Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-01-19
DIEDHT MhRIN6TTE
Tragic Life and Death
Of a Former Grant
County Lady.

have been widely published in the
daily papers. The following is fair
sample:
MARINETrE Jan. l3.-Unable to withstand
the attraction of one Howard Jones, her
reputed husband, Madame Jennie Howard,
modiste, whose maiden name was Jennie
Farrell, of Madison, and previously of Lam
caster, died because she starved herself,
deliberately, at O'Clock Wednesday even
ing at the Menominee River hospital Her
death was practically a case of slow sui
eide. Four weeks ago she went to the Me-
nominee River hospital sick, not in hody,
but in mind. She was determined to die
and told her phyicians and attendants that
She would expire in a few days. The cause
of her strange death is said to have been an
infatuation for man who welded a sort of
hypnotic influence over her and the facts
bear out this theory. He was known as
Howard and as Jones and was arrested in
La Crosse about half dozen years ago
charged with having a large number of
wives. What became of him after he served
sentence is not known, but it is said Miss
Farrell was visited by a stranger who was
supposed to be Jones, and who extorted
money from her. Several days ago she
made out her last testament and gave
directions as to her funeral and interment
and refused TO take medicine allow the
physicians to do anything for her. She left
about 1000, all her money, to J. p. Towne
of Edgerton. The last three days she re-
fused to permit the attendants to even com
tort her Her escapade last FRIDAY night
when she ran out of the hospital in her
night robes had nothing to do with her
death. She said that she wished very
ordinary interment, a simple death dress
plain casket and a funeral sermon as brief
as possible, the services to be held in the
Episcopal church. Her ante -mortem in
structions will be carried out TO the letter.
Mr.. Thomas Farrell and Miss Mary
G. Farrell, uncle and sister of the
deceased woman, attended the fun
eral. Services were held from the
Episcopal church in Marinette. They
remained in Marinette long enough to
learn the particulars of her life in that
city, last sickness and death, and to
satisfy themselves that much that
has been published is without founda-
ton.
Mrs. Howard moved in good society
in Marinette, was an accomplished |
dressmaker, and sewed for the veal |
thy and fashionable people among
whom she had number OF intimate |
friends. The story of her having |
been visited recently by the fellow
Jones is not true. He did extort |
money from her to the extent of /
81, 500 but that is while they were !
living as husband and wife some two |
wears ago. Since they parted there |
is no evidence of her having mad any |
meetings with him or any one else as
described in the dispatches.
The report of her suicide and in
sanity are also unsupported by the
facts She was sick and under a phv- |
sician's care for over forty days and I
was at times delerious. The last day I
or two before her death she did not I
want food. 1t is on this slight basis
that reporters have written the start
ling reports so widely published,
Mrs. Howard formerly lived with /
her parents in South Lancaster. Her
father and mother are both dead. Her
brothers and sisters are highly re-
spected people. They are Edward /
Farrell, of Cassville; Annie, wife of /
Thomas Bailie, of Lancaster: Mrs.
Nellie Thompson, of Montana; and
Lawrence Farrell
Jennie Farrell, a strikingly hand
some girl, the belle OF the neighbOr
hood, had numerous admirers,
among them a son of Joseph Baltic. a
wealthy farmer living near the Far
rells liz South Lancaster. According
to neighborhood traditions, Mr..
Baltic, senior, objected TO his sons
keeping company with Miss Farrell
and was instrumental in breaking mp
the courtship. The Young man paid
his addresses to Miss Jennie Farrell's
sister and in due time married her.
Whatever the truth of the rumors.
the belief that Miss Jennie held a
deadly grudge in her heart against
JOS Baltic, senior, led to the first
great tragedy in her life Sometime
after the marriage of the Younger
Bailie attempts were made to burn
the house, barns and property of Mr.
Bailie. senior So numerous and per-
sistent were these attempts that Mr.
Bailie and the neighborhood. in fact
the whole county became thoroughly
aroused. A large barn was burned
down and the residence saved once or
twice bv the naTrOwest chance. Large
rewards were offered and detectives
were hired to run down the guilty
party All sorts and kinds of stories
were circulated Charley BENEFITS,
a deputy sheriff ana local detective.
worked on the case and was instru-
mental in gathering evidence that led
to the arrest and trial of Miss Farrell.
After a thorough trial the jury ac-
quilted her Of the charge and the
mystery of the Bailie fires has never
vet been satisfactorily explained.
The suspicious of neighbors. togeth-