The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-24
A
MiS Leila Herbert, Daughter Of the Ex-Sec
rotary of the Navy. Suffering frcm E1-
treme Meianchulis, Leaps from - Third
Story window and II Killed

l StOry W1ndOW anu IL hllieO
Washington. December e1-Miss Leila
Herbert, daughter CT e~x-Secretary OF
the Navy Herbert. OF Alabama, jumped
from her bed room window. in the third
story of her father's house on New
Hampshire avenue this city, this fore
noon and sustained injuries from which
she died in a short time a~fterward.
She rad been confined TO her room for
some time, the result OF an accident
while horseback riding in Virginia
This afternoon the following author
lied statement was made by a gentle
| man familiar with all of the facts of
the suicide:
Miss Herbert at the time of the oc-
| currence WIS suffering from acute me-
~lancholia- 1t developed several weeks
ago as the final result Of injuries re-
| ceived by being thrown from her horse
last spring. The ~melancholia was not
| insanity in the sense of being accom-
panied by decisions. At h same time
there was profound depression and as
| is always the case in this type of dis
! ease, there was great danger that sui
cidal tendencies would develop. For
| l0lS reason nurses were pEONIutu 10
maintain the closest watch. No sui
cidal tendency developed, however, I'M
til yesterday when, for the first time
Miss Herbert made an attempt to get
out of the window, but was restrained
! by the nurse. This led to additional
caution and two nurses a~lternated in
| constant w~atchfulness of the patient.
| She was at all times rational, 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 cover
ings. She inquired what it meant but
the invalid e~ndeavored to pass it by
lightly. On making an investigation,
| however, the nurse found that the I'M
der bedclotheS were saturated with
blood and hat Miss Herbert had
severd the artery of her wrist with a
pair of scissors. Feeling that the
emergency vas great, the nurse hast
ened to the door and sounded an alarm.
In this momentary withdrawal from
the bedside Miss Herbert leaped out
and sprang from the window. The
plunge was made head foremost, so
that h lighted on the top of her head
on the asphalt pavement. This injury
alone was sufficient TO have caused
death from conclusion and it was
doubtless the cause Aside from this
a cursory examination indicated that
the skull was fractured. The sever
ance of the artery also would have re-
suited fatally. When III physician
reached her, Miss Herbert was still
breathing but died about an hour after
the leap"
The coroner returned a verdict of
suicide during temporary insanity. AS
the facts in the case were clear, he de-
cided that an inquest was Unnecessary.
Mr.. Herbert was not at home at the
time, being on his way here from Ala
bama. He was notified by telegraph of
his daughters death.
Miss Leila Herbert was the eldest of
ex-Secretary HerIbert's three children
and was a charming figure in Washing
ton society. She came with her father
to Washington when he was elected to
congress n 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 southern hospitality which
gave iC an Atmosphere Of It's wv among
fashionable homes.
When her father became secretary CT
the navy, IN President Cleveland's
second administration, Miss Herbert
WAS called upon to take her place in
the circle of cabinet ladies where she
met with success n heavy social re-
sponsibilities placed upon her youthful
shoulders. Socially she was exceeding
ly popular n her presence was sought
at all gatherings. Her social triumphs
here were repeated in Europe, where
she went to attend the great naval de-
m~onstration at Kiel. Within the past
year she has not enjoyed robust health,
but this only induced her to redouble
her devotion to out-of-door sports and
exercise n it was while regaining her
health by outdoor riding that she met
h accident that indirectly esulted in
her death.