“Reuben Brassfield, who resided on the Ray Yambert farm, four miles south of Laredo near the Livingston County line, Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock shot and killed his housekeeper, Mrs. Ollie Cookingham, and then turned the gun upon himself firing three shots into his body. Two shots were fired into Mrs. Cookingham’s body before she was killed. A thirty-two caliber revolver was used by Mr. Brassfield.

According to information obtained by a Constitution reporter over the long distance telephone from Sheriff Brooks, jealousy led up to the tragedy. Sheriff Brooks stated Mrs. Cookingham, who secured a divorce at the last term of the Grundy county circuit court, was in Chillicothe last week and met a former sweetheart, named Jones. The old love was renewed and Jones and Mrs. Cookingham planned to get married.

Jones, whose home is here, went to Chula Tuesday and with Mrs. Cookingham, drove to the Brassfield home to get Mrs. Cookingham’s clothing. When they arrived at the Brassfield home, Mrs. Cookingham jumped from the buggy and ran to the house, leaving Jones and her child in the buggy. Shortly after Mrs. Cookingham entered the house, Jones heard five reports in quick succession and he ran to the house where he found Mr. Brassfield and Mrs. Cookingham both dead.

Mr. Brassfield was a widower, his wife having been dead about three years. He has four children and had lived on the Yambert farm since his wife’s death. He always seemed cheerful and his relatives and friends were shocked upon hearing of the tragedy.

Mrs. Cookingham, who was a daughter of the late Charles VanWinkle, had been his housekeeper for the past eight months. She was a pretty woman and Brassfield’s relatives, although there was thirty years difference in their ages, believe he fell in love with his housekeeper. After finding that she was to become the wife of another man, killed her and himself rather than have her leave him.

Four sons survive Mr. Brassfield. Mrs. Cookingham had one child.” The Chillicothe Constitution, October 14, 1914

“The body of Mrs. Ollie Cookingham, who was shot and killed by Reuben Brassfield at the latter’s home near Laredo Tuesday afternoon, was brought to this city Wednesday afternoon and taken to the Lee Undertaking Parlors where it was kept until Thursday when the remains were taken to the Anderson Cemetery northwest of town and buried beside that of her father.” The Chillicothe Constitution, October 15, 1914