The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-01
HAMILTON jays SUICIDE.
The Fear of Insanity Drove Him to
Take Poison.

rake PO1SOus
Jacksonville, Fla, Jan. 31.-Col. HamH-
ton Jay, the well known editor and writer
committed suicide yesterday morning by
taking cyanide of potassium. He was
found dead in his bed at Bettelini's Hotel.
1t Is presumed from the evidence discov-
cred that fear of insanity led to his taxi
ing his own life.
on a table near the head of the bed lay
letter addressed to Capt. Charles Ellis
an intimate and close friend of the
deceased. This was marked personal. 1t
pertained only to family affairs of the de-
ceased, and stated what disposition to
make of his body and effects. He wanted
TO be buried simply and plainly, with no
flowers. 1t was written in February a
year ago. In it he declared himself a
Christian and one with infinite faith In
the mercy Of God. Another letter was ly-
ing near the first This was written on
a sheet of wrapping paper and
was lying upon the table with the writ
ing plainly visible. 1t was written in a
plain hand and perfectly legible, not a
trace of nervousness being visible 1t read
as follows:
Death it preferable to insanity, and 1
choose it as the lesser of two evils. 1t is
a horrible state of affairs. but the voices
are calling me, and l can hold back no
longer. Good bye to all. Hamilton Jay
Sunday night, Jan. 20, 1899"
II is inferred that the writer was not In
his sound mind; in fact, some of his friends
had been talking recently of having him
examined by physicians and placed in
some institution. He had, IL is stated, re-
Gently become victim to the use of NOR
phine, and 1t was thought his mind
was giving way under severe mental strain
OF late he kept himself confined to his
room and ventured out only occasionally,
and then he spoke only to intimate friends.
On a dresser in 1.-The room was found a
paper labeled cyanide of potassium, two
ounces; poison and the firm name of
Leake & McNiei, druggists, on it. This
drug was purchased last Wednesday, as
was ascertained by a written order in the
possession of the druggists sent them on
that day, and reading as follows:
Jacksonville, Fla. Jan. %, 1S99.-Dear
Doctor: Kindly send we two ounces of
cyanide of potassium, and charge TO my
account. l am gaining strength rapidly
and will soon be on the warpath again.
Yours very truly, Hamilton Jay"
Col Jay went to Florida from Trenton.
n. j., at the close of the civil war, with
DR.. S. B. Conover Col. Jay was in
command of a cavalry regiment on the
union side during the war between the
states, and served with distinction through
the struggle. Upon his arrival in Florida
he located at Lake City, and commenced
the puDncatlOn OF weekly newspaper
which he ran for several years When Har-
rison Reed was made Governor of the state
by the Republicans he appointed Dr. Con-
over state treasurer, and Jay stopped the
publication of his paper to accept the posi-
ton of private secretary to DIR. Conover
When Treasurer Conover was afterward
made United States senator, in 1874. he
had Col. Jay appointed postmaster of
this city, which position he held for four
years, making one of the best Of
fcials this city has ever had. While post
master he married a young lady of Live
Oak After his term of office expired he
devoted his attention to literary work, con-
tributing largely to several prominent
Northern journals and magazines. In 1888
he went to work as city editor upon the
Times Union. This position he held for
several years. Subsequently he was edi-
tor of the afternoon edition of the Times
Union, at the same time furnishing edito-
rial and special matter for the morning
edition. At the time of the consolidation
with the Citizen he was holding the posi-
tion of editor of the afternoon edition of
the Times-Union This publication was
stopped, and Jay was without EMPLOYMENT
He afterward acted as stamp clerk in the
postoffice under Postmaster Eagan. dur
ing the rush a the time the soldiers of
the Seventh Army Corps were stationed
here. Since September he had no EMPLOY
nlent, and during this time he became very
respondent, and acquired the morphine
habit.