The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-12-25
A GIRLS SUICIDE.
Daughter of Former Secretary Of
the Navy Herbert Takes
Her Life,

Washington, D. c.. Dec. 21-Miss Lei
la Herbert. daughter of eX-Secretary of
the Navy Herbert of Alabama. 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 1t Were a great shock to the
large circle of friends she had made in
the course of her life in Washington as
the daughter of a 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 admin
iStration.
Dates Back to an Accident.
Her death was traceab bic Indirectly to
an accident while horseback riding i'll
her native state of Alabama about two
months ago. She always has been en-
Enthusiastically fond of riding. and while
paying a visit to her old home. started on
n horse that lid not been broken. 1t
stumbled and she was thrown violently
to the ground, sustaining severe injuries
to her back She was brought back to
Washington. but recovery was exceed
lnSly slow. and it vas not until last Sun
day that she was able to 90 ont of the
house. On that day she went driving
tor the first time since the accident
and DR.. W. w. Johnston. the attending
physician, noticed considerable improve
ment.
This morning she was unusually bright
and cheerful. and chatted animatcdly
with her married sister. Mrs. Micou. who
made her home with the secretary and
his daughter. 1t had been Miss Herberts
custom for several 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 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 DIR. Johnston
could arrive on the scene.
Her father was not at home at the
time. being on his way here from Ala
bama.
Reported Accident?
The death was reported to police head
quarters as a 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-Scc-
rotary Herhcrt's three children and was
n.
She came with her father to Washington
when he was elected IL Congress and at
once took charge of his household af-
fairs ma liking the Herbert house one of
the most attractive and comfortable in
Washington from the spirit of true South
crn hospitality which gave it an atmos-
phere of its own among fashionable
homes
When her father became secretary of
the navy in President Clcvcland's second
administration, Miss Herbert was called
upon to take her place in the circle of
cabinet ladies. where she met with sue
cess the heavy social responsibilities
placed upon her youthful shoulders. So
claily she was exceedingly popular, and
her presence was sought at all gather
Ings. Her social triumphS here were re-
pcatcd III Europe, where she went to at
tend the great naval demonstration at
kiel. Within the past year she has not
enjoyed robust health. hut this only in
duced her to rcdouble her devotion to
out-of-door sports and exercises, and it
was while regaining her health by out
door riding that she met the accident
that indirectly resulted in her death.
Admitted to be Suicide.
This afternoon the following author
lZed statement was made by Il gentleman
familiar with all of the facts of the
suicide:
Miss Herbert at the time of the oc
currence was suffering from HcUte melan-
cholia. 1t developed several weeks ago
as the final result of injuries received hy
being thrown from her horse last spring.
he meianchOla was not insanity in the
sense "f beng accompanied by dcluSions
At the same time there was profound de
preston, and rs is always the case nj
TINS type OF disease there WAS great dan
ger that suicidal tendencies would dcvrl-
on. For this reason nurses were nrovii-
ed to maintain the closest watchfulncSS.
No suicidal tendency developed however.
until yesterday, when for the first time
Miss Herbert made as attempt to get ont
ot the window, bat was restrained by the
nurse.
This led TO additional caution and two
nurses altcrnated in constant watchful-
ness of the patient She was at all times
rational. quiet and gentle. and it was sun
posed the disease would yield to treatment.
Early this morning the nurse on duty no
ticcd a small spot of blood on the bed coy
ering. She inquired what it meant. but
the invalid cndeIvored to PASS it by light
ly. ON making an investigation. how
ever. 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 FASTENED to the door and gave
an alarm. In this mOmentary with
irawal from the bedside Miss Herbert
leaned out of and Sprang from the win
dow. The plunge was made head fore
most. 50 that she lighted on ton of her
head on the asphalt pavement This in
jury alone was sufficient Ia have caused
death from conclusion Of the brain. and
1t was doubtless the Immediate cause.
Aside from this a curSory examination
indicated that the skull was fractured.
The severing of the artery would also
- !,
elan reached her Miss Herbert was still
hreat thing but died about an hour after
the leap
The coroner returned a verdict Of sui
eide during temporary insanity. As the
facts III the case were clear he decided
the iuuupSr WAS