The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-09-13
PROMINENT BUSINESS MAN
PUTS BULLET IN
HIS BRAIN.
GOOD AUDIENCE NO EYE WITNESSES
Shooting Took Place in Store
Before Business Associates
Arrived.

Worry over business troubles is
given as the cause of the lamentable
death Of Mr.. George H. Ezell, pres
dent Of the Ezell Clothing Company,
who committed suicide by putting a
bullet in his head at an early hour
Tuesday morning. The tragedy took
place at his place of business, No.
l12 South Market street, and there
we're no witnesses present, the body
having ben found by Mr.. J. 7. Champ
nys, the business partner of the dead
nan, who was summoned bv mon
near the store when the fatal shot
was fired
Justice of the Peace T. M. Cum
mings was summoned, and impannell-
ed a jury Of inquest, which, after
having examined the body returned
verdict declaring that death result
ed from a bullet fired by Mr. Ezell
with suicidal intent.
1t seems that Mr.. Ezell, who resid-
eed at No. 500 College street, arose
at an early hour and went to his
store, having arrived there some
time ahead of his partner and en-
ployes. That he had made prepara-
tons to end, his life is evidenced by
the fact that he left a note stating
that his financial troubles were
greater than he could bear and that
he had decided to kill himself. Mr..
Ezell had made several business
changes during the past few years,
ard 4 is generally understood tha.
his recent ventures had not been prof
table. He was a nervous, highs strung
nan, and his temperament made il
exceedingly difficult for him to view
financial reverses in the philosophic
manner which would have been ap-
parent in a more phlegmatic man,
lie brooded over his troubles contin-
lously, and this brooding finally in.
luced a state of mind that led him
% fire the shot which ended his life.
Mr. Ezell was a self made man, and
The amount of money which he had
accumulated showed how easy it is
o secure success by hard work and
close attention to business. He was
born in Elkton, Ala, about
j8 years ago, but came to Columbus
n early life, and for more than a
quarter of century had been more
Or less prominently identified with
che business interests of this city.
He started in as a clerk, at a local
tore, but more than two decades ago
obtained an interests in a clothing
establishment, and had been in that
business ever since. For many years
re was signally successful, but recent
ventures had, it is said, proved un-
profitable, and had been the occasion
Of so much worry that suicide finally
resulted
Deceased is survived by his widow
three daughters, Misses Kittie, Mary
and Louise Ezell, and one son, Mr..
Hugh Ezell. Few men in Columbus
had larger circle of acquaintance
than Mr.. Ezell, and many friends
sincerely sympathize with the family
n the profound grief which his un.
timely death entails.
Mr.. Ezell was prominent in frater.
nal as well as in business cirdes, and
among the different orders with
which he was affiliated was Colum
bus Lodge No. 5, F. and A. NJ, under
the auspices of which the funeral
which took place at the family resi-
dence at 10 o'clock yesterday morn
ing was conducted. The obsequial dis
course was delivered by Rev. w. L
Duren, pastor of the First Methods
church, and interment in Friendshi,
cemetery followed, the pail bearers
having been; Messrs. C. c. Buder, +
W. Harris, |. |. Kaufman, P. H
Wakefield, c. L. Lincoln and M. c
Vandiver.