The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-01-21
Well Known Young Man Died
on Mothers and Fathers
Graves in Catholic
Cemetery.
CITY SHOCKED BY NEWS
Had Told Friends He Was Co.
ing to California Three
Letters on Body Tell
Story Of Tragedy.

With his mind ranking with bitter.
ness and his heart bent to the break.
INK point with sorrows and tragedies
that had marked his young life, Don
OBrien went to the family lot in the
Catholic cemetery, and standing be-
tween the graves OF HIS father and
mother, shot himself through the heart
yesterday afternoon at 2:20 o'clock.
The body was found ten minutes
later by John Kelley Of 1912 Ridge
street, caretaker at the Catholic
cemetery, and the chief OF police and
Acting Coroner Burrows notified by
him. After the latter had viewed the
body as 1t lay stretched across the two
graves, he ordered 1t taken to the I'M
dertaking establishment Of Crimmins
and Chase.
This terrible tragedy has shocked
and Mortified the whole Of Keokuk and
has been the one topic OF conversation
since it happened yesterday afternoon.
Three letters found on the young
mans body. one addressed to his
grandmother, Mrs. Margaret Tracy,
Of ZIG Blondeau street, one to Edwin
Woolley, for whom young O'Brien
worked, and third to The Gate City,
tell the whole history Of the shooting.
Friends OF Don O'Brien know now
that he has contemplated this step for
some time. To one at least he had
talked of suicide but 1t was not be-
lieved that he was sincere Some time
ago he tried to borrow a revolver
from one of his companions but was
refused. Even one of his relatives
has stated that two weeks ago he
made remark, which although it had
no significance at the time, looms up
now that the tragedy has happened, as
forerunner Of his act.
Going to California.
He had told everybody yesterday
that he was to leave last night for
California and had packed his clothes
In preparation for the move. Whether
this was just a blind to give him a
chance to bid good bye to his friends
and relatives without giving his OBJ
ject In mind away or whether he was
in earnest and changed his mind at
the last moment. will never be known.
1t Is definitely established that he
was preparing to end his life yesterday
morning. for he wrote his last three
letters at the Grand Hotel on Grand
Hotel stationary, between 11:20 and
u o'clock, when he left his grand
mothers house, after bidding her good
bye.
Don O'Brien had been employed
as the chauffeur for Edwin woolley
for the past two years, and had lived
With Mr.. Woolley during that time.
and was considered almost as a son
BY him. Mr.. woolley stated yesterday
that DON had never seemed so Jolly
and full Of life as when he paid two
visits to the wooley home at 71s
Main street, to get his clothes and be-
iongings for his talked OF California
trip. He told Mr.. Woolley that he
was going to leave for the west last
night The last time he visited the
Woolley home was at II O'Clock in
the morning and when he left this
time he bid Mr.. Woolley good bye.
/. The latter said that Don appeared in
good spirits, but undoubtedly he had
his mind set on his object even at
that time.
Letter Of Recommendation,
That he evidently intended to go