Evening star., 1949-06-07
Father David G. O'Connor Dies;
ChopIoin to Penal Institutions
Priest Widely Known
To D. G. Jail Inmates;
AT 20 Executions

The Rev. Davio gregory OCon-
nor, o. p, So, Catholic chaplain
Ito District penal institutions for
the last eight years. died yester-
day at Providence Hospital. He
had been Ill since last October.
Father O'Connor was widely
known among the inmates Of Dis
trict jail and the institutions at
Lorton and Occoquan for his tire
less work with the prison popula-
ton. He attended 20 executions
in the District jail death cham
Der, although only one condemned
man was of his faith.
That man was Joseph D. Med
ley, slayer of at least three wom-
en-, whose talks with Father
'O'Connor in the long months prior
to the execution led the con-
demned man to embrace the
Catholic faith. Medley went TO
the electric chair on November Il,
1896.
served W1tnOut ray.
Although he served without pay
as chaplain of the jail, Father
O'Connor spent great part OF
his small priestly recompense TO
keep destitute prisoners IN tobacco
and doing them favors.
He was unique among those
working in prisons here in that
his function as a priest in the
confessional enabled him to hear
admissions and condolences from
prisoners that officials might never
hear. The confessions a Catholic
makes to q priest can never be re-
vealed to q third person by the
priest.
rather O'Connor was born In
Cork. Ireland, on Christmas Day
1892. He came to this country as
a youth and received all his early
education in New York City.
He was almost a musical genius
and could play every musical IN.
strument he ever tried. He used
to tell friends how he sat up all
one night while serving IN the
ARMY during World War I learn
ing to play the piccolo because ne
had heard he was to be trans
ferred for band service.
He had heard. Father O'Connor
said. that he was to play the tuba
in the band and preferred 10 carry
the infinitely lighter piccolo. he
later saw front line service IN
france as a battalion runner ana
stretcher bearer.
Student After War.
After the war. he entered
| Aouinas College High School OF
Columbus, Ohio, preparatory 70
entering the Dominican Order. he
received the habit Of the order IN
1922 at st. Joseph's Priory. Somer-
set, Ohio, and made his philosopn-
| ical studies at st. Rose Priory'
springfield, KY, from 1928 to 1925
and at the Dominican House OF
Studies, River Forest. ILL.,. from
1925 to 1925.
He then came to the Dominican
tHouse nof Studies here for his
theological studies and was or
dained here on June IT. 1923
Father O'Connor spent one year
at the Pontifical International Coll
lsgs. Apgelicosin Rome. aHd then
1swas assigned ! to Rosarys college
River Forest, HI. and to the head
quarters Of the Holy Name Journal,
New York City.
Father O'Connor was appointed
Catholic chaplain to District penal
institutions in 1941 and served In
that capacity until he was taken
i'll last October. He had been In
Providence Hospital ever since.
He is survived by his father.
Patrick r. O'Connor; two sisters,
Mrs. Elizabeth Mulligan and Mrs.
Josephine Furey. and two brothers.
Barry and John v. O'Connor. all
Of New York City.
Funeral arrangements will be
announced later.