Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 November 1908 — JAY W. WILLIAMS COMMITS SUICIDE [ARTICLE]

JAY W. WILLIAMS COMMITS SUICIDE

Shoots Himself Through Head With Revolver Yesterday Morning.

ACT WAS DONE IN HIS STORE

At 10 a. m., and D£ath Was Install* taneous—Poor Health Supposed to Have Been the Cause tor the Rash Act. I - - The city was thrown in an uproar of excitement yesterday forenoon by the suicide of Jay W. Williams, the well known furniture dealer. The act was committed at almost precisely 10 o’clock, and a revolver was used. Dr. E. N. Loy, George and Clint Colvert were in the store, sitting there talking. Hr. Williams was up on the landing above the main floor. Charlie Rhoads, brother of Bd Rhoads, the grooeryman, came in and joined the group by the stove. A moment after a shot was heard from the landing above, and rushing up there Mr. Williams was found lying on the floor, a bullet hole in his right temple and a revolver by his side. y" - Death had apparently been instantly, and it was a clear case of suicide. The rash act was no doubt caused from his continued poor health, and he had been unable to sleep but little of late, which had so worked on his mind that in a moment of mental aberation he ended it all with a bullet. The act was evidently premedidated, as he was not in the habit of carrying a revolver. He went into Rhoades’ hardware during the morning and bought a box of cartridges, and Is supposed to have had the revolver in his desk. He had been up on the landing about a half an hour before the shot was fired, and the clerks in the store supposed he had lain down up there and gone to sleep, which be'sojnetifflfes did, as he had been very quiet.

A salesman for a furniture house was in the store about a half hour before the suicide. Mr. Williams told him he did not want to see him then; to come back later. He seems to have almost immediately gone up to the gallery and made the preparations for ending his life. The body was removed to Wright’s undertaking parlors some twenty minutes after the shooting and later taken to his late residence on North Division street. Of course no arrangements for the funeral have been made at this writing. Mr. Williams was a native of Ohio and served in the War of the Rebellion in an Ohio regiment. He later came to Kentland, Ind.> and engaged in business, and while there was married to a daughter of John Makeever of Rensselaer, who with one daughter, Mrs. Charles Porter of Chicago, survives him. In 1883 he came to Rensselaer and engaged with his father-in-law in the banking business. In 1887 Mr. Williams engaged in the furniture business, in which he continued tip to the time of -Wb death. He was a successful basP ness man, and leaves a large estate. He was prominent in the church add in all public enterprises, and was a member-at-large of the city council of Rensselaer at the time of his death. He has been iff poor health for the past two years, although able most of the /time to look after the management of his business. The sad ending of so successful a life is a blow to the community as well as to the loved ones left be-

hind, who have the sympathy of everyone in their bereavement.