Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-12-21
LEILA HERBERT DEAD.
sotiugs from Third Story and is Almost In
stantly Killed.
PREVIOUS ACCIDENT LED UP TO THIS
sad severed an Artcry-rhe Young Lady
WAS with Her Father In
Salt Lake.

tvosbinrtou. Dec. 21.--Mlss Leila
rrorbert. daughter of ex-Secretnry of
~, Navy Herbert, died at her home In
this city this morning as the result of
fail from the third story of her home
a, Now Hampshire avenue. In the most
cgbionnble part of the city, just off
npuont Circle. The sudden death and
tragic features surrounding 1t were
Great shock to the great circle of
irlepds she had made in the course of
ber ufc in Washington as the daughter
az popular representative in Congress
srom the South, and later one of the
cabinet circles of ladies, when she pre-
sided over her fathers household dur
ing the four years he was secretary OF
the navy, under the last Cleveland i'd
uiuistrntlon. Her death was traceable
Indirectly to an accident while horse
hocl, riding in her native state of Ala
hama about two months ago. She
oiwoys hnd been enthusiastically fond
of riding and while paying visit to
bcr old home rode horse that had not
been broken. 1t stumbled and she was
thrown violently to the ground, sus-
tanning severe injuries to nor pack
che Was brought back to washington,
hnt recovery was exceedingly slow and
d 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. Johnson, the attending physi-
rlnu noticed considerable Improvement
This morning she was unusually
bright and cheerful and chatted amt
matedly with her married sister, Mrs.
Nlcou. who made her home with the
ey.secrotary and his daughter. 1t had
Ieen Miss Herbert's 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 down
stairs. but instead OF descending went
10 the rear room Of the third story.
from which she fell, sustaining In
iuries which caused her death before
in. Johnson could arrive. Her father
was not at home, being on his way
hither from Alabama. The death was
reported to police headquarters as
case of suicide due to meancholia and
temporary alteration of mind as the
result Of long Illness.
Miss Herbert was the eldest of eN-
Secretary Herhert's three children and
was a charming figure in Washington
society. She came with her father to
Congress and at once took charge of
his household affairs, making the Her
bert home one of the most attractive
and comfortable in Washington from
the spirit OF true Southern hospitality
which gave 1t an atmosphere of its
own among fashionable homes. When
her father became secretary of the
navy in President Clevelands admin
istratiOn. Miss Herbert was called on
70 take her place in the circle of cabi-
net ladies' where she met with success
In the heavy social responsibilities
placed on her. Socially, she was eX-
ceedingly popular and her presence
was sought at all gatherings. Her
social trlumphs here We're repeated in
Europe where she went to attend the
great naval demonstration at Kiel
Within the past year, she has not en-
joyed robust health, but this only in
Guced her To reduublc her devotion to
out-ul-dOOr sports and exercises, and 1t
was while rcEaining her health by out
door riding, that she met the accident
that Indirectly resulted in her DEATH
This afternoon the following author
ICED 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
meaucholia. 1t developed several
weeks ago as the result of being
thrown from her horse last spring
The melancholia was not insanity In
tne sense Of being accompanied by de-
iusons. At the time there was pro-
found depression. AS is always the
case in this disease. there was danger
mat suicidal tendencies would develop.
For this reason, nurses were pro-
Nleu 10 maintain the closest watch
lulness. No suicidal tendency devel-
9pel, however, until yesterday, when
lof me FIRST time, Miss Herbert made
sn attempt to get out of the window
out was restrained by the nurse This
va To additional caution and two
nulAeS hlternated in constant watch
lulless she was at all times rational.
ymtt ana gentle, and 1t was supposed
Ne disease would yield to treatment.
Larry TINS morning the nurse on
,yuty noticed n small spot of blood on
Ne oed coverings She inquired what
meant, hut the invalid endeayored
10 pass II by lightly. on making an
s 'ltaton, however, the nurse
mabl INIT the under bed clothes We're
II,,tufaiad with blood and that Miss
el.'F' had severed the artery of her
fli,t Hlh a pair of scissors. Feeling
mat The emergency was great tho |
nu't' hastened to the door and gave
AZ 4lm. In this momentary with !
lyaWsI from the bedside. Miss Herbert
Sapsu ,ut and spranE from the win
H lNn plunge was made head-fore-
w., \" mat she lighted on the top of |
y,. h.g on the pavement. This alone |
fra,. u.u''nnt to have caused her death |
do,, g"neilssion of the brain. ana was |
Saw. sA the immediate cause. A cur |
st}, 'Namluption showed that the |
IN was fractured. The severing of |
f1,,,l,.l 'fy also would have resulted |
b.r When the physician reached |
In, NJ 1Hss Herbert was still breathing, |
n, u4N about an hour after the leap" |
,,i,i% coroner returned verdict of |
IN e. through temporary insanity. AS |
iraucs, We're clear he decided that an
STOPS THE FIGHT.