Jay - Anna Powers - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Kokomo, May 20 - That lands and treasures do not bring happiness but are sometimes a curse to the being who is in charge with their keeping was most unhappily proven yesterday afternoon when after 8 years of mind-strain attendant upon the management of her estates, Mrs. Anna Elizabeth Jay, widow of Charles A. Jay ended her life at her home, 321 W. Mulberry Street by inhaling gas. Death occurred at about 3 o'clock but the body, stilled forever by the poison drawn into the lungs was not found until 3:30. Miss Kate Winn, housekeeper for Mrs. Jay and her son, Thomas Jay went down town yesterday afternoon on a business errand. She left the Jay residence about 2:30 - she bade Mrs. Jay good by and promised to return in order to prepare supper for Thomas Jay. Returning at 3:30 she entered the front door of the house and was instantly aware of the powerful odor of escaping gas. Throwing open the nearest windows she went to the kitchen. On opening the door she noted Mrs. Jay sitting in an easy rocking chair with her head bowed. The room was full of gas, which was raring from the open cocks of the gas range and it needed no second look to convince Miss Winn that Mrs. Jay was no longer among the living. Running terrified from the house to the home of Mrs. Jessie Nielson next door, she secure help and Dr. McClurg, Dr. Wright and Coroner Bruce Long was called. Death had taken place some time before the body was found by Miss Winn however and earthly help was impotent. It was evident from the condition of things that Mrs. Jay had laid definite plans to accomplish her destruction. Apparently as soon as the housekeeper had left the house Mrs. Jay went to the kitchen closed all doors and windows, place rugs at all the cracks under the doors and papers in window cracks and then drawing up her easy chair she opened the valves in the stove and sat back to go into the sleep that would bring rest from her worries. Mrs. Jay was 60 years one month and two days of age. She became known to Kokomo on the 23rd day of Sept 1879 when she stepped from the little narrow gauge Kokomo & Frankfort train, together with her husband, Charles A. Jay. The couple had just been married at Crawfordsville and Mr. Jay was flushed with joy to introduce his beautiful bride. The couple had met each other at an archery meet in Crawfordsville, at which Mr. Jay was a contestant for honors and struck with admiration at first sight an introduction was occurred from a mutual friend and the courtship followed. Mr. Jay was at that time cashier of the 1st National Bank and was a member of the Russell, Dollman and Jay grain dealers. The young couple moved into a pleasant cottage at the corner of Mulberry and Clay Streets. Despite the fact that the streets were of mud and were largely infested by pigs and cows the young married life was unmarred by worry and prosperity smiled generously. She had come from one of the best families in Crawfordsville,. Joseph and Mrs. Powers being her parents and his family was one of the foremost in Kokomo. Later the two moved to a home in West Taylor street where now stands the Jenkins residence and for six years this was their home. Here it was that Thomas was born. Mr. Jay died May 30, 1908. At the time of his death he was one of the largest property holders in Kokomo, as well as sec-treas of the Kokomo Telephone Co. His death threw all of his holdings into the care and management of his wife and she, with a determination to be efficient, worried and planned until it was not long before the strain was noticeable on her mind. Mrs. Anna Jay was formerly Miss Anna Powers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Powers who home was at the corner of Water & Jefferson Street now known as the Alfrey homestead. She is well remembered by our older citizens to whom her death came as a great shock. Mrs. Jay was a sister of Mrs. WT Brush and Mrs. Will Brewer all former popular and well known people of Crawfordsville -- typed by kbz.