The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-18
JERSEYS LATEST SUICIDE.

PROMINENT RESIDENT OF JERSEY CITY SHOOTS
HIMSELF THROUGH THE HEAD.
No case OF sel-destruction In New jersey for
many years occasioned so much surprise az thst
winch occurred yesterday morning In Jersey city.
John q. Drayton, a man widely known and re-
apected, o. sober and INDUSTRIOUS habits and OF
quiet steady disposition was about the last mar
in Jersey CITY WHO would fall under the suspicion
OF even an attempt TO destroy his life. He spent
Tuesday IN company with his friends and asso.
ciates In business as usual, and nothing was 90.
served IN his dcmeanor TO give ground ior auxl.
ETY.. 1t was one O'Clock yesterday morning
when he parted with his brother -in.law
and old partner In business, Joseph W.
Gilmore. He retired Tor the night but was
disturbed In his slumbers. Az ave O'Clock
yesterday morning he complained that he could
not rest and, taking o quilt, told his wife he
would 60 into another room and see II he could
md repose there. lie went down stairs and on
the basement door spread the quill Half an hour
aftcrward the servant girl went IN ana saw MIN
stretched and immovable on the quilt. She gave
Blood was pouring iron the rient temple and at the
right hand clasped Colts sx-Darrelled revolver,
with one chamber discouraged. Yet no one had
heard report. DR.. Craven, who resides only q
snort distance from the house, was summoned
aud ne pronounced life extinct. On close exam.
right temple, crushing through the brain struc.
ture and passing. out throush the left
mossOtu pIOCooSk Vucu dsktu II uobtu was
instantaneous the Doctor replied tersely,
nfe went mt out on the iert.' County Physician
stout was caeu 10, but he deemed an inquest uu-
necessary and granted permit iof burial. On =
sheH at the north side OF the basement anI
directly In front oil the place where Mr.. Drayton
had stood when he shot himself was found bottle
nearly filed with laudanum. From the fact that
the bottle was partially empty It was judged tnat
he swallowed some OF ir SO as to insure his death
In case the bullet Jailed OF ITS mission. Dr.. era
ven was OF the opinion. hoaever, that ne had not
taken any OF the laudanum. His theory was that
down stairs, in, tended to lie down that and end
his lie by SWALLOWING the audanum, but that he
changed mis- mind and shot himself.
Mr.. Drayton was forty.eignL years Of age, and
leaves vile and eight children He was native
81 Jersey City, and was the son OF English pa
rents. he was elected In 1854 TO the Legislature
BY the republicans. The Legislature OF 1874 ap.
pointed hl.n Fire Commissioner IN Jersey City, and
he was elected president OF that commission. He
resigned tae position, however. last Iaii. when ne
received the republican nomination for County
Clerk He bent all MS energies IN the prosecution
OF the canvass and spent hts money literally. re.
lying on division In the democratic ranks; bue
he was ueiealed by nearty three thousand votes.
He was at tue time engaged In the insurance
business, and from this ne retired i've weeks
ago. HIS business prospects were on the
wane, and the tide oil success with him
seemed 10 be rolling backward. Mental
depression was the consequence. Yet, strange to
say, ne lett his family In the possession oil prop
erty which WI: sustain them against want. His
Ills we're purely lmaRlnary, and ne had not the
resolution to lace temporary difficulties nor the
strength OF VISION to penetrate the dark cloud Of
financial embarrassment.