The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-12-28
A TRAGIC
SUICIDE.
Society Woman Sends a Bullet Into
Her Heart.
TRAGEDY FOLLOWS ON FESTIv-
ITY-MlsS ANNA VIRGINIA
WELLS, WEAK BY LONG ILL
NESS, BRooDs OVER THE TER.
RIBLE FATE OF MISS HERBERT
AND COMMITS SUICIDE.

MI
AND COMMITS SUICIDE.
Washington, Dec. 27.-The recent ira.
gic death of Miss Leila Herbert, tie beau
tiful daughter of the ax. secretary of the
navy, is given as the reason of the suicide
which occurred at o'colck yesterday
morning of Miss Anna Virginia Wells,
an accomplished young society woman
and daughter of Mr.. Lewis S. Wells, the
we'll known attorney. Tho young wo.
man shot herself through the heart with
her brothers. revolver at the residence of
her father, 1911 N street, northwest.
Miss Wells had met Miss Herbert
number of times. and was very much at
tached to her, She herself had been con.
fined to the house Tor four months by
illness, an this, ombined the shock
caused by the death of her friend, brought
on melancholia, which resulted in suicide.
The decd, coming Immediately afte-
Christmas festivities in the house, COM
pletely FRUSTRATED her aged mother.
Miss Wells was 33 years of age and
very beautiful. The lingering illness had
sapped both strength and beauty to "a
great extent but in spite CT that she was
cheerful and happy until che read of the
death of Miss Herbert From then on
she changed. She became melancholy,
and the tragedy was her chief topic of
conversation. Brooding-- over it wrought
her up to sucL pitch that she determn.
ed to kill herself.
AS was the case with Miss Herbert,
Miss Wills had been ir the habit of driv-
ing or walking on pleasant days. but after
reading of the tragedy she denied herself
all such re creation. Since her illness she
had been in the habit of sleeping with
hn- Fntl,
Lewis $. Wells, Jr., were the only other
occupants of the house, except the SER
wants. Mrs Wells noticed the growing
indisposition of her daughter and did all
in her power TO dispel it, but without
success.
Christmas day all the family were at
home, but the holiday was not merry
one. The daughter contrasted the day
with previous happy holidays and seemed
unusually melancholy. She talked con-
stantly during the day and evening of her
own illness and Miss Hnrbert's death ana
her mother became very uneasy Not
once, however, did she make any refer
ence to suicide, and no such thing was
thought of by any member of the family.
IN the evening her brother went away to
spend the night, leaving his parents and
sister together. Mr.. end Mrs. Wells and
their daughter conversed for some time
but retired early. After the mother and
daughter had gone to bed, Miss Wells lay
awake for some time, occasionally speak
ing to hei mother in the same melancholy
strain.
Finally she ceased to talk, and Mrs.
wells went to sleep. But the unfurtu-
nate young conan remained awake, toss.
ing resJlessly in he'd, and at times slightly
arousing her mother This kept up until
: o'clock, when he arose noiselessly-a and,
attired only in her night robe, went into
her brothers. room. She had hidden him
good-by and knew that he did not intend
to return during the night She also
knew that in n bureau drawer he Kept
32calibre revolver. and she went into his
room with her mind made up to end her
sufferin0s.
Without even lighting the gas she took
the pistol from the bureau, and stepping
into the middle of hesroom, pressed the
muzzle of the weapon against her breast.
slight pressure on the--trigger. and she
fell to the floor with bnl let through her
heart. The noise of the shot and the fall
awoke Mrs. Wells. She missed her daugh-
ter from her side and, with the fear of
death tugging at her heart, she rem into
her sons room. All was darkness, but
she lighted the gas, and her first glance
rested on the form OF her daughter
SotCtCuCu Ou Ilo Cul pct. ueE WtllUO rODo
stained with crimson, and the smoking
pistol close to her right hand.
She knelt ny her side and tried to
arouse her, but Death had already sealed
her lips. Mrs. Wells ran screaming into
the hall, and her cries aroused her hus
hand and the servants. Mr.. Wells hur-
ried to the room, and as soon as he found
out what had occurred sent ser ,iint ior
physician, hoping yet to save his daugh-
ter's life. Her aim hau been true, how
ever. and almost instantly after she had
pulled the trigger she was beyond human
aid.
The physician who was summoned no.
titled Coroner w. p. Carr immediately.
Later in the day Or. Carr made IA ex-
animation and gave certificate of death,
deeminR an inquest unnecessary. The
remains Of the young lady were prepared
for burial. Arrangements.fnr the funeral,
which will take place tomorrow, will be
completed to-day. No .repcrt was made
to the police, and the tragic nature
OF the young lady's death was kept as
quiet rs possible. Miss Wells was we'll
known in social circles in Washington,
and tue news of her death will come az
severe shock to her friends
THE PLUGS STILL AT IT.
New York. Dec. 81 CASPIAN Leon and
Jack Ward were matched this afternoon