Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-12-06
Indifferent to Dead Father.

fOh. l don care, sdlu JoChoS Jus
eph Jones, who makes 49, 900 a year
on the race track, as he stood unm0yed
Monday over the corpse OF his iather'
George Jones, suicide, at the German
town Almshouse, where the wealthy son
had permitted the forlorn old man TO De
sent. "Pn no. sorry. Let the body
90 to the Potter's Field. It's all the
same to me-"
The old man, crushed by the burden
of scCumuatiug domestic sorrows, had
cut his throat with the almshOuse cary-
ing knife at breakfast time. His son,
psssiug through the city from his bone,
In New York, had run over 10 the aims
bouse ''iust to see the cid man," as he
expressed it 10 his friends, tut at the
door was met by the coroner's deputy,
who said: "Pfepsre yourself for shock.
Your father is dead-dead by his own
hand.
1t was then, looking down upon the
blood-stained box which contained his
fathers corpse, that the youth made
the heartless remark that he did not
care. g.,
Turning upon his heel, he hurried
downstown 10 join his mother, who sew
eral wears ago had deserted her hus-
hand TO live with the man who had seen
the Possibilities Of jrckey in the son
and who had put him in the way OF a
remarkable career. Without ever ask
ing to see the body, or even making the
slight st effort to give 1t decent, Chrls-
tian burial. the boy and his mother
were soon speeding 20 the south on a
Hyer to attend the New Orleans races at
the same moment that attendants at the
almshouse were preparing the remains
of the father and husband for pauper
burial.
A wel.liked Englishman, Jones years
ago conducted a prosperous hosiery es-
tablishment on Centre street, near
Evans. Germantown. Later on he
moved his plant to Harvey street, ad-
Joining the grounds OF the old Town
Hall. Business then began to fail, and
he finally gave it up to become sexton
for Christ Ep.scOpsl Church.
His son, Joseph, now 10 years old,
was iaclnated with horsts. He was
much at the race track, and came to
know the men who raced and bet on
horses. One day a man with diamond
rings daikened the door of the Jones
home and engaged the boy, in whom he
saw possibilities Of great Jockey, to
ride. The judgment Of Mr.. Healy, the
turfman, was soon verified. Joseph Jones
developed rapidly. and it was not long
before he was making from $40, 600 TO
$l5, 900 a year, riding the horses In the
stables of Mr. Whitney and others, 1t
was only few weeks ago that Jones
made $35. 900 tor the owner of a horse
that he rode in the Saratoga races.
The father grieved over his sons TAX
ing to this life, but a worse sorrow
| awaited him. Healey became infatuat-
ed with his wife--the mother OF the
iockey-and she left her husband and
her home to live with the turfman. The
boys big earnings supported in luxury
his mother and Healey.
Deserted by these two, as well as by
his other three children, two girls and a
boy, all now living it is said, in New
Jersey, Jones two years ago went to the
Germantown almshouse, where be was
favorite with all. But his troubles were
greater than he could face Last Friday
he twice attempted to drown himself in
the Wissahickon, but was prevented by
Park Guards Rittenhouse and Farmer
Magistrate OBrien gave him. 30 days
but Mrs. Rausenberger, the matron a
the slmshouse, interceded for him and HI
was released and returned 10 the aims
house.
He had been waiting on the inmate
at the breakfast table Monday, as was
his custom, when he suddenly ran on
of the room into the departments o
Stewart RausenbeTger and, seizing tn
sharp carving knife, rushed down TO tn
basement, where he drew the blade acros
his throat. A doctor was quickly sum
moned, but could not close the deadl,
cash.
The courts yesterday were to have ap
pointed a guard.a .an for young Jones, AM
this worried the father. Before he woul'
see this done, be SAID be would kill him
self, and he did.-[PhiladeiDhia Record