Smyrna times., 1870-11-16

DISTRESSING SUICIDE. james L Bewlev
OF he finn ct j. l.. Bewley Il Co grin and
commission merchants No. 4O4 South Della
ware avenue, Philadelphia. and formerly d
merchant aud respected citizen of this town
committed suicide on Friday evening last. bv
shooting himself in the heart with y pistol At
the residence of his brother. Mr.. VIM G.
| Bewley, at Rosevilie, Queen Annes CO.. Nd
lie arrived at his brothers that day. from
fh,Ia., and IN the evening, between and :
cIOck' he retired tos bed chamber, vhera.
| Investing himself Of all but his undertaking,
ne stood Before the looking glass and adjusting
some OF The Family saw him from the ward a.
n" stood before the gass, but did not antici
PI'e his design. On repairing to his room.
Immediately alter the report OF his pistol. he
was FOUND PROSTATE upon the floor breathing
ms IaNt, the ball having passed entirely through
ms bo1y and lodged in tn. hOrrIp The
pistol was ylns on stan near by. Marh
regret Is expressed ia tins town AT the sal nr-
curlencc. Tie cause Of the rash act ia attrih.
hted to disease and Over-taxed eprrpirs tho
Two comO'ned producing mental depression and
p'rhaPs temporary insanity. His disease wa.
u1rangement OF the liver and dyspepsia, from
Mn'cn " lie had been suffering for some time.
ne came to this town on Saturday. the 5tb
and remained till Thursday last. the dav no..
fore he terminated his life, and during this
tline MS cohIuct was such as to arouse the at
tentlon OF his friends IA to his coDdition Fl.
manifested no interest in any thing whatever
not even the election returns, and his mind
at times, seemed clouded and distracted He
passed his most intimate friends without n look
OF recognition, and paid little or no attention
10 conversation He arranged all his business.
n,'"eVeT' as TAR as possible, and placed such
~ could not be arranged in the hands of an
attorney, and proceeded to Philad' a.. whore he
ala the same. 1t Is supposed, from this, that
he had anticipated selt-dsstruction.
Mr.. Is. was regarded as a gentl, man IF mora
t!an ordinary business foresight, and was
hlgnIy esteemed ~ the social circle his vivaci
" anu conversational pewers giving him
prominence in the society of his friends Hn
was born III 1915, in the house in which he
put an end to his lite, and came to this town
when about 10 years of age to learn the mar
camille business, indenturing hinself las was
then the cuStom) to Richard Blackiston NJ
elaC IlaC ume one OF the leading merchants of
smyrna, Alter reaching his majority he com
menced business with his brother Mr.. John
Il. Bewley, but the firm was dissolved after =
Ie" years, when he established business in his
own name. He continued with good success
until lS33, when he sold ont and entered the
gram and commission business in Philad'a ON
an extensive scale, acquiring an ample fortune
thereby. As business man he showed excel
lent tact and great energy. Few men are
more untirng or labori0us in their business
pursuits, and few seek so many fields for in
yestment. In addition to his commission bnsi.
ness, ne was interested in the MARBLE Lands"
IN Canada, an oil refinery in Pittsbnrp, a
phosphate establishment, patent cotton gin
and other speculative enterprises. He was
successful in nearly every venture, and the ru.
NOR that ne lost heavily by some of his enter
prlses is without foundation. His busines.
affairs were not involving him, in the least
tie was abachelor. He was of most hannv
Jovlal turn, and enjoyed society with much
zest, to all appearances. The depression.
therefore, that caused him to take his own
life, which had been benefit to MANY aud An
enjoyment to himself must have been of the
most excruciating character. Something less
than year ago he had an attack of paralysis
aud fell in the street in Philadelphia, from the
effects OF which he never recovered He seem
ed to regard it as the turning point in his sue
cess We are informed, and generally looked
upon the dark side of the picture. His
wealth is estimated at a very large figure by
many, but of this we know nothing. He leaves
a WILL