The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-04-03
VETERAN POLICEMAN COMMITS
SUICIDE IN SPARTANBURG.
Cause of Deed Laid to General Physi-
ca! Disorders-He Was One of
City's Oldest Citizens and Had
Served as Policeman for
25 Years.

thursdays Spartanburg JournaD.
j. f. jackson, one of Spartanburg's
oldest citizens and for twenty-five
years member of the city police
force, committed suicide this after
noon at 10 o'clock at his home.
corner Wofford and Hunt streets. A
3S-calibre pistol was used, the bullet
entered the body just above the heart.
penetrating large artery. Death fol-
lowed within thirty minutes, with
members of the family at his side.
Another bullet went wild.
General physical disorders is at
tributed as the cause of the self-de
struction. Frequently of late Mr..
jackson has shown some symptoms of
his mind weakening and during last
night he suffered greatly. He ate
scantily of his dinner today, refusing
to eat his soup, which he is USUALLY
very fond of. 1t was but few sec
onds after leaving the dinner table
that he fired the fatal shot.
Mr.. Jackson was 62 years of age.
He was born in the North Pacolet
section, near Campobello, and the
greater part of his life has been spent
in Spartanburg. He served first as a
police officer under the administra-
tion of Mayor Henneman. For the
five terms of ex-Mayor A. B. Calvert
he was one of the most active men @,
the force. His services were retained
through the first Floyd administra-
ton and when j. b. Lee assumed the
office of mayor he was continued in
the service, although his physicaf
condition was beginning to show i'm
palrment. Under Mr.. Lees term On
ONCE Mr.. Jackson was known as
plalnclothes officer. During the John
son administration the deceased acted
as turnkey and did such other work
as did not require great physical en-
durance. On account of his age, con
pied with his inability to otherwise
qualify, he could not be retained on
the police force under the restrictions
OF the civil service rules, which be-
came effective with the present adj
ministration.
The deceased was a very popular
man. He enjoyed the friendship of
many. He was always identified
with the progress of the CITY and at
no time during his feebleness had he
lost his faith in Spartanburg.
Mr.. Jackson is survived bv his
wife, who, before her marriage, was
Miss Annie Hennant. He is sur
vlved by one son, Grover jackson.
this city, and four daughters, Mrs.
Lille McSwain, Mrs. Margaret Hatch
ett and Misses Carrie and Katie
Jackson.
Mr.. Jackson was member of
Bethel church.
The funeral services will be an
nounced later.
Mrs. Jackson, widow of J. F. Jack
son, said this afternoon that her hus-
band had not been we'll for some time
past and that during the past month
be- frequently showed symptoms of,
mind weakening. She said that on
last Sunday Mr.. Jackson took his DIS :,
tol from its accustomed place in his
room and then went for a long walk
out on the interurban road, which
passes near their home. She said She
did not feel any uneasiness about this,
however, and though they constantly
attended him she never felt :hat he
would attempt to take his life.
Mrs. Jackson said her husband had
served about six months in the civil
war. That when he ran away and
enlisted he was 16 years old. Mr.. and
Mrs. jackson were married in 1877