Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, January 3, l90l

New Year's night about l0 o'clock LAURA EVANS, the sixteen-year-old daughter of MRS. N. BIGLEY attempted to commit suicide and all but succeeded. Nothing unusual about her was noticed except that when bed time came she kissed her mother and the other children goodnight in a most affectionable manner and then retired to her room. About midnight the family heard her moaning and groaning and on going to her room found that it was securely locked and also fastened on the inside with a hook and staple. Receiving no response to their knocks and calls MR. BIGLEY broke down the door with a crow bar and found her writhing on the bed in mortal agony. On a stand by the side of the bed stood a three ounce bottle of carbolic acid, and a glass, into which she had poured about an ounce of the firy fluid and swallowed it at a gulp. She was unconscious and Dr. Waight was hastily summoned. He responded at once and did all he could to relieve her sufferings and worked with her all night. Yesterday she was conscious but she is in a very critical condition and it is doubtful if she recovers.

The girl although only sixteen years of age has had a life full of trouble. She was sent to the State Industrial School at Mitchellville a couple of years ago as an incorrigible but was released on parole some months ago. Soon after returning to Leon she was married to 'FAWN' PARSONS, but after living with her a few weeks he applied for and was granted a divorce. It seems that the paroled girls are required to give a monthly report to the school at Mitchellville on an account of a failure to receive her report the new superintendent had written to her that an officer would soon be sent to take her back to the school. This seemed to prey on her mind, with the result that she took the poison Tuesday evening. The amount swallowed was sufficient to have killed almost any person, and if she recovers it will be little short of a miracle.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
"With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter"
January l5, 2003

*I believe MARY EVANS was NATHAN BIGLEY'S 3rd wife; according to obituaries that I've transcribed.