Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1897-12-22
Daughter of Ex-Secretary Of the
Navy Herbert Takes Her
Own Life.
Nevered an Artery of Her Wrist
and Then Jumped From a
Window.
Mniuries Received by a Fall
From a Horse Caused Acute
MelanchOlia.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-Miss Leila
Herbert, daughter of ex-Secretary OF
she Navy Herbert of Alabama, died al
sMsr home in this city as result OF
amp from the third story OF her nome
ON New Hampshire avenue, in the most
fashionable part of the city, just on
Dunout Circle. The sudden death and
tragic features surrounding 1T were
treat shock to the great circle OF friends
She had made in the course OF her life
IN Washington as the daughter OF a
uopn ar representative in congress from
the South and later as one OF the caol-
mel c1rc.e of ladies' when she presided
aver her fathers household during the
four wears he was secretary OF the
navy under the last Cleveland admins"
tration-
Her death was traceable indirectly TO
mn accident while horseback riding IN
her native state of Alabama about TWO
months ago She had always been en-
enthusiastically fond of riding and while
paying visit to her old home started
for a ride on horse that had not oeeh
haoken. 1t stumbled and she was
. thrown violently to the ground, sus-
tanning severe injuries to her back. Sae
was brought back to Washington but
recovery was exceedingly slow and 1t
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 DIR. W. w.
Johnston, the attending physician no
ticed considerable improvement.
An Authorized Statement.
The following authorized statement
was made by gentleman familiar with
all the facts of the suicide:
Miss Herberta at the time of the occur
renee was suffering from acute melan-
eholia. 1t developed several weeks ago
As the final result Of injuries received
by being thrown from her horse last
spring.
1.-The melancholia was not insane in
the sense of being accompanied by de-
HluEions At the same time there was
profound depression and, as is always
the case in this type Of disease,
there was great danger that sui
ciaal tendencies would develop. For
this reason nurses were provided to
maintain the closest watchfulness. No
suicidal tendency developed, however,
until Monday, when for the first time
Miss Herbert made an attempt to get
cut of the window, but was restrained
by the nurse. This led to additional
caution and two nurses alternated in
constant watchfulness of the patient.
She was at all times rational, quiet and
gentle, and it was supposed the disease
would yield to treatment. Early lRthe
M rnlng the nurse on duty noticed a
small SPOT of blood on the bed cover
ing. she inquired what it meant, but
The luvalld endeavored to pass it by
lL,Jv On making an investigation,
however, the nurse found that the
under bed clothes were saturated with
b.. Il and nat Miss Herbert had
Scve Ell L-.r artery of her wrist with
iAtir 81 scissors. Feeling that
1ne Emergency was great, the nurse
.n4,.1n. In this momeltary withdrawal
ii M the bedside, Miss Herbert leaped |
au and sprang from the window. The |
S,.unge was made head foremost, so that |
= e lighted on the top Of her head on
she asphalt pavement. This injury
alone was sufficient to have caused |
death from conclusion of the brain and !
ii was doubtless the immediate cause.
Aside from this cursory examination |
Indicated that the skull was fractured. |
The seveTing of the artery wonld also |
have resulted fatally. When the ply |
saclan reached her Miss Herbert was
still breathing, but died about an hour |
after tho leap"
Was Washington FavOrite.
Miss Herbert was the oldest 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 his |
household affairs, making the Herbert
home One of the most attractive and
comfortable IN Washington from the
spirit of true hospitality, which gave.it
ESn atmosphere OF it's own among fash
1snable homes. When her father be.
came secretary of the navy in President
Gaeveland's second administration,
Hiss Herbert was called upon to take
her place in the circle of cabinet ladies.
where she met with success the heavy
social responsibilities upon her youthful
shoulders. Socially she was exceed.
Ingiy popular and her presence was
sDnght at all gatherings. Her social
aziumphs here were repeated in Europe
where she went to attend the great
naval demonstration at Kiel Within
4sae past year she has not enjoyed 70.
aust health, but this only induced her
20 redouble her devotion to out of door
sports and exercise and it was while re-
gaining her health by outdoor riding
aiaat she met the accident that indirectly
RESULTED In her death.
Carries Half Million Gold.
SYDNEY, n. s. W., Dec. 22.-The
n