The Washington herald., 1912-03-20
NEWSOFALEXANDRIA
Benjamin T. Board Commits Suicide
at Wake Forest, N. C.-Mason
Smith Held for Grand Jury.

from a nervous breakdown, BENJAMIN F..
Board. thirty-six years old, one Of the
city's leading business men, last night
committed suicide by jumping from the
top of a lO0-foot water tower at the resi-
dence Of his father-in-law, w. r. Powell,
Wake Forest. N. C.
News Of the suicide OF Mr.. Board did
not reach here until this morning. and
came as a distinct shock to his many
business friends and associates in the
city That the act was committed in L
ht of mental dependency, probably
caused by worry and overwork, there
seems TO be but little doubt among his
friends.
According to the dispatch received here
this afternoon from Wake Forest, n. c..
the deceased left the sitting room a few
minutes after O'Clock last night. Alarm
was felt upon his nonarrivai at IL
o'clock. and 4 search was instituted for
him. The llfeless body was found by the
father-in-law OF the deceased n few min
utes after II o'clock at the foot OF the
big water tower which supplied the farm
and house with its water supply. Mr..
Board had also been a sufferer from both
dyspepsia and insomnia, II is said, which
caused him additional mental anxiety as
well as nervousness.
Accompanied by his wife and two-year-
old son, he left here about three weeks
ago for a visit to his father-in-law's
place, hoping that he would fully recup-
crate. His wife was formerly Miss Pow
ell, OF Wake Forest, ". c.
He apparently rallied for the first few
days and his wife and other members of
the family thought that he was well on
the way to complete recovery when he
ended his worldly troubles by the fatal
jump.
The deceased was a native of Ripley,
w. Va. and came to Alexandria Sep
tember !. 1905. from Washington, being at
that time a member OF the firm OF
Semmes. Kelly & Co. OF Washington.
Locating in this city he established the
BOard-Armstrong Company. manufacture
ers OF cider and vinegar, whose plant is
located at Henry and Pendleton streets.
He was president of that concern. Less
than a year ago he organized the Board
Motor Truck Corporation. Incorporated.
manufacturers of heavy automobile
trucks. lie was also president OF this
concern.
Mr.. Board was a thirty-second degree
Mason and a member OF Almas Temple.
Mystic Shrine. Washington; Alexandria
Lodge OF Elks: the Commercial Club. of
Washington; Chamber of Commerce. this
city. and a director in the Alexandria
National Bank He was we'll known in
business and fraternal circles.
There was n meeting Of the Elks to-
night when its annual lodge OF sorrow
was held for the deceased.
The funeral OF Mr.. Board will take
place at { o'clock tomorrow afternoon
and burial Will be at Wake Forest.
the home OF his wife. MIR. W. +. Balm.
this city. treasurer of the Board Motor
| Corporation, left tonight to attend the
obsequies.
The deceased resided in this city at
go OrinOco street, where he had ntted
up commodious home for himself and
family.
Following a preliminary hearing in the
Police Court this morning. Mason Smith
was held for the action OF the grand jury
on a charge Of pandering. His bond was
fixed by Judge Farley. OF the Corporation
Court. in the sum of 5000. Smith late
this afternoon gave the necessary bond.
his brother-ln-law. William F. Smith. be-
coming his surety and he was released.
May Manuel. the Young Baltimore girl
the witness at whose instance the case
OF Smith was contlnued over from yes
terday. testified that Smith accompanied
her 10 Baltimore shoi :ly after Christmas.
and they entered rathskeller in that
Guy anu Idl n uElUhs ana lDtlf Iltl
Marie Newman. the nlneteen-year-old
girl. on whose complaint Smith was ar
rested. The girl expressed a desire to
leave Baltimore. and accompanied them
here. Smith. she declared. did not pay
her fare. Her object q going to Balti-
more. she said, was to see her mother.
Smith denied a number OF statements
made by :he Newman girl. He admitted
having accompanied the pair from Balti-
hut AID rA directly the
sort when they arrived here.
The Manuel E,rI subsequently made a
deposition before~Chicf Goods and Louis
y. Duffey. the latter deputy clerk Of the
Corporation Court. in which she repudi-
ated certain statements made by her in
the Police Court a short time before. She
admitted having been intimidated by
alleged 20 he rroprIetresS of the resort.
Among other things. she substantiated
the story told by the Newman girl. The
Manuel girl. together with Marie New
man, the latter being the principal wit
ness in the case. are held as witnesses.
The Manuel girl broke down and cried
when she found that she would have to
remain here after testIfying.
John W. Anderson. thirty-five years old,
a deputy United States marshal at Oc-
coquan. whose home is at Accotink, Va.
fell from a freight train shortly after J
O'Clock this afternoon at Seminary Sta
tion. west of here. His left foot was
badly crushed. necessitating amputation.
City Councilman Charles B. Marshall
announced to-day that he will be can
didate for reelection to the city council
in the coming primary, from the Fouth
ward. c. :. y. Burke and William Let
tew will also b.. candidates for the coun-
Gil from that ward. Two are TO be nomi-
mated from the Fourth ward, and, in view
Of the fact that Councilman Srinks will
not, It is undars. ood. be @ candidate from
that ward, but from the First ward, IL is
not thought that the two named above
will have any opposition.
E. S. Leadbeater will also be a candi-
date for the council from the First ward
together with II. R. Burke, both being
incumbents, and with Mr.. Spinks in the
field there will be three-cornered fight
On hand.
All candidates for the various Offices
to be filled are expected to appear before
the city Democratic committee at a meet
ing which will be held Thursday night.
A special meeting of the board OF al
dermen has been called by President F.
F. Marbury for 12:45 O'Clock tomorrow
afternoon to act on the resolution en-
towering the finance committee to borrow
Sl5 900. which matter was referred to the
finance committee at a meeting of the
common council held Friday night last.
The money is to tide the city over for the
present fiscal year.
The marriage of Miss Elsie W. Mar
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