Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-21

valid for some time past. suffering from
the result of injuries received in falling
from a horse. and had been confined to her
apartments in the third story front under
the Of a trained nurse and receiving
the medical services OF pr ". W John
son. She had improved considerably in
health it is thought IL the past few days.
and Sunday last she want cut riding.
Morning Occupation.
This morning Miss Herbert arose and
breakfastsd as usual in her room. To the
colored maid who brought the meal TO
her she addressed some pleasant remarks
ard asked among other things why the
ATTENDANT had not curled some paper
around the end of her mutton chop
so she could eat il with her fingers. After
further conversation the coored woman
regretted the condition Of the weather,
telling Miss Leila ii would prevent her
taking a ride
To this the latter replied she was very
sorry she couldn't go out riding. ,he
Joyed ii very rluch, but that she had
wanted to take a walk this mcrIing and
would have liked that much better
After breakfast had been concluded Mrs.
Micou. the younger sister of Miss Herbert.
the elder Mrs. MICCu. vino is the
mother Of Mir. MicoC. ard !ho trained nurse
who had been employed for tvro weeks
past were in Miss Herberts room. The
latter was walking up and down and
conversng i'm an ordinary manner. when
she continued her walk ogt into the rear
room. From This room double window
looks out upon The narrow strip Of ward
running lack parallel with the large back
building of the house. The windows were
each about two feet wide. and when raised
the sashes We're probably three feet above
the sill.
The Fatal Leap.
Out of one of these windows marked in
Miss Herbert jumped. She gave no warn
ing to the occupants Of the front room.
No one saw her take the fatal leap. The
distance from the window sill 10 the as
phalt paved yard below is about forty feet
in the corner of the narrow yard area
way formed by the main building and the
fence dividing the yard from premises No.
1911 New Hampshire avenue were two
barrels filed with ashes
Miss Herbert evidently fell outward. as
she struck the concrete outside Of the bar
rels the spot being marked by small pool
of blood. Silas johnson. a colored man
who had been engaged to put in coal at the
Herbert house, was at the rear of the yard
when he heard the sound of the fan, fol-
lowed by a scream. He ran to the spot
where the body of the girl lay cuivering,
and was quickly Joined by the servants OF
the house. Miss Herbert. who appeared TO
be still breathing, but who was uncon-
scious, was carried to the dining room,
where death ensued. Her body was then
removed 10 the apartment on the third
hoor which she had left but few mo-
ments before on her journey to death.
The suddenness Of the tragedy made IL
all the more awful and appalling for the
dear ones who were so devoted to her.
Her sister was prostrated by the calamity,
and the elder Mrs. Micou was deeply af-
fected. Ex-Secretary Herbert, the devSted
father of the dead girl. was absent from
The city on a visit to Montgomery. Ala.
but IL expected here this evening. His SON
N Ia NJ H..l fr,anNN ~ 1Fa-
ures to prepare MIR. Herbert for the terri
be blow which had fallen upon him. but of
which as yet he was at noontime Gncon-
scious. A telegram Was sent TO the eX-Sec-
retary announcing that his daughter was
ill, and it was followed by
another dispatch sent later announcing
hat she was dead. Both of these messages
reached him while en- route TO this city.
The CorOner's Conclusions.
Coroner Carr was at once notified, and.
after learning the facts in the case and
that Miss Herbert had been for some time
suffering from melancholia, he gave q
certificate of death by suicide committed
while temporarily insane.
Miss Herbert, like the rest Of the fam
ly. was well aware OF ner fathers in
ended return. While it was learned that
Ter health had given the family much
concern lately, it was not thought for a
'irgle moment that she would do anything
" even iui lHci eHu.Aiser Her Hedltn, mucn
ess to lake her own life. That she was
from melancnolia for some time
,ast has been apparent, but with the atten-
ion she was receiving il was thought to
De merely a passing form of the disease
The old colored servants, who were de-
'otedly attached to their mistress, said to-
lay to sympathizing friends of the family
Who called that Miss Leila" was really
weeter than ever lately, and every day
grew brighter and more cheerful since her
trength began to return. During the early
part of her illness she suffered excruciating
,ain, but lately had nothing at all to COM
,lain of on that score. As she required
continual care and attention a
rained nurse has been in attendance upon
her the last fortnight.
Her Brilliant Social Career.
Miss Herbert was the eldest daughter of