Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-12-23
A SHOCKING SUICIDE.
MISS HERBERT JUMPS FROM
THIRD STORY WINDOW.
Young Woman Is Supposed to Have
Been temporarily Insane at the
Time Of Her Rash Act,

Washington, Dec. 2s.-Miss Leila
Herbert, daughter OF ex-Seoretary Her
BERT committed suicide yesterday by
jumping from the thitu story of her
htme On New Hampshire avenue in
the most fashionable part OF the city,
Inc suaden death and tragic features
surrounding il were 4 severe shock TO
the great circle OF friends she had
made as the daughter OF a popular
representative in congress from lAe
south and later as one OF the cabinet
circle OF lanies when she presided over
her fathers household during the four
years he was secretary Of the navy UNI
der the last Cleveland administration
Her death was traceable Indirectly to
an acciaent while horseback riding in
Virginia in September. She always
had been fond of riding and while pay
Ing q visit to her old home started ON
horse that had not been broken. Ii
stumbled and she was thrown violent
ly to the ground, sustaining severe In
Juries to her back, She was brought
back to Washington, but recovery was
last Sunday that she was able to 10
out of the house. On that day she
went driving, and DR.. W, W. John
ston, the attending physician, noticed
considerable improvement. Yesterday
morning she was unusually bright and
cheerful and Chatted animatouly with
her sister, Mrs. Micou, who makes her
home with the eN-secretAry and his
daughter.
Miss Herbert Was the eldest OF ON
Secretary Herbert's three children ana
was charming figure in Washing
ton society, Socially Miss Herbert
was exceedingly popular and her pres
ence was sought at al gatherings, Her
social triumphs here were repeated IN
Europe where she went to attend the
great naval demonstration at Kiel.
| Within the past year she has not en-
ioyed robust health. but this only in
auced her to redoublo her devotion To
oGt-ofdoor sports and exercise and it
was while regaining her heath by out-
door riding that she met the accident
that Indirectly resulted IN her death
The following authorized statement
regarding tho suicide has been given
TO the press:
Miss Herbert at the time Of her
suicide was suffering from acute
melancholia. 1t developed several
weeks ago as the hnal result OF in
juries received by being thrown from
J 1 h,li In at
insanity in the sense of being accom-
panied by delusons. At the same time
/ there was profound depression, and as
/ is always the case In this type ct ais
ease, there was great danger that sui
cidal tendencies would develop. For
! this reason nurses wore provided to
maintain the closest watch. No sui
caal tendency developed. however, UNI
/ til Monday, when for the first time
| Miss Herbert made an attempt to get
out of the window, but was restrained
/ by the nurse This led to additional
caution ana two nurses alternatGd In
! constant watchfulness Of the patient.
She was at all times rational. quiet and
gentle, and II was supposed the dis
ease would yield to treatment. Early
Tuesday morning the nurse on DUTY
noticed a small spot OF blood on the
bed coverings. On making an inyesti-
CATION, however, the nurse found that
the under bed clothes were saturated
with blood and that Miss Herbert had
! severed the artery Of her wrist with u
pair Of eclssors. Feeling that the
emergency was great. the nurse has
tened to the door and called. In this
momentary withdrawal from the bed
side Miss Herbert leaped out OF bed
and sprang from the window head
foremost, lighting on top OF her head
on the asphalt pavement. This in
Jury alone was sufficient to have caused
death. The severing of the artery
would also have resulted Fatally. Misa
! Herbert was still breathing but dlea
about an hour after the leap. Tht
coroner returned verdict OF suicide
during temporary insanity, no inquest
being held"