Mrs. Helen Jennings

JENNINGS, NEELY

Posted By: John Evan Davis (email)
Date: 2/15/2015 at 22:12:26

Ottumwa tri-weekly courier, November 12, 1912
THREE MONTHS BRIDE A SUICIDE
CARBOLIC ACID.
Mrs. Helen Jennings, the three months old bride of Ben F. Jennings, 1120 Railroad Street, committed suicide at her home Saturday evening by drinking one-half ounce of carbolic acid. Misses Edna and Ethel Jennings, Thomas Lunkley and John Dunn were present at the time the tragedy occurred. The cause which lead the young
bride to take her life is not known according to a statement issued by relatives. Shortly before drinking the acid she wrote a letter to her parents Mr. and Mrs. C. Neely of Rock Island which is thought will explain her
reasons for the act. Her parents arrived in Ottumwa early Sunday morning and had not received the letter before their departure from home. Mrs. Jennings showed no signs of despondency or had not mentioned any trouble to anyone. Shortly before the act she had been up town with some relatives. She purchased the carbolic acid at 8
o'clock and drank it at about 9:15. She poured the acid into a glass and after drinking it she called for Ethel and Edna Jennings, asking them to give her a drink. She then told them what she had done and they immediately called a physician. She died six minutes after drinking the acid. The funeral will be held from the residence Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. William H. Hormel. Interment will be made in the Ottumwa cemetery. Coroner Slaught was called to the scene and after hearing the details of Mrs. Jennings' death he decided not to hold an inquest, stating that it was a case of suicide.