LANE, JESSE - March 27, 1917 Jesse Lane, son of John C. and Maggie Lane, residing in Avoca Twp., about 6 miles northeast of this city, committed suicide Tuesday at approximately 9:30 a.m. by hanging himself in the barn at his home. The young man had not been in the best of health for the past 2 weeks and on last Saturday night while in Fairbury he became highly nervous and excited and when urged to go home, would not go. The service of a Physician was finally required to quiet him. Upon returning home, his actions were such that his family thought it best to watch him. Tuesday morning, his father went out to the field to do some work, and Jesse and his sister were left at home. Mrs. Lane was not at home. She had been in Ottawa for the last few weeks taking treatment. It is thought the sickness of his mother also prayed on his mind. Following his father going to the field, the young man slipped out of the house. His sister missed him and after going to the barn, found him suspended by his neck from a rope that was fastened to a rafter. The young man had climbed to the top of the barn, fastened one end about the wooden beam and the other around his neck and then jumped off, falling a distance of 15 to 20 feet before the slack of the rope was taken up. He weighed about 175 lb. and the height in which he jumped, broke his neck. When his sister discovered her brother, she tried to cut the rope with a corn knife, but was unsuccessful. She then telephoned Mrs. Glennin and Mrs. Glennin called Joe Burdett. A minute or so before Mr. Burdett arrived, John Winslow went by the Lane house and Bessie Lane called to him. Mr. Winslow & Mr. Burdett then cut the young Lane down. Coroner R J Harris was called from Pontiac and impaneled the following jury; John Drew, foreman; Sebo Mehring, James Glennin, Bart Pearson, John Glennin, and Edward Dougherty. They returned the verdict, "We the jury, sworn to inquire as to the death of Jesse Lane, on oath do find that he came to his death on March 27th, 1917, by hanging himself while temporarily insane." Burial in Avoca Cemetery, north Fairbury, Illinois. Source: FAIRBURY BLADE: Friday 30th March 1917