Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-09-22
Police Save Veteran
Trying 10 Knife and
Shoot Self al Hospital

Takoma Park police early today
thwarted what they said was q
suicide attempt by a 31-year-olt
Washington ex-Marine on the
grounds of the Washington SAM.
tarium, Takoma Park
The incident took place about
$40 am. and touched of a dis
pute as to where the man should
be hospitalized. :.
The veteran was identified as
James William ODonnell, a for
mer patient at Mount Alto Hos
pital and the Veterans Admins
tration Hospital at Perry Point
Md. Police listed his address a.
2319 Twenty-fourth street Sc.
Police said they received a cal
from the hospitals emergency
room saying a man was trying tt
kill himself with a revolver. Wher
Police Corpl. Russell Merson anc
Pvt. William Blankenship arrived
they found Mr.. ODonnell outside
standing next to his truck anc
trying to stab himself.
Grab Him by Arm.
The two policemen grabbed Mr.
.ODonnell's arm just as he was
about to plunge the knife into
his stomach. The knife went fly
ing through the air.
Police said Mr.. O'Donnell had
a slight puncture" mark on his
stomach. He also had three other
knives in his possession and q
French-made revolver with six
misfired bullets in it. He told po-
lice he had tried to shoot himself
about q dozen times" but that
the gun would not fire. Police said
the bullets were .32-caliber and
did not At the revolver. There
were hammer marks on each.
Mr.. O'DonneH was taken to the
Takoma Park police station
where attempts were made to
place him in q hospital. Police
Desk Clerk Robert Jones said he
got in touch with Mount Alto
Hospital, which said It's psychia-
trio facilities were. filled. The
hospital. he said: also checked
with the Bethesda Naval Hospital
|apd Walter Reed Army Hospital
but both were unable to take Mr.
|0'Donnell. Mr.. Jones said Gal.
finger and st. Elizabeths Hospital
also refused to take Mr.. ODon.
nell as a patient.
Mr.. Jones said police had nc
alternative but to commit Mr.
|o'Donnell to the Rockville jail
until he can be hospitalized. They
placed a disorderly conduct charge
against him.
Under system in Maryland, In.
|dividuals can be committed on .
mental observation charge from
within two to "a hours after exam.
nation and certification by two
doctors.
Other Calls Unsuccessful.
A spokesman at Mount Alto said
Takoma Park police called there
lat 4:05 am. seeking admission Of
Mr.. ODonnell. The duty Officer
there reported its facilities filled
and then unsuccessfully sought
admission at the other hospitals
The hospital spokesman said the
duty officer suggested that Mr.
'ODonnell be guarded until $3.50
this morning when efforts would
be made to place him.
The hospital said Mr.. oDonnell
has q services Connected disability
but not for neuro-psychiatric
trouble. He has q long record at
Mount Alto and had been In and
out q number Of times. The hos
pital said he also has q long
record of being absent without
official leave and departing
against medical advice"
The Veterans Administration
said MFR. ODonnell also had been
"a patient In its hospital at Perry
Point, Md, from November 4,
1949, to June Is, 1861. At that
time he was discharged as having
maximum hospital benefits. !"
This, it was explained, means he
was considered sufficiently inn
proved so that disqualification
would not aid him further. that
he was not q menace to the COM
|munity and could adjust him
self under home conditions.
Police said they obtained MIR.
|Oponnell's address from q 1851
District drivers license. The hos
|pital, however. listed his address
in the $500 block Of Twenty NTH
lstreet Sc.