John
P Fitzgerald
Kentucky Post, Thursday, 31 March 1904,
page 1
Dreading recommitment to the military prison at Ft Thomas, from which he recently escaped, John P Fitzgerald, 29, a deserter, hung himself in a cell at the Hammond Street Police Station Wednesday night, after his arrest for threatening the life of his wife, Ella Fitzgerald, in their home, 817 Sycamore Street.
Fitzgerald who had served in the army seven years, had been drinking when he returned home Wednesday night and in an argument, he is to have declared that "there would be another Geiger case." His wife ran to the street and appealed to Officer Brown for protection. To him she unfolded the story of Fitzgerald being a deserter from the army; also that he was wanted by the Ft Thomas authorities. Fitzgerald was taken to Hammond Street Station, where he admitted the charges, saying he escaped Jan 12 last. He was sentenced Nov 22 to sever two and one half years for desertion.
When Sergt. Williams went to Fitzgerald's cell later, he discovered the body swinging from a bar at the ceiling of his cell. He had hanged himself with his suspenders. Fitzgerald told the police his home was in Jersey City, where he had a sister named Kate. His uncle, George Fitzgerald, was a member of the Massachusetts Legislature, being a representative from Boston. Since his escape he had been working at the American Oak Leather Company plant, Kenner Street, and was recently married to a divorced woman.
They were married at Ashland Ky. Mrs. Fitzgerald believe that confinement in the military prison affected his mind.