The record-union., 1897-12-22
CTazed From Long Illness Due to
Falling From a Horse,
EI-SecretaU Of the Navy Herbert'S Daughter
Commits Suicide.
The Sudden Death and Tragic
Features Surrounding 1t Causes
Il Great Shock to Washington
Society, of Which for Years She
Had Been Leading Member.

nau been IL LeaC1nE InemDer
WASHINGTON. Dec. 2t.-Miss Leila
Herbert, daughter OF eX-Secretary of
the Navy Herbert, died at her home
in this city this morning as the re-
suit of fall from the third-story or
her home on New Hampshire avenue,
in the most fashionable part of the
city, just Off Dupont Circle
The sudden death and tragic features
surrounding it were a great shock to
the circle Of friends she had made in
te course of her life in Washington as
the daughter of popular Representa-
tive in Congress i'll the South and in
the Cabinet circle of ladies, when she
presided over her fathers household
during the four years he was Secretary
Of the Navy under the last Cleveland
Administration.
Her death was traceable indirectly to
her falling from horse she was riding
in Virginia last September, sustaining
severe injuries to her back. She was
brought back to Washington, but re-
covery was exceedingly slow, and it
was not until last Sunday that she
was able to go out of the house. ON
time since the accident, and DIR. w. W.
Johnson, the attending physician, no.
ticed considerable Improvement.
This morning she was unusually
bright and cheerful. and chatted ami
matedly with her married sister. Mrs.
Alicou, who made her home with the
ex-Secretary and his daughter.
1t has been Miss Herbert's custom
n oil har Il
fast in her room, and later prepare
for the social obligations of the day.
Shortly before 10 o'clock she dressed
to go down stairs. but instead of de-
scending went to the rear room of the
third story, from which she FELL sus-
tanning injuries which caused her death
before DR.. Johnston could arrive. Her
father was not at home being on his
way hither from Alabama
The death was reported to police
headquarters as case of suicide due
to melancholy and temporary aberra-
ton of the mind, as the result of a long
illness.
Miss Herbert was the eldest of ex-
Secretary Herbert's three children. and
was a charming figure in Washington
society. She came with her father to
Congress, and at once took charge of
his household, making the Herbert
home one of the most attractive and
comfortable in Washington from the
spirit of true Southern hospitality,
which gave it an atmosphere of its own
among fashionable homes. When her
father became Secretary of the Navy
in President Cleveland's second admin
iS1r cd
to take her place in the circle of Cab
met ladies, where she met with success
in the heavy social responsibilities
placed on her. Socially she was eX-
ceedingly popular. and her presence
was sought at all gatherings. Her
social triumphs here We're repeated in
Europe, where she went to attend the
great naval demonstration at Kiel.
Within the past year she has not en-
joyed robust health. but this only in
duced her to redouble her devotion to
out of door sports and exercises, ard
it was while regaining her health by
outside exercises she met the accident
that indirectly resulted in her death.
This afternoon the following author
lied statement was made by a gentle
man familiar with all of the facts:
currence was suffering from acute mel
ancholia Il developed several weeks
ago as the final result of injuries re-
ceived by being thrown from her horse
last September TIE melancholia was
not insanity in the sense of being ac-
companied by deluslons. At the time
there was no profound depression AS
is always the case in this type Of dis
Il hot iof. .1saI
tendencies would develop. For this
reason nurses were provided to Tnair-
tain the closest watchfulness No sui
cidal tendency developed, however, un-
til yesterday, when for the first time
Miss Herbert made aa attempt to get
out OF the window, but was restrained
by the nurse. This led to additional
caution. and twc nurses alternated in
constant watchfulness She was ar
all times rational, quiet and gentle. and
1T was supposed the disease would yield
to treatment.
Early this morning the nurse on
duty noticed small spot OF blood
on the bed coverings. She inquired wha+
it meant. but the invalid endeavored
to pass it by lightly. On making an
however the nurse found
ated with blood, and that Miss Herbert
had severed the artery Of her wrist with
a pair of scissors. Feeling that the
emergency was great. the nurse hast
ened to the door and gave an alarm.
In this momentary Withdrawal from the
bedside Miss Herbert leaped out and
sprang from the window. The plunge
was made head foremost, so that she
lighted on the top Of her head on the
This alone was sufficient to
have caused her death from concussion
of the brain. and it was doubtless the
immediate cause. A cursory examina-
ton indicated that the skull was frac-
tured. The severing of the artery
would also have resulted fatally. When
the physician reached her Miss Her
bert was still breathing, but died aboue
an hour after the leap"
The Coroner returned a verdict of
suicide during temporary insanity AS
the facts in the case were clear. he
decided that an inquest was unneces-