Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 191, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1912 — HEARS PRAYERS; DIES [ARTICLE]

HEARS PRAYERS; DIES

Suicide of an Eccentric Religious Enthusiast. Wealthy Fish Merchant In Washington Market, Manhattan, Retired From Business and Intended to Bpend Life In Ease. New York. —After picking out a burial plot, making his will and carrying out other arrangements for his death, John Elsey, 71 years old, whose eccentricities had made him one of the city characters, committed suicide .in his home, 98 Jewett avenue, Jersey City. Just before firing two bullets into his head he had his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Augustus Elsey, read to him several extracts from a prayer-book. He sent her to her room to do some sewing and said he was going to take a short nap. Instead he went to bathroom, where he killed himself. Elsey several years ago was one of the wealthiest fish merchants In Washington Market, Manhattan. He sold out his place for $250,000 and then decided to devote himself to a life of religion and ease. Religion was his main interest in life. One of his children died 20 years ago and he founded the Elsey Chapel, in Jewett avenue, as a memorial. Before that time Elsey had carried his religious researches to the point of making frequent changes in his faith. When the chapel was opened he was among the Seventh-Day Adventists. He became convinced not long afterward that the Salvation Army workers were the exponents of bis favorite doctrines and he gave the chapel to the Salvationists when he was converted. Subsequently it was occupied as the Church of' the First Bom, by the Faith Cure sect and then went back to the Salvation Army. Elsey frequently talked from the pulpit and delighted to tell the Influences that had worjked to convert him to a new faith. He was married twice. His first wife divorced him and the second died in 1900. The widow of his son, Mrs. Augustus Elsey, and Mrs. Jessie Tulley, a housekeeper, lived with him

in the Jewett street house. The old man 1 had other valuable property, among the realty pieces being a mansion in Duncan avenue that he sold last Aprjl to Edward J. Edwards, state controller. Several times since then he regretted the sale of this house. Two weeks ago with his daughter-in-law he went to Cypress HIU? cemetery, in Brooklyn, where he made arrangements for a burial plot for himself and also he picked out one for Mrs. Elsey. He admitted to Mrs. Elsey he had made all his plans for (Jeath. However, there seemed to be no change in his spirits after that time. He seemed cheerful as he listened to several chapters from his newest religious book, Prevailing Prayer. After he was found with two bullets in his head in the bathroom he never recovered consciousness. “I don’t know why he should have killed himself,” said Mrs. Elsey. “He and I have lived to ourselves for years as fine as princes. He had plenty of money to last him all his life, but he worried about money he had lost and about the sale of the Duncan avenue house. Then he has not been the same since he gave up his business.” y