Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1908 — The Funeral of Jay W. Williams. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Funeral of Jay W. Williams.

From Wednesday’s Daily: The funeral of Jay W. Williams, whose tragic death occurred Tuesday morning will be held tomorrow, Thursday, afternoon at 2:30 o’clock, at the M. E. church, the funeral being conducted by the pastor. Dr. H. L. Kindig. 'Both the Masons and the Knights of Pythias will attend the funeral in a body, the former having charge ot the services. Burial will be made in Wee ton cemetery. There are no new developments regarding the suicide, and If Mr. Williams left any note stating his reason for self-destruction It has not yet come to light Shortly before the purchase of the cartridges be sat at his desk and wrote a letter to his daughter, Mrs. Chas. H. Porter, in Chicago, and he had Mr. Colvert mall this, and It is possible that he may have told in that letter something about his contemplated act, but thia Is regarded by the family as improbable. He made a practice of writing to his daughter almost dally. The letter that he wrote Tuesday went to Chicago on the 3:56 train that day, and would not have been delivered until that afternoon after Mr. and Mrs. Porter had left to come to Rensselaer, where they arrived on the milk train. Mr. Williams* desk

and pockets were searched but nothing was found to Indicate that he had made any preparation for the act In the drawer where the revolver had reposed for so many years the other cartridges were found. He had purchased 25 and had placed 6 of them In the revolver, and the others were loose in the drawer. The relatives have reviewed almost every act of his for several days before the suicide, but can see no indication of any mental derangement He has, they say, thought constantly about the death of his brother, and all of the time his own health has been failing. He was very poor in flesh and, it Is thought, suffered a great deal of pain, although without much complaint. It is thought that Mr. Williams waited to perform his act of self-destruction until others besides his clerks, George and Clinton Colvert, were In the store, evidently wanting no doubt created but that his act was voluntary. Mr. Williams resided In Kentland for some years before' coming to Rensselaer, and during his young manhood was a telegraph operator. He had always kept In close touch with Kentland, where he had many friends, and he has been a subscriber to a Kentland newspaper for many years, and always read it carefully.

During his long residence in Rensselaer he has been a leading citizen, and for years was the only furniture dealer here. He had an immense stock of furniture, and enjoyed a large and profitable business. He also had considerable farm land, and managed about a section of land which his father-in-law, John Makeever, last year set aside for Mrs. Williams. In all of these matters he seemed entirely successful. He was also a member of the city council, having succeeded John McColly, whose death occurred almost two years ago. He was a regular attendant at the council and was a valuable member of that body. He was a leader In the Methodist church and an usher at the church services for many years. In every respect he was a good citizen, and a fine man, and his act is almost unbelievable to his vast number of acquaintances. Mr. Williams has one brother and one sister living. The formerr Is James J. Porter, of Cleveland, Ohio, who arrived here today to attend the funeral. His sister Is Mrs. John D. Stokes, of East Hampton, N, Y. who will be unable to come because of 111 health. ♦

The Building Occupied by Mr. Williams as a furniture store, and in which he shot himself.