Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-19

JUMPS FROM HIGH TOWER.
Had Been Suffering for Three Months
Was With Family at Wake For
est, n. c. When End Came.
(Special to the Gazette

Wake Forest, March l5tn, l3lS
His mind, affected by overwork and
insomnia, Mr.. Benjamin Fleet Board,
a prominent manufacturer Of Alex
andria, Va, committed suicide last
night by jumping from the top of
one hundred foot tank at the home
of his brother-in-law, Mr.. W. K.
Powell, of this place. Besides the
back of his head being crushed into
a pulp, his neck, both wrists and
one leg were broken. Death was
instanteous. Mr.. Board, with his
wife and infant son, B. F. Board, Jr.,
had been here for ten days visit.
to Mrs. Boards brother, Mr.. W. K.
Powell recuperating from oVerworN
and the loss of sleep. Shortly after
s O'Clock, he left the sitting room and
when his absence became prolonged,
a search was made, ahG Tor some
time it was of no avail. Finally, at
ll:l5, he was found at the foot OF
the water tank used by Mr.. Pow
ell in his private water works system.
Mr.. Board was 81 years of age,
and is survived by wife and IN
FAINT child, mother and father, and
several sisters and brothers. He is
a manufacturer of Alexandria, being
president of the Bord Armstrong Co.
manufacturers of vinegar, and pres
president of Board Armstrong CO.,
also of that place. He is a director
of several banks, a member OF the
Commercial Club, and the Columbia
Country Club Of Washington, d.
c., and is a Mason of the 32nd de-
gree.
The funeral services will be held
at this place tomorrow afternoon 1T
four o'clock.
The news of Mr.. Boards death
was received by some of his friends
in Alexandria early this morning.
No details were given and it simply
stated that his funeral would take
place on Wednesday. Universal re-
patch was received, as it was recog-
nized that Mr.. Board had done much
for Alexandria in bringing two large
manufacturing plants here.
When the dispatch to the Gazette
was received this afternoon announc-
ing that Mr.. Board had committed
suicide, his intimate friends were not
greatly surprised. Since his illness
he has threatened on several times
to kill himself.
Mr.. Board, accompanied by his
wife and child left Alexandria about
three weeks ago for the home of his
wife's parents, at Wake Forest. For
the past three months he has been
quite seriously i'll, having had
complete nervous breakdown, caus-
ed BY overwork. He has improved
somewhat lately.
Mr.. Board has been resident OF
Alexandria for the past four years.
He was a native Of West Virginia
and was located in Washington be
fore coming here. In that city ne
was connected with large whole
sale grocery firm. He established
the firm of Board Armstrong and
Co., manufacturers of vinegar. lh',
firm was one of the largest Of It's
kind in the United States, and two
wears ago big factory was
built in the northwestern portion o:
Alexandria, one of the largest mere.
He was it's president and its larg-
est stockholder. A year ago ne es-
tablished the B. F. Board Truck Co.,
and a factory for the construction
of commercial trucks was built ad-
Joining the vinegar factory.
Mr.. Board had received high hon
ors in hte Masonic fraternity, be-
ors in the Masonic fraternity, be-
BILE of the Mystic Shrine. He was
also a member Of the Commercial
Club of Washington, a director of
the Alexandria National Bank, and
member of Alexandria Lodge Of
Elks.
w. E. Balm, Treasurer Of the
Board Truck Co., will leave tonight
for Wake Forest to attend the fu-
neral.
A special meeting of Alexandria
Lodge of Elks will be held tonight
at 8 o'clock to take action on Mr..
Boards death.