Voorhies, O.W.

VOORHIES, MONGENAIS

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 3/31/2004 at 18:29:52

FORMER KEOKUK MAN TAKES LIFE IN CALIFORNIA

O. W. Voorhies Formerly of This City, Jumps From Cliff in Los Angeles Saturday After a Period of Ill Health.

O. W. Voorhies, 54, a former resident of Keokuk, was one of two men who committed suicide in different places and in different fashions at Los Angeles, Calif., last Saturday.

Los Angeles police raced with death in both cases, but lost each race, as the men succeeded in taking their lives after notifying the officers of their intentions. The other man, J. B. II Mongenais, shot himself through the head, and Voorhies leaped from Eagle Rock between Glendale and Pasadena.

Before taking his life, Voorhies wrote a note and dropped it near the Highland Park police station. The note read: “Go out to Eagle Rock and you’ll find my body at the foot of the cliff.” He also left another farewell note as follows: “All those I love have turned against me, but I am powerless. Good-bye to all.” Below this in capital letters was the word “Broke.”

His brother Hugh, with whom he made his home since his asserted estrangement from his wife Mary, told the police that Voorhies had been ill recently. A daughter, Marjorie, 16, corroborated her uncle’s statement.

Published Aug. 28, 1930