National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-10-13
4 DEPLoRABLE TRAGEDY.
saicido by Hang,ng-The Sad Death Of Mrs.
M. r. Leroh.

M. Lerons
About O'Clock yesterday morning terri.
bic tragedy was enacted at No. TIA Seventh
street northwest, by which Mrs. NJ. p. Lereh,
well-kpown milliner and dealer In fancy
goods, put an end TO her life. The details Of
the affair, as related by the family, are sub
stantially as follows: Nearly throe years ago
Mrs. Lerch went TO Germany to visit her
parents, whom she had not seen for o number
Of years. They lived in Bavaria which was
her objective point. Before the vessel In
which she sailed reached its destination her
parents died, which was the first news that
greeted her upon landing. She became
prey to melancholy, and postponed her
trip home, returning TO this country
few days after she had left It. Her
actions since her return have been of n singu-
lar nature, aud have frequently caused her
family considerable trouble. It was found
advisable about year ago to send her to the
insane asylum, but she improved greatly aud
was returned TO her home. Within the past
few weeks her malady broke out again, but
there was nothing violent in her actions. She
would sit in her room staring Mt people In q
meaningless way, and seemed anxious to avoid
conversation with any one No idea of her
terrible fate was entertained by any one, as
last Saturday night she was much better and
partly promised to attend the wedding at the
Synagogue yesterday, being well acquainted
with the bride and groom. Yesterday morn
ing she came down stairs and remained until
twenty-five minutes past z o'clock. Her
husband remarked to her, Hadn't you bet
ter go up stairs aud lie down till break
fast is readyr She said she thought she
would, and Immediately went up to her room.
About 8 O'clock her little son wss told TO go
up and tell her breakfast was waiting. He
was gone but few minutes when lie called to
h's atner to come mp stairs quick. Mr. Lerch
immediately ran up to his wife's room and saw
a.. 4. L.. tNith N
bandage around her neck one end of which
was attached to the bed post. He caught hold
OF her aud loosed the bandagc, when she fell
over in his arms perfectly limp. To his dis
may her husband discovered that she was not
breathing. He sent around the corner for DIR.
Behrend, who was soon in attendance. He
found life extinct, death having resulted from
strauguation. Tho cord used by the victim
of this rash act was narrow strip of cotton,
doubled four times aud knotted at short
distances. She had made running moose
in Que end, which she placed around her
neck, and attached tho other to tho
bedpost. Her position indicated that she had
tied the cord close up to the post aud fallen on
her knees, drawing them up clear of the floor,
aud throwing her head back, strangled her
self Information of the affair was given to
Coroner Patterson, and he held an inquest yes.
terday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The jury, after
hearing the statement of the family, rendered
| a verdict that she came to her death from sui.
eide by hanging, while laboring under aber-
| ration Of mind. The body was then turned
over to the family, who had it prepared for
nterment. The deceased was forty-fve years
old last Friday aud had been engaged in the
| fancy goods business in this city, Oh Seventh
street, for number of years. Her husband,
Mr.. J. J. b. Lerch is clerk in the Postotiice
Department, aud his hosts OF friends in this
city will deeply sympathize with him in his