The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-22
LEAPED FROM WINDOW
MISS LEILA HERBERT A SUB
JECT OF MELANCHOLIA.
WENT HEAD-FOREM0ST TO SIDEWALK
Series Of Social Triumphs was Followed by
Horse back Riding as a.Restoratiye to
Health Thrown by Horse, ker
vous Depression Fnsued

VooS 6SPiSSotSH IIfouSu
Washington, d. c., Dec 21.-Miss
Leila Herbert, daughter of ex-Secre-
tary of the Navy Herbert, of Alabama,
jumped from her bedroom window, in
the third story of her fathers house,
ON New Hampshire avenue, this city,
this forenoon and sustained injuries
from which she died a short time after
ward. She had been confined to her
room for some time, the result of an
accident while horseback riding in Vir-
ginia.
This afternoon the following author
lied statement was made by gentle
man familiar with all of the facts of the
suicide:
Miss Herbert at the time of the oc-
currence was suffering from acute
melancholia. 1t developed several weeks
ago as the final result of injuries re-
ceiyed by being thrown from her horse
last spring. The melancholia was not
insanity in the sense of being accom-
panied by delusions. At the same time
there was profound depression and as
is always the case in this type of dis
ease, there was great danger that sui
cidal tendencies would develop. For
this reason nurses were provided to
maintain the closest watch. No suicidal
tendency developed, however, until yes
terday, 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 and
two nurses alternated in constant watch
fulness Of the patient. SHE was at all
times RATIONAL quite and gentle and it
was supposed the disease would yield to
treatment. Early this morning the
nurse on duty noticed a small spot OF
blood on the bed coverings. She inquired
what it meant. but the invalid endeav-
ored to pass it by lightly. On making
an investigation, 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 pair Of scissors. Feeling
that the emergency was great, the nurse
FASTENED to the door and sounded an
alarm. In this monetary withdrawal
from the bedside Miss Herbert leaped
ont and sprang from the window. The
plunge was made headforemost, so that
she lighted on the top of her head on
the asphalt pavement This injury alone
was sufficient TO have caused death
from conclusion and it was doubtless
the immediate cause. Aside from this
a cursory examination indicated that
the skull was fractured. The severance
of the artery also would have resulted
fatally. When the physician reached her
Miss Herbert was still breathing, but
died about an hour after the leap"
The coroner returned a verdict OF
suicide during temporary insanity. AS
the facts in the case were clear he de-
cided that an inquest was unnecessary.
Mr.. Herbert was not at home at the
time, being on his way here from Ala
bama. He was notified by telegraph of
his daughters death.
Miss Lelie Herbert was the eldest
of ex-Secretary Herbert's three chill
dren, and was a charming figure in
Washington society. She came, with her
father to Washington when he was
elected to Congress and at once took
charge of his household affairs, MAX
ing the Herbert home one of the most
attractive and comfortable in Washing
ton from the spirit OF true southern hos
pitality which gave 1t an atmosphere
of it's own among fashionable homes.
When her father became Secretary of
the Navy in President Cleveland's Sec
ond administra ton Miss Herbert was
called upon to take her place in the
circle Of cabinet ladies where she met
with success, the heavy social respon-
sibility placed upon her youthful
shoulders. Socially she was exceed
ingly popular and her presence was
sought at all 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 enjoyed robust
health, but this only induced her to
redouble her devotion to out-of-door
sport and exercise and it was while re-
gaining her health by outdoor riding
that she met the accident that indirectly
resulted in her death.
BURIAL AT MONTGOMERY.
Washington, Dec. 21.-Ex-Secretary
Herbert reached Washington at 10 to-
night, having been ON his way from Ala
bama to spend the Christmas holidays
with his family, when the news of his
daughters death met him on the train
The funeral will be held tomorrow
and the remains will be taken to Mont
gomery, Alabama, for burial beside Miss
Herbert's mother.
"a S4,O00,000 FAILURE.