POPULAR TEACHER DROWNS HERSELF

JAYNE, GAST

Posted By: Judy Kelley, volunteer (email)
Date: 10/8/2010 at 17:43:56

MRS. CHARLES JAYNE, TEMPORARILY DERANGED, A SUICIDE.

Nervous Breakdown Results in Tragic Death - Was Widely Known As Successful Teacher.

(Journal's Special Services.)

Mediapolis, Ia., Oct. 7 - Returning to his home from his week's work as instructor of a school near Iowa City, Charles Jayne of Kossuth, a small village near this place, found a bloody butcher knife laying on the kitchen floor.

Alarmed Mr. Jayne began an investigation of the premises and discovered a note from his wife, who was also a teacher, until recently employed in the public schools at Grandview, addressed to a neighbor. The note directed the neighbor where to find some personal papers and asked that these be turned over to her husband. Now thoroughly aroused Mr. Jayne began a search of the premises and noting that the cover of a well in the yard had been lifted, secured the assistance of neighbors. Mrs. Jayne's body was found at the bottom of the well.

According to the story told by friends of the family, Mrs. Jayne returned to Mediapolis from Grandview Thursday evening, spending the night with friends here. Friday morning she went to her home at Kossuth. There having deliberately ordered her personal affairs by signing over some certificates of deposit to her husband, these being the papers mentioned in the note she left, she undertook to end her life. The bloody knife on the floor and a wound in her body indicate that she first attempted to use a knife, but later decided to drown herself in the old well.

Poor Health Wrecks Mind.

Mrs. Jayne had been in extremely poor health for some time and had recently suffered a complete nervous breakdown. Her act is attributed to temporary insanity, the result of her state of health. She was 46 years of age.

Mrs. Jayne was widely known in both Muscatine and Louisa counties as well as in this vicinity. With her husband she formerly taught in the schools at Nichols. Her many years of arduous labors as a successful teacher are believed to have had their effect in undermining her health. Two weeks ago she was compelled to resign her position at Grandview because of her breakdown. It is understood that an operation had been contemplated in the hope of restoring her to health.

Funeral at Lone Tree

Short funeral services will be held at the home at Kossuth this afternoon and later today the body will be taken to Lone Tree where the funeral will be held tomorrow.

Mrs. Jayne is survived by her husband and one daughter, Mrs. Rush Gast of Grandview.

Source: LCHS scrapbook; newspaper clipping with handwritten date of 1916