Connolly, Irving died 1940

CONNOLLY

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 10/20/2023 at 18:17:25

Clayton County Register, 04 Sept. 1940.

A transient, who gave his name as Ervin Edward O'Brien, and his address as Chicago, was found dead in his cell at the county Jail here Thursday morning. Strangulation was given as the cause of his death by Dr. Frank McNamara of Dubuque, who was summoned to perform a post mortem examination by a coroner's jury which met the same morning. It was evident that strangulation was caused by an overdose of phenobarbitol, a drug, of which several tablets were found hidden in his sock.

Authorities were unable at fist to locate any relatives or persons who could identify and claim the body. The man gave the name, Mrs. Blanche Flannigan, of 12 113th street, Chicago, as his sister, but authorities were unable to locate by that name at that address or similar addresses in Chicago.

Through the state bureau of investigation at Des Moines, the man's identity was established as Irving Connolly of Marshalltown. First records in that office date back to November 2, 1925, on the man, ranging from investigations to a number of convictions.

Relatives from Marshalltown came here Saturday to claim the body, which had been taken to the Oelke Mortuary. The body was taken by them to Marshalltown, Sunday, for burial.

When questioned, Connolly appeared very drowsy and unsteady. A doctor was summoned, whose examination showed him to apparently be in fairly good physical condition. Other inmates heard him snoring about midnight.

Connolly was picked up by Patrolman Galloway at the intersection of Highway 52 and 13 shortly after six o'clock Wednesday evening, after reports had come in to the Sheriff's office that a sick man was leaning on a stop sign at that intersection.