New-York tribune., 1920-11-08
Writer, Medal
Winner i'm War.
Assassinated
A. '. Donohue, Decorated
by France for Heroism.
Shot in Dark and Desert
ed Newtown, Conn. Street
Mysterious Pair Escape
Adviser to Women's Com
mittee OH National De.
Tense Found Auto Stalled
spccsq, Dispatch 70 The 7,,5,,,-

DANBURY, Conn, Nov. 7.-Arthur x.
Donohue, twenty-eight wears old. war
veteran and holder Of both the Croix
de 1uerre and Legion Honor madel,
was shot dead just before mid
| night Saturday by an unidentifie d
assassin as he was passing through a
deserted street in Newtown, Conn. He
was son Of Martin K Donohue, who
tor years was prominent in the social
and business circles of Flushing. l., +.
and was employed on The New York
American as feature writer and pro-
moter Of specialtes.
For several months after his return
from France he had been associated in
confidential capacity for Mr.. Hearst
with Jack Smith in outlining the du-
ties Of the Mayors Committee Of
/ Women on National Defense
Considerable mystery surrounds the
shooting. Al the time Donohue was re-
/ turning home with Edward Pittschler.
son of Town Clerk Oscar Pittschler his
brother-in-law. AS they approached
the outskirts Of Newtown they saw an
automobile apparently stalled in the
middle of the roadway All lights were
out.
Push Car TO Roadside
Investigating thev found il aban-
doned, and attempted to push il to
the side of the road. believing q col
lision would result. if it we're left stand
ing there
AS they were about to leave the
car and proceed on their way two men
carrying an empty gasoline can ap-
peared and demanded to know what
they were doing. According to Pi.tsch-
Ter, Donohuc explained the situation.
1t was then that one of the men sud
denly raised q rife, which had been
concealed under a coat. and fred at
him. The bullet went wild, but before
Donohue and his friend could seek
shelter the man again fred. the bullet
entering Donohue's back and penetrat-
ing his lungs. HIS assailant and com
panion then Nopped into the car and
disappeared ir the darkness
Pittschler carried Donohue 10 the
home Of Or. Kingsman, nearby. whore
an ambulance was summoned from the
Danbury Hospital and Donohue was
rushed to the institution. Before he
could be placed on the operating table
however, he died.
police alarm was immedia .ely Civ
en-. and state and city detectives, aided
by hastily formed posses, set out in
pursuit of the murderer
Auto Number Recalled
According to Pittschler. the auto
mobile waG touring car carving q
Connecticut dealers license The mum
Der on the license plate was given TO
the searchers and Withheld by them for
police reasons
1t is believed the men headed for
Bridgeport, and descriptions Of them
were sent broadcast
Sheriff Beers, Of Neweown, who took
immediate charge Of the man hunt, re-
ported Supervisor OF State Highways
Frank c. Goodsell as saying that lust
PRIOR TO the shooting the men had at
tempted TO loot his garage Of a quan-
tity Of gasoline, but had been fright
ened away.
Early in the war young Donohue en-
listed and was sent to France. For
unusual gallantry al Verduu. in Inc
Somme and during the engagement
which finally smashcd the Hindenburc
line ne was specially honored Bv France
and again by the British government.