BANNON, RUSSELL E., JR.

PROVIDENCE, RI. — A patient on leave from the Veterans Hospital in Brockton. Mass., walked into a gun shop here this afternoon [September 2, 1965], asked for some cartridges and a pistol and killed himself before the eyes of the proprietor.

Hospital officials identified him as Russell E. Bannon Jr., 44, of Providence. They said he was allowed to leave the hospital at as long as he returned before 9:30 p.m., but that he had heen missing from the hospital since Wednesday night.

James DeBartolo, proprietor ol the gun shop on Union Avenue, said he gave Bannon some cartridges and a gun to look over, and was called to another part ot the store. When he started to return, he saw Bannon point the gun at his temple and fire a shot. Bannon was pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital.