The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-22
JUMPED FROM A WINDOW
The Daughter of Ex-Secretary
Herbert Commits Suicide.
ALSO SEVERED AN ARTERY
She Was Suffering From An Attack of
Acute Melancholia Caused Indirect
ly by a Fall From q Horse
While in Virginia

washington, Dec. 21.-Miss Leila Her
bert, daughter of ex-Secretary of the
Navy Herbert, died at her home in this
city this morning as a result of a fall
from the third story of her home on
New Hampshire avenue, in the most
fashionable part of the city. The sud-
den death and the tragic features sur
rounding it were a great shock to the
large circle of friends she had made in
Washington. Her death was traceable
indirectly to an accident while horse
back riding in Virginia last September.
n This morning she was unusually bright
and cheerful. Shortly before 10 o'clock
she dressed to go down stairs, but in
stead of descending went to the rear
room of the third story, from which she
fell sustaining injuries which caused
her death. The death was reported to
the police headquarters as case of
suicide due to melancholia and tempo
fary alteration of mind as result of
long illness.
Miss Herbert was the eldest of ex-
Secretary Herbert's three children, and
was a charming figure in Washington
society. 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
demonstrations at Kiel. Within the
past year she has nota enjoyed robust
health, but this only Induced her to
redouble her devotion to out of door
sports and exercises, and ii was while
regaining her health by outdoor riding
she met with the accident that indirect
ly resulted in her death.
The coroner returned a verdict of sui
eide through temporary insanity. AS
the facts were clear he decided an in
quest was unnecessary.
4 This afternoon the following author
ICED statement was made by a gentle
man familiar with all the facts:
! Miss Herbert, at the time of the oc-
eurrence, was suffering from acute mel
ancholia. 1t developed several weeks
ago as the result of being thrown from
her horse last September The melan-
cholia was not insanity in the sense of
being accompanied by decisions. At
7he same time there was profound de-
preston. AS is always the case in this
disease. there was danger that suicidal
tendencies would develop.
For this reason nurses We're provid-
ed to maintain the closest watchful-
ness No suicidal tendency developed,
however, until yesterday, when for the
first time. Miss Herbert made an at
tempt to get out of the window, but
was restrained by the nurse. This led
10 additional caution, and two nurses
alternated in constant watchfulness.
She was at all times rational. quiet and
gentle. and II was supposed the disease
would yield to treatment.
4 Early this morning the nurse on
duty noticed a small spot of blood on
the bed coverings. She inquired what
1t meant but the invalid endeavored to
pass il by lightly. on making an in
fvestigation, however, the nurse found
that the under bedclothes were saturat-
ed 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
FASTENED 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 headforemost so that she
alighted on the top of her head on the
pavement. This alone was sufficient to
have caused her death from conclusion
of the brain, and il was doubtless the
immediate cause. A cursory eXamna-
ton showed that the skull was frac-
tured. The severing of the artery also
would have resulted fatally. When the
physician reached her Miss Herbert
was still breathing. but died about an
hour after her leap.
Ex-Secretary Herbert reached WASH
ington at 10 o'clock tonight. having been
on his way from Alabama TO spend the
Christmas with his family when the news
of his daughters death met him on the
train. The funeral will be held te-mor-
row and the remains will be taken to
Montgomery. Ala, for burial beside Miss
Herbert's mother