty-two auto
matte bullet.
The coroner took the letters and de-
livered them to the parties to whom
they were addressed, but left the 9TH
er articles In the pockets.
When the body was taken to the
undertakers, 1t was examined by DR..
Frank Brown. He stated that only
one bullet had been fired and that it
shot entered the left breast and
pierced the top of the heart. Death
undoubtedly was instantaneous.
Born In Burlington.
Don O'Brien was born in Burlins-
ton, Iowa, on August %, 1891 and
lived there twelve years. He came to
Keokuk with his parents in 1903 and
the remaining twelve years of his life
were spent here His first position
here was as messenger boy at the
Western Union telegraph office. Later
he learned the automobile trade and
worked for some time at the Gate
City garage.
Two years ago he began to work as
chauffeur for Edwin Woolley and had
remained in his employ up until the
time he shot himself. He was an In
dustrious and capable automobile man
and possessed hosts Of friends in Keo-
kuk who have been shocked at the
news of his terrible death. Every
body had a good word for him, for he
was of jovial and fun-lovfng disposi-
ton. Whatever ranked in his heart
he did not give outward display to his
emotions and to the last was in good
spirits and apparently happy and con-
tented.
He is survived by his grandmother,
Mrs. Margaret Tracy; an aunt, Miss
Kate Tracy; a sister, Miss Margaret
O'Brien, all three Of Keokuk, and a
brother, William O'Brien of Kansas
City.
He was member OF st. Francis de
Sales Catholic church.
The coroner announced that he will
hold no inquest.
Had Gone to Press.
When news of the suicide reached
town, The Gate City had already gone
to press and most of the carrier boys
were out delivering their papers.
Ten Dollars .Missfna.
According to O'Brien's relatives he
had ten dollars in his pocket and was
given another ten dollars yesterday.
No money was found on his person
by the police and the coroner, but
the footprints In the snow showed