Death From Bromide

Francis O'Harra, Known as Jim Holland, Died at Midnight Last Night as Result of Overdose - Found by Companion in Dying Condition.

Francis O'Harra, familiarly known about town as Jim Holland, died at his cabin near Nezperce Roller mills on Snake River avenue from an overdose of bromide. He was found in a dying condition by a companion at midnight and was dead when the police were notified at 1 o'clock.

The story told by the companion was that O'Harra secured two bottles of the bromide on Thursday, that he drank the contents of one of the bottles and spilled the contents of the other bottle. He came up town last evening and secured another bottle of bromide and was drinking it about the cabin Friday evening. The companion said he retired while O'Harra was still moving about the cabin and that he awakened about midnight and discovered that O'Harra was not in the bed and then heard him groaning on the floor beside the bed. He said that when he lighted the lamp he found O'Harra on the floor in a dying condition, that the man was nearly fully dressed and that he passed away within a few minutes. The man then hastened to the police station and notified the officers. Coroner Vassar was called and the remains were removed to the Vassar parlors.

O'Harra had been about Lewiston for the past year or more and generally sought employment in the highway construction camps. For the past several months he had been indulging in various mixtures as a substitute for liquor and had been in the police court on several occasions. He was about 50 years of age and papers found at the cabin show he has a brother, Edward P. O'Harra, who is a member of the New York police force. He was always known in Lewiston as Holland and his true name was not known to the officers until his personal effects were examined following his death.

Lewiston Morning Tribune
Sunday, January 25, 1920

To Inter Remains Here

Advices Received Yesterday Regarding Body of Francis O'Harra.

Coroner C. J. Vassar yesterday received a message from Edward P. O'Harra, New York policeman, advising that the remains of his brother, Francis O'Harra, be interred in Lewiston. The announcement of the funeral will probably be made tomorrow.