The San Francisco call., 1897-12-22
An Injury That Led Up to Sick
ness, Dependency and
f-DeStructiOn.
TEMPORARILY DEMENTED.
Washington Society Circles Shocked
by the Tragic Fate of the Ex-
Secretary's Daughter.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House,
WASHINGTON Dec 81

Call Office, Riggs House,
Washington, Dec. 81.
Miss Leila Herbert, daughter of ex-
Secretary of the Navy Herbert, died at
her home in this city this morning as
the result of a fall from the third story
of her home on New Hampshire ave
nue., in the most fashionable part Of
the city, just off Dupont circle.
The sudden death and tragic fea-
lures surrounding it were a great
shock to the circle of friends she had
made in the course of her life in Wash
ington as the daughter of q 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 administra-
ton.
This morning she was unusually
bright and cheerful and chatted ami
matedly with her married sister, Mrs.
Nicou, who made her home with the
ex-Secretary and his daughter. 1t has
been Miss Herbert's custom for several
years to take her breakfast in her
room and later to prepare for the so
cial obligations of the day. Shortly be-
fore 10 o'clock she dressed to go down
stairs, but instead of descending went
to the rear room of the third story,
from which she fell, sustaining injuries
which caused her death before Dr.
Johnson could arrive. Her father was
not at home, being on his way hither
from Alabama.
The death was reported to the police
headquarters as a case of suicide, due
to melancholia and temporary aberra-
ton of the mind as the result of long
illness.
This afternoon the following author
ized statement was made by a gentle
man familiar with all the facts:
Miss Herbert at the time Of the oc-
currence was suffering from acute
melancholia. 1t developed several
weeks ago as the final result of in
juries received by being thrown from
her horse last spring. The melan-
cholia was not insanity in the sense
of being accompanied by delusions. At
the time there was profound depres-
sion. AS is always the case in this
type of disease, there was danger that
suicidal tendencies would develop. For
maintain the closest watchfulness. No
suicidal tendency developed, however,
until yesterday, when for the first
time Miss Herbert made an attempt
to get out Of the window, but was re-
strained by the nurse.
This led to additional caution, and
two nurses alternated in constant
watchfulness. She was at all times ra-
tional, quiet and gentle, and it was
supposed the disease would yield to
treatment. Early this morning the
nurse on duty noticed a small spot Of
blood on the bed coverings. She in
Quired what it meant, but the invalid
endeavored to pass it by lightly. On
making an investigation, however, the
nurse found that the under bed clothes
were saturated with blood, and that
Miss Herbert had severed the artery
of her wrist with pair of scissors.
Feeling that the emergency was great,
the nurse hastened to the door and
gave an alarm.
I'm 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 pavement. This alone was suf-
ficient to have caused her death from
concuSsion of the brain, and 1t was
doubtless the immediate cause. A cur
sorry examination indicated that the
skull was fractured. The severing Of
the artery would also have resulted IA
tally When the physician reached her
Miss Herbert was still breathing, but
died about an hour after the leap
The Coroner returned verdict of
suicide during temporary insanity. AS
the facts in the case were clear he
decided that an inquest was unneces-
sary.
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 tomorrow and the remains will
be taken to Montgomery, Ala, for
burial beside Miss Herbert's mother.