Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1902 — SUICIDES IN WHITE COUNTY. [ARTICLE]

SUICIDES IN WHITE COUNTY.

John Brucker of Reynolds, Chooses Revolver Route, While Lena Comer of Yeoman, Tries Acid. VYh ite county lias had her share of sensations the past week. On last Friday morning Miss Lena Comer, the 18-year-okl daughter of James Comer of Yeoman, walked into a drug store at Monticello and bought ten cents worth of carbolic ncid. \\ hen asked what she intended doing with it. she replied that she wanted it for a lotion. After receiving the deadly drug she asked the druggist for a glass of water, and when"'his back was turned swallowed the ounce of acid. She then staggered to the door and fell outside. Physicians were at once summoned, antidotes administered and the girlsstomach pumped out The next day she was taken home. .She declared that she had tried to kill herself with morphine before taking the carbolic acid, but it had failed to do the work so she tried the latter route. The girl is said to have been quite wayward and is evidently tired of life, as she declared after recovery that she would try it again ami would make sure work of it m xt time. Sunday morning at 5:30 o'clock John Brucker a prominent druggist of Reynolds, was found dead in his place of business with a big hole iu his head. He was lying in a pool of blood behind the counter, his right hand grasping a 32-caliber revolver. Death had evidently been instantaneous.* Mr. Bruk er was formerly one of White county's most prominent citizens, but of late is said to have drank heavily, and it is thought this caused him to commit the rash deed. He was a relative of the Warners of this place, who attended the funeral at Reynolds, Monday.