Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 March 1883 — A Horrible Suicide. [ARTICLE]

A Horrible Suicide.

About nine o’clock last Sunday morning Coronor F. J. Sears was notified that Mrs. Elizabeth A Jenkins, wife of Gecrge W. Jenkins of Barkley township, had been found dead at her kitchen door early that morning and that she had probably committed suicide. Mr. Sears and Mr. F. W. Babcock at once set out for the scene of the tragedy, ten miles north of Rensselaer, where they arrived in time to begin an inquest at noon. The inquest developed these facts: That

Mrs. Jenkins slept on Saturday night as usual with her husband and youngest child, the latter being only 18 months old and still nursing. She spoke to hsr husband about daylight and they had, some talk, in which she took part in ana ural way with no betrayal of anything exciting on her mind. She then arose leaving her husband, who has been indisposed for some time, and the baby in bed. I'iieir eldest son was already up and was kindling a fire, when his mother arose. She passed through the kitchen and out of the back door. A few minutes later Mr.

Jenkins called his daughter, about 15 years of agp, and when she had dressed suggested that her mother had been out some time and might have been taken sick, and that she should look after her. On opening the door, at which her mother went out, the girl uttered a scream and said her mother had fallen and hurt herself. The father and son ran to the door and found the deceased lying near the door, upon her face, in a large pool of blood. They estimated that she had been out only 5 to 10 minutes, but she was already dead. The body was carried into the house, and the son sent to call Mr. Jenkins brother, Anderson, and his wife, who lived only 60 or 70 rods distant. Mrs. Jenkins first arrived and on a glance at the corpse seeing so much blood enquired the ‘ cause. The husband being too much shocked to investigate and still being unaware of the real cause of death, suggested that she probably had fallen and they then first thought of examining the place where the unfortunate woman was found. As they passed through the kitchen, Mrs. Anderson Jenkins found an open razor upon the floor. Finding so much blood out-side the door and no appearance of • anything .there to cause a fatal injury, their suspicions of suicide were aroused and making a more careful examination of the body, they then, for first time, found the hideous gash, partly concealed by the drooping chin and fleshy neck, The throat was cut to a frightful depth, and death had followed almost instantly. After taking down the sworn statements of all who knew anything of the sad affair, examining the premises, the body of the deceased, &c., the coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the above facts, but was unable to discover any clue to the of suicide.

The deceased was about fortyfour years of age. And has been married 29 years, and been the mother of eleven children, eight of whom are still living. She was a large, strong woman and had made no complaint of ill health lately, except of a little neuialgia, hist week. She went through her regular household duties on Saturday. In the forenoon Mrs. Anderson Jenkins called .and after lark deceased’s sister, Mrs, W. Price, saw her at the gate. To both of these she appeared natural and said she was better of her neuralgia. Her relations are believed to have been pleasant, and her devotion as a wife is attested by her husband, who can find no cause for her self distraction.

Another suicide. —Mention has been recently made in this paper of the removal of Carl Keeler, late of Hanging Grove tp., this county, to Jamestown, Dakota, near which place he owned a farm, lately purchased from F. J. Sears of this place. Mr. Koeller, with his family, started for Dakota, on Saturday, the 10th inst. The Chicago papers of Tuesday contain the particulars of his suicide, at Jamestown, by cutting his throat with a rusty jack-knife. He stabbed himself in the abdomen in several places, and nearly severed his windpipe. At last accounts he was still living, but death was momentarily expected.

John Chamberlain has the contract and is erecting a large business house at Mt. Aity. for Alex. Lardner, to be occupied by Messrs. Willey & Sigler, who intend bra citing out their business thia spring..