Edwards, Helen Gertrude (née Woodward) (Died)

Despondent because of the recent death of her infant child, Mrs. Helen Gertrude Edwards, Vernon street, Glencoe, wife of Russell Edwards, took the lives of herself and her two sons, Kenneth, age 5, and William, age 3, last Tuesday by gas asphyxiation. Returning home from his office inc Chicago the husband and father missed the usual greeting from his wife and children. He went to the front door and found it locked. Going to the back door he found that was also locked. Thinking his wife and children were down to the lake shore he decided to do a little work in the garden. On trying the basement door he found that it was locked and at the same time discovered the odor of gas. He then went to the back porch where he again smelled the fumes. Thnking there was something wrong he climbed the back porch and entered the house through a second story window. Going down the rear steps into the entryway in the rear of the kitchen he found the door to the kitchen locked and rags stuffed in the crack at the bottom. Running outside he took a screw jack and broke open the kitchen door.

On the floor in front of the gas stove lay the bodies of his wife and two little sons. He picked up the children and carried them outside. Neighbors, who had come to the house, carried our the body of his wife. The three had been dead some time. An examination o the kitchen showed that every door and window had been securely locked and the cracks stuffed with clothes. The coroner's inquest was held Wednesday morning and a verdict of death by gas asphyxiation with suicidal intent. Mr. and Mrs. V. W. Woodward of Indianapolis, Ind., father and mother of the dead woman, arrived Wednesday to take charge of the bodies. The remains were taken to Indianapolis Thursday where the funeral services were held Friday. The remains were then taken to Knightstown, Ind., for interment.