Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-07
Mrs. Fred Crombie, While Men.
tally Deranged, Seeks to
End Her Life
SHE CAN NOT POSSIBLY LIVE
Eats Breakfast With Her Family and
Leaves the Table to Put End to Her
suHerinss-shoots Herself Thru tho
Ear and Never Resains Conscious
ness.

caused. SO her people say, by famil!
| troubles, Mrs. Ella Echternacht-Crom
bic, wife OF Fred Crombie, formerly 1
pressman of this city, but now of Kan.
kakee, Ill, put a bullet thru her brair
at 7:30 this morning. Mrs. Crombis
was apparently in as good spirits az
and ate breakfast with her family al
her parents home. Upon leaving the
table she went up stairs into the room
OF her brother, Mr.. Louis Echternacht
secured from his dresser a 32-catiber
revolver and shot herself thru the
right ear. She has been unconscious
ever since. and tho still alive at
O'clock this afternoon. can not possibly
recover.
Mrs. Crombie is the daughter of MIR
and Mrs. George Echternacht, of 407
East State street, and is well known
A week ago last Thursday she was
brought to the city from Independence,
where she was sent for treatment, at
tue STATE HOSpltdlt lOT Lie idSA
July. Supe rintendent Crumhacher con-
.sidered that she had about recovered
from her acute attack OF melancholia,
and as she worried continually over
the absence of her children. he thought
she would be benefited by returning
10 her home. Since she was brought to
he city she has not showed the least
sign of becoming worse. and about the
,nly change In her condition. over what
might be expected in good health, was
that she was noticeably morose.
Family Troubles the Cause.
Mr.. Louis Echternacht when seen
concerning the tragic affair. had no
hesitancy in expressing the cause OF his
sisters trouble. He said that her in
sanity In the first place was due solely
to trouble in her own home. She NOV
ed to Kankakee last spring. her hus-
band having been employed there for
The PAST few years as pressman for the
ilankakee Evening Democrat. She be-
gan showing signs of arrangement after
going TO Kankakee, and last July came
home on a visit. her doctor thinking
that the change might do her good. II
was deemed advisable, after her return
TO the city, to give her hospital treat
men, and she was arralgned before the
and sent to Independ-
ence. Superintendent Crumbacher had
no hesitancy in granting her parole,
and did not consider that she would
ever need further treatment.
Left No Word.
Mrs. Crombie left no word OF any
kind TO those behind, altho her brother
thinks she has been contemplating the
act of self destruction for several days
The revolver she used had been hidden
in the bureau last July. when Mrs.
tsrombie came home. as It was feared
that possibly she might attempt sui
eide at that time. 1t was not known
that she was aware that the weapon
was in the house.
Had Many Friends.
Mrs. Cromhie had many friends In
the city, made during her residence
here since girlhood She is 81 years of
age, ana was born near Lisconlb, In
Linn county. She came with her par
,.nts to this city In 1884. and was mar
-ied here little over eleven years ago.
She has three little daughters,
Mildred, aged 10; Hazel, aged s:
and Ruth. aged 6. Her parents
IRE living, as are also three
brothers and three sisters-Dr. Harry
II. Echternacht. Mr.. Louis Echter-
nacht. and Mr. Edward Echternacht.
Of this city; Mrs William Schober. OF
Morris, ILL.,; Mrs. Frank Crinklaw, of
Isurlington; and Mrs. Walter L.eech.
sf this city. Mr.. Crombie Is expected
10 arrive from Kankakee this evening.