New-York tribune., 1906-06-06
STEEL MAN A SUICIDE.
HEIR TO MILLIONS.
Pittsburger Brooded Over III Health
Dies IN MOther's Arms.
[By Telegraph to The Tribune.

Pittsburg, June 5.-Thomas O'Connor Jones,
assistant general manager of the Jones &
Laughlin Steel Company. heir to a fortune of
probably s50.0oo.0Oo. and himself many times a
millionaire. committed suicide this morning at
the Hotel Scnenley by shooting himself
For some months the young had been in
I'll health. suffering from nervous disorders.
Recently he frequently expressed the fear that
his pain would drive him insane He also feared
that he would go blind. These things are
thought 10 have worried him so that he became
temporarily insane and ended his life. His sui
eide created most profound sensation in busi-
ness and social circles. and every effort was
made to prevent ii becoming public. his relatives
trying 10 have it suppressed in the Coro-
ners office.
The young man. who was just entering his
thirty-sixth year. lived in suite OF apartments
at the Hotel Schenley with his mother Mrs, Ce-
celia c. Jones' Murdoch All preparations had
been made for taking him Cambridge Springs
to-day.
According 10 a statement made TO the COro-
ner by his mother this morning. she spent most
of last evening in his She entered his
room again at a. TO give him medicine and
found him seated at the window. They talked
together for some time. and then Mrs. Jones'
Murdock retired
At O'Clock she was awakened by a revolver
lying on the bed She raised his head. but he
expired in her arms in less than five minutes
The Coroner and the relatives decided that
inquest was necessary. as 1t was plain Of
suicide.
There is great mystery to how he secured
the revolver and il is believed that it was SNUG
gled into his room. The weapon was a cheap
of 80 calibre. His mother went through all
his belongings last night and did not see the
revolver. 1t is thought he had IL concealed in
the bed
Jones was graduate of Yale and entered the
Jones & Laughlin Steel Company Immediately
after leaving college. His father was George W.
Jones, brother Of B. F. Jones. ex-chairman of
the National Republican Committee. who
Quoted the Blaine campaign. He died about
twenty years ago. leaving his vast fortune 10
his wife and only child, who to-day took his life
He would have inherited all Of his mothers
share of the estate
His mother married Dr. F. H Murdoch well
known physician. several years ago. The young
man was considered the most eligible bachelor
of Pittsburg and was the recognized society
leader Of the most exclusive set He was a
member Of the University, Pittsburg and Ale-
gheny Country clubs. as we'll as of several New
York clubs
B. F Jones, jr, his cousin. the president of
the Jones and Laughlin Steel Company. stated
this afternoon:
We all Mortified at the suicide of Cousin
Tom / totally at a loss 10 understand why
he should have taken his life. He had been i'll
for some time, suffering from nervous disorder
He had been having trouble with his eyes, and
feared that he would become blind. He also
feared that his nervous trouble would drive him
insane. These are the only reasons that we
know of for his taking his life. II is in
stance in which you can truthfully state that
there was no woman in the case"