Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-07

DEsPoNDENT OVER LOVE AFFAIR
Suicide Is Deliberately Planned as She
Evidently Purchased Poison for That
Purpose-Leaves Letters Saying She
Is Tired of Life-Father Is Notified
The Details.

Is Tired OF Llfe-F ather Is Nottried
The Details.
Having evidently grown respondent
over a recent love affair with her
sweetheart, Ira Butterball, of Mount
Morris, ILL.,, Miss Sylvia Leek, aged 10,
a domestic employed, at the home of L.
w. WEIGH, 81 South Center street,
ended her life Tuesday night by taking
a dose of strychnine. The deed was
Ipremeditated, as she evidently pur-
chased the poison for that purpose. and
also left several letters to relatives say
ing she was tired Of life. A letter, adj
dressed to her former lover, which she
had not mailed, tells of an estrangement
of recent date that was doubtless in a
large measure responsible for the act.
She Wanted to Die.
Evidences lead to the conclusion that
the deed was premeditated and the girl
wished to die. She left the WEIGH home
Tuesday afternoon about 3 o'clock and
went up town, where she purchased the
poison, and, returning home about
o'clock, Immediately went to her room.
1T is apparent that on reaching her
apartments she wrote the letters, and at
once took the fatal dose. About half
hour later she raped on the stove pipe
Iand when Mr.. WEIGH responded she
said she was not feeling we'll and
wished he would telephone for her aunt,
Mrs. G. w. Sprecher living at AS
Swayze street. This was done and
shortly afterwards groans, as IL result
ing from one in great agony, were heard
issuing from the young woman's room,
Mrs. WEIGH went to the room, but on
being asked il she was suffering the
girl replied she was not. Mrs. WEIGH
suggested that a doctor be called, but
Miss Leek said no. not unless she con-
tinued to get worse, bat not to call one
for time. She afterwards consented
to have physician called, but DR.. Pau
line e. Myers-Townsend, who arrived
soon, and gave all the aid possible, was
unable to do anything, SO thoroughly
y had the poison been absorbed by the
system. The girl died at $3.50, after
the most intense suffering.
Leaves Pathetic Letters.
On the dresser in the girls room were
found three letters, addressed to her
aunt, Mrs. Sprecher; her father, Mr.
L. Leek, Of Mount Morris, H.; and rela-
tiyes in California. The missives are
most pathetic, the one to the father
reading as follows:
my Dear Papa: Papa, goodbye;
Tn going to die. Do not think too hard
of me. There are but few who realize
how great my trouble is. I've only one
| thing to be sorry for and that is I'll not
| see mamma, dear mamma, who has
| loved me thru it all. I did try, but was
downed every time. This is too hard to
dwell on, so be good to Bertha and Ha-
eel. Bertha. be good to your papa,
Goodbye all. / am, o'clock, Sylvia
Leek, '03. Pray for me-"
The one addressed to the aunt, Mrs
Sprecher, reads as follows:
Dear Aunt and all: This Is my last
| to YOU, dear aunt. Pray for me; my life
| is burden to all. I can stand 1T nc
| longer. You were very dear to me, and
when you go to heaven tell mamma
am sorry l was bad. Ethel. Roy and &c
forgive me If you can. Ethel is good
girl. She has her mother. Give FREQ
| my last love. Goodbye, Sylvia. Jan
| 5, '03."
To relatives in California, the letter
| being unsigned, she wrote: Dear one
in Caldwell Louie am saying gooc
| bye. I have loved you in all my sin
and now / am asking forgiveness. Car
RE dear, sister Carrie, good bye. Char
ley, your advice comes to me but it Is
| too late Do not think too hard of me
am, good bye. Louie oh please for.
give me, goodbye. It's hard"
Letter to Sweetheart Gives Clue.
| An unmailed letter to her former low.
| er, Ira Butterball, of Mt. Morris, which
was written evidently since Christmas
but which had not been mailed, gives
some little light on the probable cause
| of the girls action. In 1t she refers t.
a former quarrel and of being accused
| of having broken her promise, which
accusation she claims was untrue. Mrs
Sprecher, when asked regarding thu
| relation of her niece with the young
| man. said she knew they had been in.
| innate, and that since coming to thi:
! CITY the affair had been broken off. Sht
stated she had heard the girl speak o
lit.
Was Comparative Stranger Here.
Miss Leek had resided in this cit,
since Sept /, having come here from
| Mt. Morris. Her mother being dead
she came to Marshalltown to visit he,
aunt and secure work. For about fiv'
weeks she was employed at the G. G
Cottle home, and afterwards for few
days worked for Mrs. Harry McCombs
She has been employed at the T. w
Welch home for the past four weeks
and appeared to be in every way goot
girl. She was willing to work, and 81
far as is known had no gentleman com
panE.
Coroner r. p. Lierle visited the seen,
of the suicide this morning, but as ev.
erything goes to indicate clear case
of suicide no investigation will be held
| The remains We're taken to the D. c
Wilbur undertaking rooms this morn.
ing. where they will await whatever
disposition the father wishes to make
of them. He has been notified by wire
and it is presumed will arrive here thi.
| avanipp