The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-22
Washington, Dec. 81. Is,

washington, Dec. Il. 1891.
Miss Leila He. bert, daughter of ex-
Secretary of the Navy Herbert. of Ala
hamn, jumped from her bedroom win
dow, in the second story OF her fathers
house on New Hampsh!rc avenue. thi.,
city, this forenoon and sustained injur-
les from which she died a short time
afte:wa!d. She had been confined To
her room for some time the result of an
accident while horseback riding in Vr-
ginia.
This afternoon :he following author
lied statement WAS made by Il gentle
man familiar with all the facts Of the
suicide:
Miss Herbert al the time of the oc-
currcncc was suffering from acute mel
anchola. 1t developed several weeks
ago as the final result Of injuries re-
ceived by being thrown from her horse
last spring. The meianchUiia was not
insanity III the sense OF being accom-
panied by delusions. At the same time
there WAS profound depression and. n
always the case in this type of disease.
there was great danger that suicidal
tendencies would develop. For this
reason nurses were provided to main
tain the closest watch. No suicidal ten
dency developed. however. until ycster-
day when, for the first time Miss Her
bert made an attempt 10 get ou OF the
window. but wls restrained Iy the nuT o.
This led 10 additional caution. and two
nurses a!te.nat@d in constant watchful-
ness Of the patient. She WAS ut all
times rational, quie, ana gentle. and It
was supposed the diaeaSe would yield
TO treatment
EARLY THIS morning The nurse on duty
noticed small spot of blood on the bed
covering. She inquired what il meant,
hut the invalid endeavOred to pass il
ii;;h;ly. ON making an Investigation,
however The nurse found that the under
bed clothes were saturated with blood.
ana that Miss He! bar; had severed the
artery of her wrist With a pair OF Sc!S-
sOrS. Feeling ;hat The emergency was
great, the nurse FASTENED to the door
and sounded an alarm. In this mOmcn-
tary withdrawal from the bedside Miss
Herbert leaved out and :'r!ane frpE, ;he
window. The plung" was made head
foremost So Ilrat she lighted on the top
of her head on the asphalt pavement.
This injury alone was sufficient 10 haV"
caused death from concusslon. ana it
was doubtless the Immediate cai:in.
Aside from this a curs0ry examination
indicated that the skull was fractured.
The severance OF the artery would also
have resulted fatally. When the phy
siC!an reached he. Miss li@rbcrt was
sill breathing. but died an hour after
the leap"
The coroner returned verdict OF sui
eide during temporary insanity. AS the
facts in the case were clear he decided
that an inquest was unnecessary. Nj.
Herbert was not II home 1T the time.
being on his way here from Alabama.
lie was notified by telegraph Of h!s
daughters death
Miss Leila Eerbcrt was the cldes; Of
cXSccretary Herheri's three Children,
and was 4 charming figure in WaShinS-
ton society. She came with h@r father
to Washington when he was elected 10
Congress. and al once took charge OF
his household. affairs making the Her.
bert home one Of the most attractive
ana COmforta bic in WASHINGTON from
the spirit OF true Southern hospitality.
which gave 1t an atmosphCrs OF lie;
own Gmcng fashionable homes. When
her father became Secretary OF the
Navy in President Clcvelands second
administration Miss Herbert WAS called
upon To take her place in he circle
Of Cabinet ladies. where shc met with
success the heavy social responsibilities
placed upon her youthfui shoulders.
Socially she was exceedingly popular
and her presence was sought ut all
gatherings. Her social triumrAs here
were repeated IL Europe. where she
went TO attend the great naval dcmCfl-
s;rIiiun al iiei. Within the past wear
she has not enjoyed robust health but
this only induced her g rcdoublc her
devotion 10 ont Of door sports and cx-
crcsrs, and Il w&s while regaining her
health by out doc" riding that she met
tile accident that indirectly resulted In
her death