The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1904-06-19
HIS LIFE.
]. A. MAYS SENDS BULLET
THROUGH HIS HEAD.
Was Charged With Misuse Of Funds
in Elk City National Bank Of
Which he was President-For.
merly Resided in Ardmore.

People and especially the friends Of
the family, in Ardmore were stunned
upon hearing that on Friday night at
Dallas J. a. Mays a former resident
Of this place had committed suicide.
The following account of the sad
AFFAIR appeared in yesterdays Dallas
News:
J. A. Mays, formerly president OF
the Elk City National Bank Of Elk
city OK, shot himself through the
head last night in the Dallas county
jail
Physicians were hurriedly summon.
ed and both the United States govern.
ment officers ana the county oficials
did what they could to save his life
and mitigate his suffering From the
first the wound was regarded as nee
essarily fatal.
Mr.. Mays was a man apparently
about 40 years OF age. was brought TO
this city from Greenvile on Wednes.
day morning and was given into the
custody OF United States oficials on
charge of misuse of the funds of
the National Bank of which he was
president. At his own request upon ar
rival in the city he was carried to
the st. George Hotel, and there left
his valise
At the Federal building he waived
examination before the commissioner
and was placed in Jail On reaching
the Jail he was thoroughly searched
| by Deputy Marshal X. NJ. Warden and
no weapons were found on his person
He was given good room on the
ground fcor adjoining the office and
was allowed the liberty OF the office
and dining room in addition 70 his
own room ana the reception room
| Apparently he was as cheerful as
could have been expected under the
circumstances.
on Thursday he asked TO have his
yaiise brought from the hotel, and this
was done.
About 4:3O p. m, yesterday Mar
shall Warden went to the Jail to tan
the man to Guthrie, Ok. In the office
said Mr. Warden, Mr.. Mays spoke
pleasantly to me and with the jailer
| passed some few words of conversa-
ton. He rose quietly and went back
into the dining room and drank some
water. Coming back through the office
he entered his own room and partly
closed the door. In a little while a
dull report was heard and at first it
was thought TO be from across the
street
Jailer Boon Peak AMI myself enter
ed Mr. Mays room and found him
lying upon his back on the bed with
a pistol grasped in his right hand
He lay diagCnally across the couch
and through the head was a bullet
|
the cover of the bed and on the two
O. walls of the corner in which the pee
sits. There was hardly a quiver in
the large frame and only the laboreC
p breathing of the man gave evidence
of life up to the time of his death a
1850 O'clock The bullet was a stee
covered missile from a magazine guI
and had struck the south wall OF th'
room and glancing and gone through
4 window on the west. Smokeles
powder was used and there was N
Pa. burn"
e DR.. r. w. Allen for the governmen
and DR. Thomas b. Fisher Tor tn
e county were present at the end. Tn
services of trained nurse wer
p given
on the foot of the bed hung the ha
y that the man had worn when he er
r tered the room. On the table was
paper, on which was written:
Notify NJ. NJ Chandler Of Greer
vile by telephone at once.
y. Notify II, L. Echols Of Elk City b
w. Z. r c., wire.
Il, God save my wife and babies
20 Dur me in the clothes nave OF
No have mai a nice bath and nave O