Mrs. Jennie Adair, who was born in Leon about twenty-five years ago, committed suicide at her home in south Leon, last Sunday evening, by drinking carbolic acid. She died in about ten minutes after taking the fatal dose. She was the daughter of McDonald Brooks and wife of this city. Coroner Bowman decided that under the circumstances an inquest was not necessary.

Jennie Brooks was married to Chas. Delong, of Van Wert, when about 17 years of age. They soon separated and three years later, she procured a divorce. In 1901 she married William Adair of Leon, but they separated after a short marriage experience and Mrs. Adair went to Omaha and took up her residence with her sister, Mrs. Charles Bigley. In the meantime she had been granted a divorce but the decree was not entered of record because the costs were unpaid. About eight weeks ago, Jennie returned from Omaha and a reconcilliation with her husband followed. They commenced housekeeping and seemed to get along very well together.

Last Sunday Mr. and Mrs. Adair invited Mr. and Mrs. Charles Brooks and several others to take supper with them and all responded. Just after supper between 6 and 7 o'clock the company were engaged in conversation, laughing and talking, when Adair remarked that he must go up town and get some tobacco. This seemed to anger Mrs. Adair and she said she would go along. Adair replied that he would be gone only a minute which seemed to placate his wife. After he had gone, Jennie commenced to wash the dishes and then went into the pantry, took down a bottle of carbolic acid and drank a portion of its contents. She called out "I have done it." Her brother Charles snatched the bottle which fell to the floor. She put her arms around her brother's neck and said: "Forgive me, Charley, for what I have done. I love you." She was asked what motive prompted her to commit the act but her condition was such that she was unable to answer. Her lips and cheek were burned by the acid, Jesse Adair summoned a doctor and the husband but when they arrived, she was dead. Those present when the deed was committed were: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Brooks, Len Zimmerman and Jesse Adair. Mrs. Charles Bigley says that her sister told her before she left Omaha that she might commit suicide.

Funeral exercises were conducted at the residence Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock by Reverend A.M. Pilcher, after which interment was made in Leon Cemetery. The relatives present at the funeral included two sisters of the deceased, Mrs. A.W. Shane, of Kansas City, and Mrs. Charles Bigley, of Omaha.

Decatur County Journal-Iowa
November, 1906