The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-05-16
CAPT. JOHN {. HENLEY
ENDS HIS OWN LIFE
Prominent Citizen Dependent
Over Ill Health
WAS FORMERLY MAYOR
Health Had Become Greatly Impaired
During Last Year-Mayor o'Brien
Pays Tribute To
/ Character.
WAS FORMERLY MAYOR

.Despondent over the condition of his
h9 alth Capt. John C. Henley, promi-
mt and pioneer citizen and former Mayor
e6 Birmingham, ended his life shortly
before o'clock yesterday afternoon at
MS residence. 1901 Avenue I, by firing
a bullet into his brain.
Captain Henley was in his 9th year
nd up to a year or two ago enjoyed
pod health. During the past year, how
{ yer. his physical condition became very
I DOR A complication of ailments set in,
t he thekening of the arteries being the
I most serious. He suffered great pain
{ md this caused him gradually to become
I relaneholy.
During the last few weeks his conversa-
ati on had much to do with suicides. but
hel meyer made any threats relative to
failing his own life Members of his
family. however, were fearful lest he
should make an attempt and what weap-
ons there were about the house were
hidden
! His condition was the same as usual
/ yesterday Just before committing the
rash act he was seated on the front porch
/ of his residence with Mrs. Henley. He
stepped into the house and a few min
utes later two shots were heard. A hasty
! investigation revealed him lying on the
floor in the rear of the second story hall
way next to the bath room. Life was
extinct before anyone reached him.
One bullet had entered from the back
j of the head and caused instant DEATH
found, either about his body or in the
hallway. 1t is supposed that after go
ing upstairs he had entered his sons
room, found the revolver. and then Sc
| lected the rear hall as the place to end
his life.
| A widow and three sons survive Cap
| tain Henley, the sons being John c.,
| Walter and Courtney. Funeral arrange
menF have not been made, pending the
arriHh of one son from Virginia.
Tribute by Mayor o'Brien
Mayor Frank P. OBrien, for years
warm personal friend of Captain Hen
ley last night wrote this tribute to the
we'll known citizen:
I'm the midst of life we are in death"
The full force of this oft-quoted line came
to me yesterday afternoon when I was
summoned across the street to the resi-
dence of my old boyhood friend, Capt.
John G. Henley, who was then in the
throes of death.
In the death of Captain Henley his
family has lost a good, kind husband
and father, the city of Birmingham one
of It's Oldest and best citizens, and the
| writer a warm, loving friend; one who
never failed to sympathize with him in
his misfortunes, and none that rejoced
more In his advancement and success.
His record is an inspiration and ex-
ample to the boys of our country. His
life and services reflect great credit and
honor on the land of his BIRTH. and the
| lineage he bore. His character was firm
| but indulgent. He pitied and excused
| the fraities of mankind; he was a good
| father and husband; he esteemed tall
| ents, took pleasure In encouraging and
| developing them assisted with enthu-
| siasm, with affection and with peculiar
| delcacy all those who were able In their
! turn to benefit suffering humanity.
His manners were unassuming, his tenn
per equable and his society pleasing.
Timd, and even embarrassed in a nu-
merous circle, it was in a private one
that he displayed the superiority of his
| requirements and the extent of his knowl-
| edge. few words which he uttered af-
! forded ample testimony of his candor
| and rectitude. A good man has gone;
| peace to his ashes
Biographical.
| Capt John C. Henley was born In Mont
| gomery Ala, September %, 1912. He was
the son of John and Annie Moulton Hen
| ley of Montgomery. His father was one
| of the pioneers of Montgomery, as he
was of Birmingham. He went to the
State university in 1858. He entered the
! Confederate service first, as member
| of the Montgomery Rifles, which was
| taken to Fort Morgan early in the spring
| of 1861 by Captain Long Joe) Bibb. Later
| he became an officer in billiards Le-
| gion" in which command he served with
| distinction to the termination of the war.
| He came to Birmingham January. 1872,
| and Joined his uncle, Mr.. Marshall Moul-
| ton, in the real estate business. He was
| Joined in marriage to Mrs Annie Linn
| Mathews, daughter of Mr.. Charles Linn,
| one of the pioneers of Birmingham, jan
uary, 1876. He leaves a widow and three
| sons, Messrs Walter, John and Courtney
| Henley. The heartfelt sympathy of the
| entire community goes out to this strick-
en- family. FLANK p. O'BRIEN.
| Real Estate Transfers.