The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-06
SUICIDE.
Lewis J. Best, the Well Known
Topeka Capitalist
Has Taken His Life in Arkan-
Sas.
COMMITTED THE ACT
At the Lumber Village of Bear.
down, Ark,
Mr.. Best Supposed to Be Worth
About 100000.

Lewis J. Best of Topeka attempted
suicide at Beardown, Ark, yesterday
morning. The manner of the attempt
and whether or not it resulted fatally
is not known in this city up to a late
hour this afternoon. The only inform
alton OF the attempt as yet received in
Topeka is contained in the following
telegram to DR. II. c. Guibor:
DIR. Guibor, Topeka:
Lew Best attempted suicide this
morning. Not dead, but dying"
The telegram was sent yesterday aft
ernoon from Bay City. Ark, a small
lumber camp a few miles from Bear
down, by H. S. Mitchell, a business
partner of DR.. Guibor DR.. Guibor at
once telegraphed for full particulars,
but has as yet received no further
word.
Lewis J. Best has made his home in
Topeka for the last six years, residing
in the handsome brick residence at the
corner of Ninth and Tyler streets. His
family consists of a wife and one
daughter, Miss Edna Best, prominent
in society circles in this city. He was
man so years of age and resided in
Kansas a greater portion of that time,
being one of the best known men in
the state.
Six years ago Mr.. Best gave up the
banking business in Beloit, Kan, and
became the president of the Cotton Belt
Lumber company, a corporation organ
lied to carry on the lumber business in
Arkansas. Thousands of acres of tim
Der land in that state were purchased,
and SaWm1l erected. During the past
year Il new mill was erected on the
land at the cost of $50, 900, and the prop
erty alone is said to be worth $500 600.
The cost Of the new mill is practically
the only liability of the company, and
of the property of this corporation Mr..
Best was the principal owner
simultaneously with his abandon
ment of the banking business in BeIoit
Mr.. Best moved to this city. During
the six years he has been engaged in
the lumber business he has spent much
of his time at the lumber camp of Bear
down, and was last in this city for a
few days in January. When he re-
turned to BeardoWn from this city in
January Mrs. Best accompanied him,
and Miss Edna Best who has been
studying music in Chicago, joined her
parents about q month ago. A letter
written to a friend in this city a week
ago by Mrs. Best announced that the
entire family would return to Topeka
about May Is.
AS no particulars have yet reached
Topeka, the cause Of the attempted
suici1e is not known 1t is rumOred
that Mr. Best was in financial difficulty
GuibOr and Insurance superintendent
Webb AIcNaIl, two of the closest
friends Mr. Best had in this state. In
reference to the probable cause of the
attempted suicide DR.. GuibOr said to-
day:
MY idea is that the mans mind
broke down under the strain of bust
ness and that he was temporarily in
sane when he committed the act. There
could be no financial difficulty, because
the only liability the company has that
amounts to anything is the cost OF the
new mill, about S50,000, and the land is
alone worth 5000 900. I don't think
there was any incumbrance on his home
in this city, because he traded bank
stock he owned in the First National
bank of BelOit in principal payment OF
You know his brother committed
suicide in St. Louis year ago." con-
tinued DR.. GuibOr, 'and this also hung
heavy on Lewis mind His health has
been very poor for the last few years,
and he probably went to pieces under
tho business strain and his brain gave
wav. After the suicide of his brother
was afraid he would break down COM
pleteIy. but instead he seemed to rally
ana get in better shape Shortly be
fore his brothers suicide got word
that I.ew's health was going to pieces
in Arkansas, and wrote his brother.
Reuben to come up to Topeka and
bring Lew with him. They came into
nv office here a few days after and
Lew was looking very bad. said
See here, Lew, you've got to give up
business for awhile, and / want you to
pack up and go to colorado ana stay
there until I tell you to come back At
that time Reuben was running the St.
Louis office of the company, but he said
that he could make arran gementS to
go down and run the mill in Arkansas
while Lew took a rest. Lew readily
agreed to take the trip to Colorado, and
it was all settled on, but it was only a
little while after that the dispatch came
saving that Reuben had cut his throat
in St. Louis.
course Lew had to give up all thought
of his Colorado trip then, and keep on
with the business He was terribly
broken up over his brothers suicide,
but he went down to the mill in Ar
kansas to manage the affairs of the
company, and there he has been the
majority of the time ever since. There
is one thing sure, Lew Best never at
tempted suicide through dependency
He was one of the most cheerful and
best hearted men I ever knew, and in
the % years of close acquaintanceShip
with him never knew that man TO be
angry for five minutes at a time"
Mr.. Best was county clerk of Mitchell
county for a number of years, in fact
until he declined to hold the position
and later was receiver of the United
States land Office at kirWin, Kan. This
Appointment he secured through Sena-
tor John J. ingalls,, of whom he was a
warm personal friend. For Is years
Mr.. Best was a prominent figure in pol
itics in this state. almost invariably at
tending state conventions of the Re
publican party as a delegate from
Mitchell county, and twice was a can
didate before the convention for the
nomination of secretary of state
After his term Of Office as receiver of
the government land Office at KirWiu
expired. Mr.. Best went into the lumber