Jacob MITCHELL

MITCHELL, LAYTON, ALLEY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 12/17/2008 at 22:06:00

Ringgold Record, 1889

THE LAST OF EARTH.

Jacob MITCHELL Commits Suicide by Hanging.

On last Monday afternoon our city and community were startled by the report that Jacob MITCHELL, who was working W. H. LAYTON on his farm some ten miles northeast of here had committed suicide by hanging. The facts of the case as neary (sic) as we can obtain them are about as follows:

Mr. MITCHELL had been working all forenoon as ususal, and ate a small dinner, getting up from the table before any of the others had finished and going out to the barn. Mr. LAYTON followed some 10 or 15 minutes after and was horrified to find him hanging in the barn dead. A messenger came to town at once after Coroner Dr. BAILEY who went to the scene of the tragedy. The circumstances all pointed to a premeditated case of suicide, so no coroner's jury was empanneled (sic), but Dr. BAILY (sic) pronounced as above. The cause of the rash deed was unrequited love, this being proved by a letter left addressed to a young lady in this city. He had previously made threats of taking his life but no one thought he would do so. He came to Mt. Ayr some time last summer and was for a long time engaged with Thos. ALLEY in digging and cleaning wells, digging cellars, etc., and was regarded as a strictly sober, industerous (sic) and upright man. He was a man of about middle age and pleasing address. The remains were brought to town Tuesday morning and lay at the home of Mr. ALLEY till yesterday morning when the funeral services were conducted at 10 o'clock by Rev. THOMPSON, under the suspices of Mt. Ayr Lodge No. 169, I. O. O. F., of Berien Springs, Mich. It will do no good to moralize on the above fearful tragedy, as theone whom it might most benefit is now beyond the pale of human aid or sympathy. He had his fautls - we all have - it is terrible to contemplate his awful deed, but let us bury all beneath the sods that rest upon his coffin. So be it.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, 2008