Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-08-02
Very Prominent Young Man If
Big Stone Gap Charged With
Stealing Wh|sEey.
FATHER CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR
The Warrant Charges Breaking Into
Express officc-Father Frustrated
by Occurrence Endcavors to Have
His Son Released on BaiI-Declares
Mind Affected by Debauchery.

BRlSTOL, VA, August 1.-Jamcs
w. Ayres ,twentyscyen years old and
son OF General Rufus A. Ayrcs. the
latter one of the wealthiest and best
known men I'm Virginia, is under ar
rest at Big Stone Gap on n charge of
breaking into the office of the South.
ern Express Company ut that place
and stealing whiskey.
The arrest was made late yesterday
afternoon. and created Il sensation In
this section.
/ The alleged robbery occurred Sun.
day, and the express officials have Of
Ulcers mt Big Stone Gap working on
the case.
Shortly after the arrest it became
known that General Ayres would
make plea of insanity. and ask for
commission of lunacy. This was
corroborated by the arrival of Dir. A.
S. Prlddy, superintendent of the
Southwestern State Hospital for the
Insane. at Marion, who reached Big
Stone Gap this morning at the request
of the father of the incarccrated man.
DR.. Priddy held private confer
cncc with General Ayres and the re.
suit. 1t is believed, Is that an effort
Will he made To have the young man
placed In that institution.
The arrest was made by n constable
upon warrant procured ly the agen1
OF the Southern Express company.
Young Ayrcs was mt his homo. and
when approached by the officers. en-
pressed great surprise He almost
collapsed when told that he would be
locked up. General Ayers was out of
town Mt the time, but upon learning
of the arrest, quickly returned and
began to take steps to have luuacy
commission appointed.
Recently Married.
Young Ayers is from one of the
hest families In Virginia. His father
is at the head of the biggest mineral
interest in Virginia. and expects to
make the race for the Democratic gu.
bernatorial nomination in Virginia He
was for number of years cashier OF
the Interstate Bank and Trust Com
pany Mt Big Stone Gap. an institution
owned by his father About year
ago he was married to Miss Jamie
Bullitt, daughter of Col and Mrs. John
f. Bullitt. and a member OF one of
the best families of Louisville. The
wedding was q very important social
event, and the honeymoon included n
trip to Panama and the West Indies
and a European tour
Mrs. Ayers is at Louisville. and the
news of her husbands arrest has not
yet been given her. She went to
Louisville on visit to her parents
about week ago
Friends of young Ayers say that he
had been drinking heavily for several
weeks Sunday lie -
made unsuccessful efforts to get whis.
key and failing in this he is charged
10 have robbed the Southern EXPRESS
Company's offices.
The matter was reported to the OK
press officials Monday by the agent
at Big Stone Gap, and quick steps were
taken. to prosecute the guilty per-
son, though Ayers was not then sus.
pected.
Father Distracted.
General Ayers is almost distracted
over the occurrence and is making er
forts to have his son released on bail
and is ready to give any amount. He
is said to have expressed himself rs of
the opinion that his sons mind had
been 80 affected by whiskey that he
was Insane. and the best course to
pursue under the circumstances is to
have commission OF lunacy pass on
the case
The Young man is at the height Of
dependency and it is feared IL re-
leased would make an attempt at sui
eide
About year ago he told his friends
that he had reformed and did for some
time cease drinking and was happily
married at louisville. Some months
after this he began to dissipate again.
despite the warning of his family.