Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 March 1919 — MRS. H. R. KURRIE IS DEAD [ARTICLE]

MRS. H. R. KURRIE IS DEAD

Rensselaer Woman Commits Suicide in Chicago Winter Home. Rensselaer and community was greatly shocked Thursday morning to learn that Mrs. H. R. Kurrie, wife of the president of the Monon railroad, had been found dead in the bath room in the winter home of the Kurrie’s in Chicago at an early hour and that she had taken her life in a moment of despondency, by inhaling gas. Chicago dispatches state that she had attached a rubjber tube to a gas jet, and this tube was tightly clenched in her teeth when found.

Miss Ida Milliken, who has been staying with the Kurrie family this winter, telephoned the information here to relatives Thursday morning, and Mrs. Kurrie’s brother. Firman Thompson, Mrs. Ross and Undertaker W. J. Wright went to Chicago on the 10:36 a. ni. train, and "expected to bring the body to Rensselaer last evening. It is understood' that it will be taken to the Kurrie haipe, which is the old Childhood home of deceased, and probably the funeral will be held tomorrow, although this is not known here definitely at this writing, Mr. Kurrie being in New York on railroad business at the time of hie wife’s death and it was necessary, of course, to await his return in Chicago before completing the arrangements. An inquest also had to be held.

Mrs. Kurrle was a daughter of the late Judge Simon P. Thompson and was born and raised in Rensselaer. She was 'married to Mr. Kurrie in December, 1909, and she leaves, besides the husband, two children, Thompson, aged 8, and Harry, aged 6; two brothers, Firman and Simon, and an aged mother. She was Mr. Kurrie’s second wife, her older sister, Grace Thompson, having been his first wife, dying a few years after her marriage. Mrs.. Kurrle was born Sept. 18, 1882, and was therefore 37 years of age at the time of her death. Yesterday’s Chicago Tribune gave the following 'mention of the sad occurrence:

“The ever-ipresent fear that she was losing ‘her mind, with the added burden of suffering which had attended her several years’ illness, prompted MrA. Edna T. Kurrie, wife of Harry R. Kurrie, president of the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville railroad, to commit suicide in her home, 5102 Hyde Park boulevard, yesterday, according to the testimony of her brother, Firman Thompson, at the inquest. “Mrs. Kurrie’s body was found in the gas filled bathroom shortly before 7:'30 o’clock in the morning after her 8-year-old son, Thompson Kprrle, had vainly tried to open the locked door. To Deputy Coroner Charles Kennedy Mr. Thompson told of the woman’s fear of Insanity. “ ‘She was very despondent after the death of her baby last spring and feared then that she would give way mentally,’ said Mr. Thompson. ‘She Indirectly told me that if she became convinced that she was losing her mind she would

take this means ot ending it all. She had recently been suffering from an attack of influenza, nut when I saw her Wednesday was much improved and in oetter spirits.’ I “Miss Ida Milliken, a trained nurse and governess for the two small Kurrie children, Harry R., Jr., 6 years old, and. Thompson, was a witness at the inquest. She told of finding the body. “Mr. Kurrie, who is attending a meeting of rail heads in New York city, was informed of his wife’s ■ death by wire, and is nurrying j home. I “Arrangements for the funeral have been deferred until the arrival of Mr. Kurrle, H. B. Crane, secretary to the Monon president, announced.”