The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-03-30


well-known cattle dealer, committed suicide, on
Thursday morning, between eight and nine
O'Clock, by hanging himself with pillow line TO
n rafter in his stable, near, his residence, at
Woolsey's Shops, on the Havrc de Grace road,
21l miles from Bel Air
Information of the occurrence reached Bel
Air about 10 o'clock, and States Attorney May.
nader requested Justice James A. Lyle to hold
an inquest A number of citizens of Bel Air
accompanied the Justice to the place, Deputy
Sheriff Carman summoned jury, as follows -
VIM. II. Harvard, foreman; F.. II. Foard, G. W.
Harvard, David Renheimer, John W. Coale,
James NJ. Reynolds, James p. Brae, George
W. Bowman, f. W. Baker, N. N. Mock, Darius
X. Prigg and A. Oliver Richardson
The body was found lying on pile of corn
in the narrow entry in front OF the horses stalls,
where it had been laid when cut down. 1t was
carried to the house, about 100 yards distant,
where the inquest was held Drs. Wake Mum
nikhuysen and j. Camp Butler made an exami-
nation and found the mans neck dislocated.
David Reinheimer stated that he was riding
by Ayres' house when Mrs. Ayres rushed out
into the road, screaming, and implored him TO
go for assistance, as her husband had hanged
himself He rode back to the blacksmith shop,
near by, and with Nelson Harvard, son of Mr..
c. W. Harvard, Elijah Whgis and VIM. Den
bow, hurried to tie stable and found the body
hanging in the hatchway, the feet projecting
below the floor of the loft. Mr.. Harvard cut the
rope and the body was lowered. Life was not
quite extinct. Mr.. Harvard felt several pulsa.
lions, but these ceased almost before the rope
was taken from around his neck The deceased
had gone into the loft and taking plow.line,
doubled it. One end he fastened by Il moose
around his neck and tied the other to rafter
over the hatchway. He then stepped into the
opening, which was about three feet square,
and the deed was done. As he was suspended
his head was only about - inches from the
roof. The act must have been performed with
the utmost deliberation.
Mrs. Sarah Ayres, his wife, testified, amidst
tears and sobs, that her husband had been great
ly depressed, for several days previous, on
NJ Hancock. He expressed great regret for
the occurrence. He told her he had heard Ma
jor Hancock was not expected to live, and he
could not face the law. On Wednesday morn
ing he went ont to feed his horses and returned
to breakfast After breakfast he smoked his
pipe and again went To the stable to get ready
10 90 and make some inquiries about Major
lIancOck's condition. After some time she be-
came uneasy and went to the stable and called
him He did not answer and opening the entry
door she saw him. At first she thought he was
a.,
upon going nearer she found he had hanged
himself At this point Mrs. Ayrcs broke com.
petey down.
The only thing in the dead mans pockets TO
indicate u predetermined purpose to take his
life was two ounce vial filled with laudanum.
1t had apparently not been opened. The name
of the druggist who sold it had been cut off from
the label. 1t was not bought in Bel Air. There
was also found in his hip pocket a small single
barrelled cartridge pistol, which was loaded
There were also a number of business letters
and receipts and S239 80 in gold and notes. The
money was deposited in bank by the coroner.
The jury rendered verdict that "John T.
Ayres hanged himself voluntarily and felonious.
ly." The body was taken in charge by his friends
for nterment at Mt. Zon next Sunday.
Ayrcs was son of the late Charles Ayres and
has many relatives in the county, the most of
them being in MarshalPs district. He was 45
years of age, and had been married p years lie
left no children. Mrs Ayrcs is a daughter of
Mr. Franklin Calder
In relation to the difficulty with Major Han
cock, it is said that Thursday week, in returning
from Bel Air Major Hancock overlook Mrs
Ayrcs and her niece walking home through the
mud. lie offered them seat in his carriage
and upon arriving in front of their house, Ayres
came out and without any provocation assaulted
him with the butt end of whip, cutting his
head, but not injuring him seriously.
Ayres was in Bel Air on Wednesday, attend
ing to business.