The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-21
FOUND DEATH.
Daughter of Ex-Secretary Her.
bert Commits Suicide.
Leaped Head Foremost From
Third Story Window.
HER SECOND ATTEMPT
Had Previously Severed an
Artery in Her Effort
To Rid Herself of the Burden
of Existence.
TO MELANCHOLIA
Her Health Had Been Impaired
by a Fall.
Eluded the Watchfulness of
Two Trained Nurses.

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 result of fall
from the third story of 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 We're a great shock to
the great circle of friends she had made
in the course of her life in Washington
as the daughter of a popular represen-
tative in congress from the south and
later as one of the cabinet circle of la
dies when She presided over her faith
er's household during the four years he
was secretary of the navy under the
last Cleveland administration.
Her death was traceable indirectly
to an accident while horseback riding in
her native state of Alabama some
months ago. She always had been en-
Enthusiastically fond of riding and while
paying a visit to her old home started
out on a horse that had not been bro
ken. 1t stumbled and she was thrown
violently to the ground sustaining Sc
we're injuries to her back She was
brought back to Washington, but recov-
cry was exceedingly slow and it 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. Johnston the
attending physician, noticed consider
able improvement.
This morning she was unusually
bright and cheerful and chatted ami
matedly with her married sister, Mrs.
Micou, who made her home with the ex-
secretary and his daughter It had
been Miss Herbert's custom for sever
al years to take her breakfast 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 descending to the parIor
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. Johnston
could arrive.
Her father was not at home at the
time, being on his way here from Alas
ka.
The death was reported to police
headquarters as a case of suicide due
to melanchOlia and temporary aberra-
ton of mind the result of a long ill
ness, but friends of the family believe
the fall was the result of an accident
Miss Herbert was the eldest of Sec
retary Herbert'S three children and
was a charming figure in Washington
society. She came with her father to
Washington when he was elected to
congress, and at once took hold of his
household affairs, making the Hert&rt
nome, one OF the most attractive and
comfortable in Washington from the
spirit of the true southern hospitality
which gave it an atmosphere of it's
own among fashionable homes. When
her father became secretary of the ma
Wy in President CleVeland's second ad-
ministration, Miss Herbert was called
on to take her place in the circle of
cabinet ladies' where she met with sue
cess the heavy social responsibilities
placed on her. Socially, she was ex-
ceedingly popular and her presence was
sought at all gatherings. Her social
trim 10Tn11c 4
where she went to attend the great
naval demonstration at KieL Within
the past year she has not enjoyed ro-
bust health but this only induced her
to redouble her devotion to out of door
sports and exercises, and it was while
regaining her health by. outdoor riding
that she met the accident that Indirect
1y resulted in her death.
The following authorized statement
this afternoon was made by a gentle
man familiar with all of the facts of
the suicide:
Miss Herbert, at the time of the oc-
currence, was suffering from acute mel
ancholia. It developed several weeks
ago as the final result of injuries re-
ceived by being thrown from her horse
last spring"
The meianchoHa was not insanity in the
sense of being accompanied by de1usions.
At the time there was profound depreS-
sion. as is always the case in this type of
disease, and there was danger that sui
cidal tendencies would develop. For this
reason nurses were provided to maintain
the closest watchfulness- No suicidal
tendency developed. however, until yester-
day. when for the first time Miss Herbert
made attempt to get out of the win
dow. but vase restrained by the nurse.
This led to additional caution. and the
two nurses alternated in constant watch
fulness. She was at all times rational,
quiet and gentle and it supposed the
disease would yield to the treatment
Early this morning the nurse noticed
a small spot of blood on the bed cover
ings. She inquired what it meant but the
invalid endeavored to pass it off lightly.
n a q
nurse found that the under bed clothes
were saturated with blood and that Miss
Herbert had severed an artery of her
wrist with pair of scissors. Feeling that
the emergency was great the nurse hasten
ed to the door and called an alarm. In
this momentary withdrawal from the bed
side 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 concussion of the brain. and
it was doubtless the immediate cause.
Aside from this, a cursory examination
| indicated that the skull was fractured.
The severing of the artery would also
have resulted fatally When the phvsi-