Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-05
HON. BEN |. JONES'
SHOOTS HIMSELF
AS RESULT OF SUPPOSED LII
HEALTH AND DESPONDENCY,
PROMINENT AND WEALTHY
MAN PUTS BULLET IN BRAIN.

MACON. Ca. Feb. 2.-Hon. Ben l..
Jones. one of the wealthiest men in Ma
con and probably the best known man In
the city, killed himself in his bedroom at
his residence, S64 Mulberry street, TINS
morning at Sis O'Clock. by shooting him
self through the temple with 3S-calloer
revolver.
Mr. Jones act is attributed to state
of melancholia resulting from an attack
of jaundice from which he has been
suffering for the past two weeks.
Yesterday ne was at his place of bust
ness, but was feeling badly, and all dur
ing last night he suffered continually.
This morning he agreed with Paul b.
Wilkes, his secretary, to take trip TO
Cuba, starting next week. but Mr.. Wilkes
had not left him ten minutes when the
report of a pistol was heard from his
room.
Members of the family, who rushed in.
saw him lying across the bed with tho
smoking pistol beside him.
Physicians were hurriedly summoned,
but life was extinct when they arrived.
The verdict of the coroner's jury was
that Mr.. Jones came to his death at his
own hands, while in a depressed state OF
mind brought on by an attack o. jaun-
dice.
Was Wealthy Man
Mr.. Jones' financial affairs were in
splendid condition He owned more prop
erty. perhaps, than any man in Macon or
Bibb county, and none of 1t was incum-
bered whatever.
The announcement of his death has Gre
,ated profound sorrow in Macon, for he
was universally popular with all classes
of people.
He is survived by his wife and by two
children, Miss Josephine Jones and Mr..
w. Henry Jones, who was business
partner with his father.
Mr. Jones was a member of the Bib
county board of education, county road
commission, and had served several terms
as alderman. He was prominently men
toned as candidate for mayor in the
coming election.
Headed Macon Fair
He was president of the Macon Fair
association, and last year when the fair
was organized he personally guaranteed
every expense of the association, and as
result it was a great success.
The meeting of the directors of the as
ISOLATION, which was to have been held
tomorrow, has been postponed on account
of Mr.. Jones death.
DR.. w. j. Little, Mr.. Jones' attending
physician, stated shortly after Mr.. Jones
death, that he had been in very de-
pressed state for several days. The fact
that his mother recently died with jauh-
dice seemed to be preying on his mind,
and the further fact that he did not seem
to improve to any extent, made mat
ters worse
At times he would be cheerful, but at
other times he would be decidedly blue.
He was up and around his room sew
eral times this morning before he shot
himself, but complained of feeling badly.
Mr.. Jones had a wide acquaintance in
Atlanta and owned considerable property
there.
Conducted Big Stock Yard
Ben L. Jones was born in Macon As
years ago. He celebrated his 18th birth
day several days ago. He was a MEM
Der of the Bib county board of eduea-
ton. His principal business at the time
of his death was a big stock yard. which
was conducted under the name of Jones g.
Jones, his son being partner in the firm.
He owned property on nearly every bust
ness block in Macon, and many fine coun-
try farms. He also owned large blocks Of
stocks and bonds He made most of his
money I'm the warehouse and supply BUSH
ness in East Macon. He sold this bust
ness out two years ago and came across
the river and built the big stock yard and
hotel combined which is located at the
corner of Third and Pine streets. 1t
covers over two acres of ground.
Son of Locomotive Engineer
Mr.. Jones was the son of w. H. Jones,
who was for a number of years a loco
motive engineer on the Central railroad,
but who left the railroad business and
started the warehouse in East Macon.
Mr.. Jones was graduate of Mercer and
of the business college at Poughkeepsie,
n. Y. His estate is valued at $45O,OOo.
Recently he had bought the old voolfolk
place, where Tom voolfolk killed nine
people, and had fitted it up in magnificent
stlye for a country club, largely Tor auto
mobiles.