The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-10
JUMPED TO DEATH.
An Aged Lady Leaps From the Ferry
Boat and Is Drowned.

This morning few minutes before IL
o'clock there was great excitement on the
levee as the cry was raised, "a woman
has jumped from the ferry boatT And
it was so. Out in the middle of the
river woman was seen TO sink, come to
the surface, and again 60 down, and then
finally float with the current. A skiff was
hastily lowered from the ferry, and into it
jumped Harry McAdarrah and VIM. Ny
ers. who rowed as quickly as possible to-
wards the body of the woman now cold in
death. They rescued her from the waves
opposite the Rock Island & Peoria round
house, and then pulled for the shore. A
large crowd awaited their arrival. The
corpse was placed on the ground, when
it was recognized as
MRS. LENA STRUCK.
In a short time Coroner Halves arrived
and he ordered Undertaken Knox to take
charge of the remains.
The woman who committed this rash
deed was about SO years Of age, and was
the wife of Claus Peter Struck, a former
resident of this city, who was employed at
Weyerhauser & Denkman's saw mill.
About two years ago she, with her hus.
band and three children, moved on farm
near Dennison, Crawford county, Iowa.
Her health was poorly, and some time
last fall she returned to-this city, for the
purpose of undergoing treatment from a
Davenport physician. She made her abode
with her nephew, Mr.. Henry Timm, at
724 Eleventh street. She had appeared
Respondent of late, and on several occa-
SONS made remarks which caused friends
sonfe uneasiness. At one time she said;
when the ice goes out, will go with itr'
This morning, while making up the old
lady's bed Mrs. Timm found a note in
her hand writing, saying that she Mrs.
Timm) should not feel grieved if she
should hear of her death. Mrs. Struck
had already left the house for the estensi>
BILE purpose of paying visit to her SIS,
ter, Mrs. Bauer, of Davenport. whom
she went to see quite frequently. Passing
the gas works, where Mr. Timm is en-
gagged, she stopped at the door and bade
him goodbye. Capt. Cameron did not
notice anything strange in her manner
when he took her fare, and she passed up
stairs. When the boat was in about the
middle of the river she
LEAPED FROM THE DECK.
Just as the news of her drowning
reached Mr. Timm, his wife arrived with
! the note which she. had found
Deceased had repeatedly said she woult
not return to Iowa, and the though Of
having to so back, preyod on her mint
considerably.
The following is a copy of the origina
letter found in her room:
DEAR FRIENDS: Do not be surprised
over my death. My husband has driver
me to it. He did not treat me right.
have stood great deal from him. bu
now he wants me to come out again, so
shall live in misery again. What brough
me to my child in Rock Island, God MAJ
forgive my sins. commit the deed IL
nay full senses. Let my husband show
You the letters l sent him. But now hi
oannotlay hand on me.
The following are the names of tn
, jury and their vereict: NJ E. Sweeney
r foreman; 0. J. Dimick, H. G. Harris, L
t V Eckhardt. Geo. Foster, VIM. B. Petit
We, the jury, find that Lena Struck cam
to her death by drowning in the Missis
sippi river with suicidal intent.