The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-22
HER SKULL CRUSHED
EX-sEORErARY HERBERTs DAUGH-
TgR LEILA SUICIDES.

TER LEILA SUICIDES.
While Suffering From Acute Msina-
choiia She Springs Frem the window of
Her Room In the Third Story Of Her
Fathers Washington Residence and
sustains . Fracture of the skuiI, Dying
Fatal Leap She Had Cut Her Wrist to
Produce Death by Rteeding.
Washington, Dec. 21.-Miss Leila Her
| bert, daughter Of ex-Secretary Herbert,
died at her home in this city this morn
ing as the result OF fall from the third
story OF her new home on New Hamp-
shire avenue, in the most fashionable
part Of the city, just off Dupont Circle.
| The sudden death and tragic features
surrounding il were a great shock TO the
great circle of friends she had made m
the course OF her life in Washington, as
the daughter Of popular representative
in congress from the south, and later as
one Of 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 ad-
| ministration.
! Her death was traceable indirectly to
an accident while horseback riding in
Virginia last September. She always has
been enthusiastically fond or riding and
while mounted on a horse that had not
been broken, it stumbled and she was
| thrown violently to the ground, sustain
| ing severe injuries to her back. She was
brought back to Washington, but recov-
cry was exceedingly slow and il was
| not until last Sunday that she was able
to go out of the house. On that day
she went driving for the first time since
the accident, and DR.. w. W. Johnson,
the attending physician, noticed con-
siderable improvement. This morning
she was unusually bright and cheerful
and chatted aninatedly with her mar
ried sister, Mrs. Micou, who made her
home with the ex-secretary and his
daughter. 1t mad been Miss Herbert's
custom for several years to take her
breakfast in her room and later prepare
for the social obligations of the day.
Shortly before 1po'clock, she dressed to
go downstairs, but instead of descending
to the parlor went to the rear room of
the third story of her home. whence she
fell to the ground, sustaining injuries
which caused her death before DR.. john
son could arrive.
Her father was not at home at the
time, being on his way herefrom Ala
bama.
The death was reported to police head
quarters as case of suicide due to mel
ancholia and temporary alteration OF
mind as the result of long illness, but
friends OF the family believe that the
fall was the result Of an accident.
Miss Herbert was the eldest of eX-
Secretary Herbert's three children, and
was charming figure in Washington
society. She came with her father to
Washington when he was elected TO
congress, and at once took charge of MS
household affairs 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 it's own among
fashionable homes. When her father be-
CleveIapds second administration, Miss
Herbert was called on to take her place
in the circle of cabinet ladies, where she
met with success the heavy social re-
sponsibilities placed on her. Socially
she was exceedingly 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 en-
joyed robust health. but this only in
duced her to redouble her devotion 20
out-of-duor sports and exercise and IL
was while regaining her health by out /!
dooor riding that she met the accident
that indirectly resulted In her death.
This afternoon, the following author I
lied statement was made by a gentle
man familiar with all the facts of the |
suicide:
Miss Herbert at the time OF the oc-
currence was suffering from acute mel
ancholia. 1t developed several weeks
ago. as the final result Of injuries re- |
ceived by being thrown from her horse |
last spring.
THE nnelancholia was not insanity, in |
the sense OF being accompanied by de-
lusfons At the same time there was
profound depression, as is always the /
case in this type OF disease, and there 1
was danger that suicidal tendencies
would develop. For this reason rurses
were provided to maintain the closest |
vstchfulness. No suicidal tendency de- |
veloped. however, until yesterday, when /
an attempt to get out OF the window, |
but was restrained by the nurse. This /
led to ar additional caution and two |
nurses alternated in constant watchfui-
ness. She was at all times rational,
quite gentle, and ii was supposed the
disease would yield to treatment. Early
this morning the nurse on duty noticed
a small spot OF blood on the bed cover
irgs. She inquired what Il meant, but
the invalid endeavored to pass ii by
lightly An immediate investigation vas
made, and the nurse found that the bed
clothes were saturated with blood and
that Miss Herbert had severed the ar
terry Of the wrist with pair OF SCISSORS
Feeling that the emergency was great
the nurse FASTENED to the door and
called sn attendant. In this momentary
withdrawal from the beside. Miss Her-
bert seaped out and sprsng from the
window. The plunge was made head
foremost. 80 that sne lighted on the top
OF her head on the pavement This alone
was sufficient ohaye caused nSr death
An examination reveaied the fact the
skull was fractured The seveTing q the
artery would also have resuftst fatally.