Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1908 — JAY W. WILLIAMS ENDED HIS LIFE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

JAY W. WILLIAMS ENDED HIS LIFE

Poor Health and Worry Over Death of His Brother in Ohio, Caused Despondency.

ACT COMMITTED IN HIS STORE Community Shocked at the Terrible Ending of One of Its Leading Business Men end Host Highly Esteemed Citizens.

From Tuesday’s Daily: Jay W. Williams, for many years a resident of Rensselaer, and for the past fifteen years engaged in the furniture business, took his own life at about 9:50 o’clock this Tuesday morning, using a 32-callber revolver, which he placed at his right temple before pulling the trigger. The act was committed In his store. Mr. Williams was In miserable health, and there seems no doubt that this was directly responsible for the act He had worried a great deal also about the death of his older brother, John Williams, of Bellefountaine, Ohio, whose funeral he attended Just before the election, and brooding over this probably served to temporarily unbalance his mind. That he was rapidly failing in health was noticeable to all who were acquainted with him, and'business men who saw him every day frequently mentioned his decline. It seems that the brother that recently died was very dear to him, being older and having during Jay’s boyhood days exercised a careful guardianship over him. Jay made two or three trips to Bellefountalne, Ohio, to see his brother during his sickness, and when the news of his death reached Rensselaer be was prostrated with grief. His health was then quite poor and his father-in-law, John Makeever, suggested that he wa* hardly well enough to attend the funeral, but he insisted on going.

He returned to Rensrelaer on election day and those closest to him say that he haa never semed right since that tinfe. He has continued to look after bls business and has made

almost daily visits to his farm northwest of this city. This morning he was at his store as usual and his two clerks, George | and Clinton Colvert, noticed nothing unusual about his actions. Between 8 and 9 o’clock he went to Rhoades’ hardware store and purchased 25 revolver catridges, caliber 32, from Mel Griffin, the clerk. He seemed perfectly rational and nothing unusual was thought of the purchase. In his desk at the store was a 32 caliber revolver that had long been unloaded, and both Mr. Colvert and son Clint knew that It was there and he had told them that he used to keep It at the bank, when he was cashier of the Makeever bank. They never knew of the revolver being loaded and probably It never was since he has been out of the bank. Just when he loaded the revolver this morning is not known. A traveling furniture salesman called on Mr. Williams last night and was told he was not

feeling well and to stop in again this morning, and shortly before the suicide he had talked with Mr. Williams, but was told in an unusually abrupt manner that he did not care to make any purchases. He had just left the store and Mr. Williams talked for a few minutes to his two clerks, Dr. E. N. Ldy, and Chas. F. Rhoads, who were in the store. They were in the rear part of the main store room, near his desk, and while all were standing tbere, Mr. Williams left and went up the landing, where considerable furniture was displayed. A moment after he had gone up the steps a revolver shot was heard, followed by the noise of his falling body and fearing what had happened Dr. Loy and the two Colverts hastened up to the landing, and there lay the body stretched at full length on the floor. The revolver lay at his side, free from his hand, and the blood was gushing from a hole in his right temple. Dr. Loy put his ear down dose to Mr. Williams’ head and took up his arm to feel his pulse. He was not breathing and the heart action was almost stopped. A second later and the heart ceased to beat.

Word was at once telephoned to Mrs. Williams, who is also In very frail health and she was quite overcome. She was alone at the house and hurried down to her father’s apartments at the Makeever Hotel, and then went back to her home, where she gave completely away, and several neighbors have been caring for her. The disaster, it is feared, may prove more than she can bear. They have but one child, Mrs. Mamie Williams Porter, wife of Ctjas. H. Porter, of Chicago, and word was telephoned to her by Swaney Makeever, a cousin of Mrs. Will ams, and she will arrive here today. Mr. Williams was about 63 years of age, and was a veteran of the civil war, having served with on Ohio regiment, and being one of the younge t of the civil war veterans in Jasper county. He was a member of the city council of Rensselaer, and previous to being elected city councilman be was a member of the county council. He was a fine citizen, and a successful business man, and his death coming as It does is a terrible shock to his relatives, friends and acqualntancea Coroner W. J. Wright was at Roselawn, being the undertaker In charge of the funeral of Mrs. Crlsler, and in his absence, Zern Wright, his assl t> ant, took charge of the remains, and had them removed to the undertaking parlors. The funeral arrangements have not yet been made.

JAY W. WILLIAMS