Stewart - Hazel Brocies
Source: Lebanon Pioneer August 28, 1913
Leroy C. Gross, 22 years old. of Franklin, and Mrs. Hazel Stewart, aged 22, wife of James M. (Sog) Stewart, born and raised in this vicinity, were found dying, locked in each other's arms, in a rooming house at 623 East Ohio street, Indianapolis, Thursday morning. On the floor at the side of the davenport upon which they reclined was an empty ounce bottle and two glasses from which it is supposed they drank the contents, carbolic acid. Gross died several hours later at the city hospital. Gross recently rented the room from Earl Pritchard. When Pritchard came home about 11 o'clock Thursday night he found Gross and Mrs. Stewart there and demanded that they leave. Gross said they would do so as soon as they drank some beer. About midnight Pritchard was awakened by an unusual noise coming from Gross' apartment and upon investigation found Gross and Mrs. Stewart lying on the edge of the bed, locked in each other's arms. They were fully dressed.
James M. Stewart, who lives at 1471 Rosewell avenue, and tends her at the Occidental Hotel saloon, arrived home early Friday morning to find his wife missing, but said he worried little about it, thinking that she might have gone to the home of a friend or to a social gathering without having had time to inform him. He fell asleep and did not awaken until the officers knocked at his door and told him of the suicide. Stewart asserted that he did not know of any love affair between his wife and another man. He said that his domestic life and always been congenial and happy. He said that only once had trouble with his wife. Some months ago, according to his statements, his wife went to the saloon at which he was employed and demanded that he see her. He put her out of the place and she caused his arrest for assault and battery. He was discharged by Judge Collins. Stewart said he left his wife early Thursday evening for his work, it was his night on duty, he said. She seemed happy and contented he said, and said nothing about going out that night. Gross' father, who is a highly respectable citizen of Franklin, claimed the remains of his son Friday. He said his son was at home Sunday, and that he said nothing of having a love affair. He said his son was a wayward boy, and did not always take kindly to home restraints. He had been employed by Hartsock & Hartmann, 27 North Alabama street. Mrs. Stewart's maiden name was Hazel Brocie and she was the daughter of Jacob Brocie of Crawfordsville. Her mother, divorced from her father, is now Mrs. Whitney, at 347 1/2 East Washington street, Indianapolis. Stewart and Miss Brocie were married April 3, 1908. They have no children. Stewart's parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Stewart, live a few miles south of Lebanon, and the dead woman frequently visited here. Mrs. Stewart was buried in the Masonic cemetery at Crawfordsville Sunday, her funeral being conducted from Memorial Chapel.