Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-03-19
Grief Over Death of Only Son
In War Blamed in Quinn Suicide
Note Found Beside
Body on Grounds
Of Country Club


Quinn, "a, widely known attor-
ney who was found shot to
death yesterday at the Congress
sional Country Club, will be held
at 10 am. Friday at st. AIMS
Catholic Church, 4400 Wisconsin
avenue NV.
Until then the body will rest at
the family home, 4730 Quebec street
Burial will be in Mount Olivet
Cemetery.
The body of the former president
ot the District Bar Association and
member Of the Board of Education
was found on the golf course under
a 25O-year-old mulberry tree which
he had long admired.
A certificate of suicide was issued
by Dr. F. j. Broschart, Montgomery
County coroner.
When Mr.. Quinn's body was found
rifle lay beside him. He had been
shot through the heart. His auto
mobile was parked nearby and on
the seat was a penciled note, ad-
dressed to Witty Cox, the club golf
professional.
Montgomery County Police Chief
Charles w. Orme said the note was
signed H. I. Quinn" and read:
This Is the emo. Notify my
secretary. The keys are In the glove
compartment"
Mr.. Quinn's secretary Is Mrs.
Helen Sasscer, 1926 Thirty-seventh
street NV.
Grieved Over Sons Death.
Associates recalled Mr. Quinn had
been affected deeply by the death
of his only son, Morgan j. Quinn,
%, who was killed in action in Italy
on April 80, 1915, only q week be-
fore the end of the war in Europe.
He was a private with the 18th
(Blue DeviD Division.
Under the glass top of his Office
desk, Mr.. Quinn kept prayer taken
from his sons diary, reading:
Please, God, silence the schem-
ing and the stupid in our Govern
ment and let the honest and the
strong lead us to light.
Otherwise, we fight in vain. If
we cannot correct ourselves, how
can we lead others from their
chaos2'
Son Was Gonzaga Graduate.
Young Quinn was a graduate of
Gonzaga High School and Notre
Dame University.
Mr.. Cox, q friend for many years,
was the first to identify Mr.. Quinn's
body after its discovery about 2:30
pm. James Wilfong, greenskeep-
er, told police he found Mr.. Quinn
slumped over the base of the big
tree. Police believe the shot had
been fired only few minutes be-
fore Mr. Wilfong reached the spot.
The greenskeeper said he had not
heard the report.
A bullet was found lodged in the
chick bark of the tree.
The mulberry tree against which
he had been seated is on a knoll
at the 18th tee. Friends recalled
that Mr.. Quinn had commented on
the beauty of the ancient tree. par
ticularly when it was clothed in
leaves. He also had enjoyed the
commanding view from the spot
they said. 7t
Car Seen by Employees.
Mr.. Quinn's automobile was
parked about as feet from the tree
Mr.. Cox and other club employees
recalled having noticed an automo-
bile at that point about 1890 am
The tee Is visible from the club
house. They said they had not
thought 1t particularly unusual
however.
Mr.. Quinn left his home at 473C
Quebec street NV. after breakfast
Yesterday, according to his wife
Mrs. Lillian Heller Quinn. At his
Woodward Building ONCE, 1t was
said he had left there about $50 a m
Mrs. Quinn said she did not hear
from her husband after he left
home but had received two tele-
phone calls from men who had in
quired why he had not appeared In
court. He was to have gone to
Arlington on case, Mrs. Quinn
said.
Mr.. Quinn's note also asked that
his wife be notified by Justice
Richmond B. Keech OF District
Court and Mrs. Irene Kirkwood, a
longtime friend Of the family.
A native and lifelong resident of
the Capital, Mr.. Quinn was known
widely in professional and civic
circles here
Fought Against RED Rider"
He was named to the Board of
Education June 30, 1888. In 1887,
while on the board, he was active
in the fight for repeal Of the So
called red rider" which had been
intended to bar payment OF salary
to any public school teacher who
taught or advocated Communism.
Mr.. Quinn had argued the rider in
fringed on academic freedom.
He resigned from the board March
/. 1899. explaining he wanted to be
free to fight the Griffenhagen re-
port, which recommended changes
LII Jlle SCilOOl system. MI. kSuIIlil
termed the report IAN effort to do
away with an autonomous school
board-a serious effort to change
the setup.'
Mr.. Quinn also was high In the
councils Of his profession. He was
president Of the District Bar Asso-
citation in the 1878 term and also
served as a member OF the House
Of Delegates Of the American Bar
Associa ton.
He shared Offices with Austin r
Garfield, present head Of the local
bar group.
Mr.. Quinn had engaged in all
phases of legal practice. He was
representing Joseph Freeman
Washington representative Of the
Carson munitions interests. at the
time of his death. Freeman is under
indictment for conspiracy against
the Government In connection with
i; the Carson operations.
Defended Tire Dealer.