Estella Breckenridge Higby was murdered by her husband on 16 Feb 1919 (not 1918) and the husband committed suicide and died the next day. Here is one of the transcriptions of the tragedy.

1919 Feb 17, Des Moines Daily News, P1, Des Moines, Iowa
Mother of 3 is Murdered
Divorced Husband Kills Wife, Then Suicides
Woman Dies Instantly
William Higby Succumbs Monday at Hospital
Angered because she had procured a divorce from him Wednesday and had failed to provide a birthday party for their 9-year-old son, Harold, William Higby, wealthy bricklayer, shot and instantly killed Mrs. Higby, E. 14th and Davis streets, Sunday at 7 p.m., and then sent a bullet crashing thru his own head. Higby died at Methodist hospital at 6 a.m. Monday, where he was taken following the shooting. The three children of the couple were in the room when the shooting occurred and their cries and the shots drew neighbors and Mrs. Higby’s father, Robert Breckenridge, to the home.
Wanted Birthday Party
The children, Harold, 9; Leonard, 6, and Irene, 4, told the police that their mother was preparing supper for them. The father walked into the kitchen and asked why a party had not been arranged for Harold, whose birthday occurred Sunday. After quarreling for a few minutes, Higby drew a .38 caliber revolver from his pocket and commenced firing at his divorced wife. Four shots were fired before the bullets took effect. The last one struck Mrs. Higby in the back, and lodged near her heart, causing death instantly. Coroner Carpenter found $1500 in cash in Higby’s clothing and learned Monday that the man owned property of considerable value at Newton.
Tied Her to Bed
Relatives of Mrs. Higby and officials are of the belief that Higby went to the house Sunday to kill his divorced wife. This belief is strengthened by past actions of the man, as was detailed in District Court Wednesday, when Mrs. Higby was granted her divorce. It was brought out in court and in Mrs. Higby’s petition for divorce that Higby had frequently abused her. She detailed one instance when the husband had tied her to a bed, poured gasoline on blankets and threatened to set fire to it.
Married 10 Years
Mr. and Mrs. Higby were married at Newton in 1907. Several years ago they moved to Des Moines. Last October divorce proceedings were commended, but were held up when Higby entered the army. He was discharge only recently. Judge Hubert Utterback in entering the divorce decree gave the woman $4 a week alimony for the su