Evening star., 1925-02-10
POLICEMAN KILLS
SELF NEAR CAPITOL
New York Traffic Officer,
Bound for Miami, Com
T mits Suicide.

The career of John F'laherty, New
York traffic policeman, whose span
contained two recorded instances
of heroism and bravery. ended last
night in quiet little room in the
whitehill Hotel, 1o3 Second street
over which looms the Capitol. when
he sent a bullet from a small call
Der revolver into his jugular vein
Robust and hearyt in appearance, OF
extraordinary stature, and apparent
~ enjoying moderate financial pros
perity. Flaherty left no explanation
for the act. He did not enter INTO
execution of his plan without careful
deliberation, for, in a note TO MS
brother, James Flathery of Washing
ton street, Norwood, Mass, he said:
Il am cheerful facing death. !
think it is grand after all" And then
he referred in detail to his belongings,
listing them, the disposal he wished
to be made of his money and goods,
and further arrangements.
The missive had been left neatly
placed on table, in position be
tween bank books showing deposits
amounting to well over $4,000 and
miscellaneous papers
Clippings Tell of Bravery.
In pocketbook were two scraps OF
paper evidently cherished by the de-
ceased. They We're newspaper ci1p-
pngs-one yellowed with age, the
other also somewhat marred by time
both showing marks of much finger
ing One told of an undated 'oc-
currence in which "Patrolman Flah-
erty rushed into 324 East Fifteenth
street and arrested a man who was
attacking Irving Rosenbelt with
revolver" 1t spoke highly of the act
of "Patrolman Flaherty." The other
was a bit longer than the first. II
concerned the rescue of Mrs. Mary
White, at PAT West Twenty third
street. He was attracted by screams
He rushed in. Through the flames he
saw the woman. and her clothing was
burning. He pulled up carpet from
the hallway and rolled the woman up
in It, He saved her life.
From parcel room checks at the
Union station 1t was found that he
reached Washington sunday night at
about 10 o'clock. From a railroad
ticket 1t was found he originally in
tended going to Miami, and refer
ence in the note to his brother
stated that his object was to attend
the races there. His trunk already
had been forwarded. Two grips were
left at the Union station and one at
the Winston Hotel, where he regis
tered Sunday night and left yester-
day morning, stating that he would
return for it.
He reached the Whitehil yester-
day afternoon early and stated he
wanted a room only for short time,
during which he was going TO write
some letters He evidently ordered
his affairs during the afternoon.
Held Revolver in Hand.
In his clothes s2O6 in bills and some
small change was found. Cards also
were found showing embership il
the New York Traffic Policemen's
Benevolent Association, as we'll as
the cap shield of police of that city
bearing the number ISL.
On the bureau of the room, about
cne-quarter filled, was a pint bottle
smelling of corn whisky. Two keys
on a key ring. one a locker key, anc
a police whistle also were found or
the bureau.
Attention of Mrs Sarah Byrne was
directed TO the room this morning
when Flaherty had failed to put in
an appearance, as he had intimated
he wanted the room for only short
time She summoned the police and
Policeman Griffin of the sixth pre-
cinct broke down the door to find the
man lying in underclothes on the
floor, his right hand still grasping
the revolver
Coroner J. Ramsey hewitt, who is
sued the certificate of suicide and or
dered that relatives of the deceased
be notified, stated that this was the
first case since he has occupied that
position in which suicide was effect
I'D by a shot into the jugular vein.