The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-01-17
INSANITY AND SUICIDE.
Public Men Driven to Death by Strange ram
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| Jnitcd States Senator Charles w. Jones, OF
| Florida. have excited mingled pity and com
| ment. Three years ago Senator Jones was a
| conspicuous figure in national affairs in Wash
| ington. Physically he was giant; utellecttt-
| ally he lowered above many Of his senatorial
| colleagues. He. was type Of dignity. Ills
! ability as a lawyer was conceded, and as an or
ator he had few peers III the senate. Moreover,
| he was popular with his colleagues and The pet
of the Irish American element throughout the
| country.
| Senator Jones has been the builder Of his
| own fortune and his misfortunes as well! He
| was born in Ireland in 1884, and came TO this
| country when boy Of TO- He learned the trade
| of carpentry, which he followed for years,
| meanwhile studying law in Pensacola, Fla. lie
| was admitted to the bar in 1851 He became a
successful lawyer. In 1870 he was elected Uni
| ted States Senator and reelected in 1881. Two
years ago he went to Detroit, where he met
Miss Palms, beautiful hciress with whom he
became infatuated. He is a widower.
His unsuccessful suit for her hand his eccen-
tricties and his financial difficulties are Of too
recent date to call for more than a passing
reference. He has never returned to Washing
ton since, and he left his state only partly rep
resented in the senate up to March last, when
his term expired
The senator's infatuation for Miss Palms
was SO great that he refused to leave Detroit
and return TO Florida even when begged to do
so by political admirers who desired his re-eleC-
tion to the United States senate, says the New
homeless, and practically
DEPENDENT ON CHARITY.
He imagines himself the victim of a conspira-
cy of politicians His friends hope 10 be able
to take him back to Florida, where, under
proper care and familiar surroundings, he may
become himself again.
The senator's present unhappy condition re-
calls the fate of many well known congress-
men and senators whose closing years were
blighted and who ended brilliant careers in o
violent manner.
James j. Wilson, of New Jersey. was success
sIvely clerk of the Legislature, editor, state adj
iutant-general and United States senator. His
mind became unbalanced, and one night i'm
agning his house was on fire. he jumped ont
of the window and was badly injured He
died two years later-July, 1924.
Congressman Robert Porter, North Carolina,
was the husband of beautiful woman, of
whom he was intensely jealous His jealousy
developed into insanity, and henearly murdered
two OF his wifes cousins, who had called to
pay n friendly visit, August %, 1881. He was
sent to prison and fined 81 600. He aftcrward
went to Texas, where he was killed in a brawl.
William S. Ramsey, of Carlisle, Penn, was
elected to congress when only % years old. He
served i'll the twenty-sixth congress, and was
reelected to the succeeding one. The day after
his reelection he received letter, the contents
of which he never revealed. lie became a
changed man, and ended his bright career with
a bullet in q hotel in Baltimore in October
1910. He was only 80 years old.
In fit of mental alteration John White, of
kentucky, killed himself at Richmond, KY,
in September, 1915. He was congressman for
10 years, and speaker of the Twenty-seyenth
congress-
Congressman Felix G. Mcconnell represent
cd Alabama from December 4, 1913, to Sep
TENDER 10, 1916, when he cut his throat in a
Washington hotel. The death of devoted
friend had driven him to
DRINK AND INSANITY,
1,a faJ
Jesse Thomas, of Illinois, was . western
pioneer, a congressman and a United States
senator for 10 years The secret prosecutions
of n political enemy unsettled his reason and
he cut his throat at Mount Vernon, o., Febru-
airy 8, 1850
United States Senator Thomas J. Rusk, of
Texas, committed suicide at Nacogdoches,
Tex, in July 1856 He had been a successful
lawyer, brave soldier, had fought for Texan
independence, served as chief Justice of the
state, and was United States senator for 10
years. Mental infirmity drove him to the deed
which ended his eventful career.
Edward Curtis was noted politician il his
time. He represented New York city in con-
gress from 1877 to 1884, when President Har-
rson appointed him collector of the port. The
treaehery of some political friends turned his
brain and he died in New York, after a lmger-
ing illness, in August, 1856.
In his time few public men we're better
known than Edward A. Hannegan, of Indiana.
congress-,
and was United States senator for six years.
He was afterward minister TO Prussia One
night in 1892, during drunken brawl he killed
his brotherin-law, Captain Duncan Politi-
cal influence saved him, but he removed to
Missouri He was a changed man. and he
brooded over the tragedy until his mind was
affected He died in st. Louis, February
%, 1859.
Alfred 2. Stone, who had served Ohio in
congress, was appointed internal revenue col
lectorf for the Columbus district. lie was after
ward found to be deiaulter. Maddened by
his disgrace, and fearing the penalty of his
crime, he disappeared August l. 1865. He
WAS FOUND DEAD NEXT DAY
On the graves of his two children. He had
poisoned himself.
himself down with iron and stones. and jumped
from ferryboat into the North river He was
drowned. He had served four years in congress
and represented New York in the United States
senate. Three months before he ended his life
President Johnson appointed him collector of
the port. Senator King, it is said was insane
AT the time he committed suicide
Jams H. Lane was another unfortunate.
Fortune had been kind to him and he was lieu
tenant governor of Indiana. congressman and
United States senator from Kansas While
lahorng under tit of insanity he shot himself
at Fort Leayenworth, Kan, July II, 1866 He
was a senator at the time
Financial trouble and i'll health proved upon
South Carolina politician CNho reuresented his
state IN the Fhirty-siXth congress-, until he be-
came Irresponsible. lie ended his misery at
Dardis. Miss, December, 1871, by shooting
himself.
Obadiah Browne of Staten island. prince
ton graduate, was sent TO congress when only
rs years old, in 1850. He was afterward quar-
rentme commissioner and n Lincoln presfden-
tial elector. Family troubles drove him TO
drink. lie Squaudered his fortune and became
destitute.
TROUBLE, DRINK AND WANT
turned his head and he poisoned himself with
opium on April y, 1854, at some place on Sta
ten island.
There are many men in this city who re-
member congressman David Il. Neilish. He
worked as proof reader and reporter for years.
He was stenographer for 10 years. and then ap-
praiSer OF the port. He was elected to the
Forty-th,rd congress, but served only a few
months. He had become insane, and died MAY
- 1874, IN the government hospital for the in
sane.
James w. Nye,'a noted politician who was
district attorney Of Madison county. state no
ice commissioner, governor of Nevada and
United States senator from that state when it
was admitted into the Union, lost his mental
balance after leaving the senate, and died on
Nhrstmas day. 1876, at White Plains, NY.
koSs SobieSki, of Pennsylvania served his
state pO1l-YpyS from, 1872 60 49, MI, 1nes Nf