The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-18
SECRETARY, FRIEND,
SHOOTS EMPLOYER,
Turns GUN ON SELF
Murder and Suicide Believed
Due to Mental Derange.
ment Caused by Divorce
ELDER D0HENY COlLAPSES
Young Millionaire, Only Son OF
Magnats, Indicted for Tea
pot Dome Bribery
ELDER DonENY CoLLAPsEs

Los Angeles, Feo. lO.-R1-Iue
staying Of Edward L. Doheny Jr.. heir
to the Doheny oil millions. by his Sec
retary and friend. Theodore Hugh
Plunkett, who committed suicide. was
looked upon today by investigating
officials as the deed Of = man tenn
porarily mentally deranged.
Doheny, 36, was shot to death In his
pretentious home late Saturday night
Is his family awaited arrival OF DR..
E. G. Fishbaugh to treat Plunkett
for q threatened nervous breakdown.
When confronted by the physician
Plunkett retreated to the room In
which Doheny's body lay and shot
himself through the head. The doc
tor found both men dead.
Several points regarding the murder
and suicide remained to be cleared
up, however. Whether there had been
q struggle Is Doh,ny had attempted
to quiet Plunkett was uncertain. The
furniture had been disarranged. An
overturned bottle and several glasses
were on q table.
since Plunkett's wife obtained m
uncontested divorce last October, IN
vestirators Of the district attorneys
office said, young Dohenys secretary
had developed . nervous ailment
which had become serious.
DR.. Fishbaugh. the Doheny family
physician for 10 years. at the request
nf Doheny Jr., had attended Plunkett.
Disobeys Doheny Doctor
Saturday afternoon, few hours be-
fore the double tragedy, family COM
ference had been held over P|ppkett's
oondition. which had become N0rae -
the result Of hi4 refusal TO aoide ~
the physicians instructions. The con-
ferees attempted 70 induce Flunkett.
who was living 1t "0rey5tone," the
home OF young Doheny. to 80 to =
sanitarium for rest and treatment.
They said Plunkett refused 70 80.
Young Doheny was In night clothes
and = robe when his body was found
on the floor Of Plunkett's room.
Dr.. Fishbaugh arrived shortly be-
fore midnight, after having been
called out Of theatre. Mrs. Doheny
met him 1t the door, saying her hus-
band was talking to Plunkett IN the
latter's room.
Mrs. Doheny said later she had
h-a4d IN unusual noise In the house.
but thouaht It Was the sound Of .
piece Of furniture being overturned.
Find Plunkett In Hail
When Or. Fishbaugh was shown to
the bedroom dor by Mrs. Dot.eny they
found plunkett standing IN the hall.
"You stay out Of Eerel" he shouted.
according to Dr.. Fishbaugh. The DOC.
tor said plunkett wheeled then and
entered the bedroom. An instant later
D shot rang out. DR.. Flshbaugh sent
Mrs. Doheny back to the living room.
opened the bedroom door, and found
the bodies Of the millionaire and his
secretary. D0heny had been shot
through the head, the bullet entering
lust above the left ear. Plunkett had
. bullet hole through his forehead.
Edward L. Doheny, founder Of the
huge oil business which he had put
largely In the hands Of his son, col
lapsed when called from hts home
across the street. He recovered
quickly, however, and assured his
friends he would face the situation
stoically. He Is u years old. HIS
wife, mother Of the younger Doheny.
remained at home.
In Teapot Dome Case
The younger Doheny was the only
son Of the oil magnate. He was mar.
ried to Miss Lucy Smith, Pasadena
society girl, in 1914. two years before
he was graduated from the University