The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-06-06
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!
The shocking news comes TO us that
Hon. JAS. d. Fay killed himself at EN- !
pire City, Coos county, last Friday
morning. Our readers will remember
that the DEMOCRAT mentioned his arri-
val at that place from San Francisco
some weeks ago, in the capacity of an
attorney in an important lawsuit, The
latest account Of his death is that for
several DAYS before the rash and awful
deed was committed, Mr.. Fay had been
drinking very hard. He was intoXi-
Gated the day before he shot himself,
and had to be put to bed Thursday
night in an almost elpleSs condition of
inebriation. Friday morning he rose,
dressed himself, and soon after went |
Into the Star saloon. After taking
drink he sat down and picking up pa
per began to read. There was nothing
either in his manner or looks to excite
particular attention. The proprietor
having occasion to step outside of the
saloon left Fay alone He was leaning
back in his chair at the time, reading,
or pretending to read the paper, with
his feet resting ON Theron fender which
surrounded the stove. Only a few
minutes elapsed after the proprietor
stepped out until he heard the sharp
report of pistol in the saloon. He
ran in and was Mortified tn lind Fay
dead. He had not moved from the
position he assumed when the prepric
tor went out. His feet still rested on
the fender his body rather thrown
back both hands were resting in his
lap, and his head had fallen forward on
his breast. \ large hole was seen in
the right temple, from which the purple
flood of life was seen flowing Profusely.
The weapon with which TIE fatal deed
had been accomplished lay in his lap
where it had fallen from his nerveless
grasp as the deadly missile went crash
ing through his brain. Death must
have resulted instantaneously. Fay
seemed to be in full possession of all his
faculties up to the moment when he
was left alone, and the insane impulse
must have taken instant and complete
control of him, causing him to snatch
the pistol from his pocket and in sec
oud launch his soul into eternity.
Mr. Fay was for many years one OF
Or-son's most prominent Democratic
politicians. He was, we believe. the
oaly Democratic member OF our State
Legislature during the red-hot war pc
riod of 60, and was one OF three Hon.
L. F. Lane and /. Cox being the others,
Democrats members IN 1861. lie was
a candidate for Congress in 1866. aud
was defeated BY his Radical opDonent
Hon. Rufus Mallory. IN 1879 he was
elected State Senator from Jackson
county, and served two terms t hereafter
as President of the Senate. Shortly
after the expiration of his term Of of
fee in 1874 he removed from Jackson
county to San Francisco. where he hai
since been engaged IN the practice o
the law, in which pursuit he has beer
very successful. Mr. Fay has beer
twice married. His first wife was
daughter of Jesse Applega.e. Sh
died some years ago, leaving one child
His second wife. who survives him, wa
a Miss Rosa Young. of Jacksonville
She Is now at that place. having com
with him to Empire City, and theno
to Jacksonville. By the second maj
riage there Is a daughter three years {
age. He began the study Of law unde
Judge Skinner at Eugene and con
pleted his course in the Office of ii
late Judge Thayer at Corvallis. n
Fay was aged about - sea-s, was a
active, energetic, aggressive man, stror
in his likes and dislikes, persistent
anv conrse which he had marked ont,
bitter hater of his enemies and tr'
and steadfast to his friends, and leav
many of the latter in Oregon to lame
his unlocked for and untimely fate.