Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-03-21
A MOST SAD AFFAIR
Mrs. John Duree Commits Suicide
While Temporarily Demented.
ILL HEALTH WAS RESPONSIBLE
Had BEEN AiIing for About One Year
and Saturday Night, While for the
Time Being UnbaIanced, She Drown
ed Herself in cistern.
IFrom MONDAYS Daily.l

From Mondays Daily1
Temporarily insane on account of
physical Weakness and for while
irresponsible for her actions Mrs.
John Duree, of 922 West Main street,
wandered from her sleeping apart
ment late Saturday night, crept down
stairs in her night dress, and cast her
self into a cistern containing eight
feet or more of water. No cause 9TH
er than that of temporary insanity
can be cited to account for the act,
for it is known that Mrs. Duree's en-
vironments have been all that could
be asked, and that everything posi-
BILE has been done for her comfort and
happiness by all her relatives She
had been somewhat ill for nearly a
year, and at times she had seemed
slightly demented, by reason of her ill.,
ness, but at no time was she violently
insane, and never gave any hint that
her intention was to take her life.
A Sad Story.
The history of the affair is sad In
the extreme, and the sympathy of
those who know it goes out to the ones
bereaved. Mrs. Duree was we'll known
and highly respected, consistent
church woman and an active member
OF several orders in the city. During
the past year she has been i'll, and her
suffering caused temporary insanity.
Everything possible was done for her
by physicians and relatives, and it
/. was thought that her condition was
improving recently. She was an in
mate of the Ottumwa hospital for a
/ few weeks, and a short time ago re-
turned to her home, where every care
and attention was given her.
No Noticeable Failure in Health.
y Her condition during the past few
days seemed to be no worse than be-
fore that time; indeed S light i'm
provement seemed to be evidenced.
On Saturday night her sister. Mrs.
George Nay, of Chicago. who was Wis
iting her parents, Mr.. and Mrs. j. j.
Gardner, residing at the corner of Col
lege and Main streets in this city, was
at the Duree home accompanied by an
other sister, Miss Lulu Gardner, of
Ottumwa and they returned to the
Gardner home at about 1920 o'clock,
leaving Mrs. Durree, it seemed, in her
normal condition.
The Body Found.
The family retired between 1890
and IL o'clock. Shortly before 1
O'Clock Sunday morning Mr.. Duree
awakened, and, missing his wife, sur
missed that she had gone to the room
occupied by their daughter, Inez. He
called, but receiving no answer, start
ed on search for his wife. He went
down stairs to the first story of his
residence and saw the kitchen door
was open. Thinking that Mrs. Dur.
ee might have strayed outside and
possibly gone to neighbours house,
he took lantern and started in that
direction. His attention was arrested
on the way, however, by the fact that
one of the boards which had been used
as covering over the top of cistern
at the southwest corner of the house
had been removed, and on coming
closer he discovered the unfortunate
woman, her head in the water, held
in that position by her night clothes
which had become fastened in the
boards over the cistern Life was eX
tinct when the body was found, and
it is probable that the act was com
"
No Warning Given.
No word was left as to the reason
for the action, and no hint was thrown
out as to the unfortunate woman's in
tention, except remark She made
! when her sisters arrived Saturday
evening to the effect that their visit
spoiled certain plans she had made
This was not noticed at the time
I however, but since then has been re
called by those who heard it, and il
may have been in reference to the sub
sequent event.
ValuabIes Are Missing.
Certain valuables which Mrs. Dur
4 rec was known to have had in her pos
session shortly before her death, in
GLIDING considerable money and a gold
watch, have disappeared, and it is sus
pected that she threw them into the
cistern. 1t will be drained and a
search will be made for the missing
property.
Sketch of Mrs. Duree's Life.
Mrs. Nellie Durree, nee Gardner
was the eldest daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. ]. J. Gardner, of this city. She
was born in this city 45 years ago
She grew to womanhood here, ant
when % years of age was united il
marriage to John Duree, also of OF
tumwa. To this union one daughter
Inez, aged 10 years, was born.
Mrs. Duree was faithful and con
sistent member of the First Presbyte
rian church of this city, and was ac
tive among the workers in it's cause
I She was also member of the Won
ans Relief Corps and of the Roya
Neighbors, in each of which she occu
pied prominent position and wa!
looked upon as woman of excellen
characteristics. She was dutiful ant
loving wife and mother, and her home
life was happy and peaceful unit
marred by the illness which eventual
ly caused her death.
She is survived by her husband ant