The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-23
|PED FROM A WINDOW.
!. Suicide Of ex-Secretary Her.
bsrt's Daughter.
srfFERING FROM MELANCHOLIA
..~.rcd an Artery before Leap
u..d Foremost from y Third
C.v WindOw-The Funeral.

.,,otou. December 21.--(Yesterday's
a report. Miss Leila Herbert,
NJ n x-Secretary Of the Navy
!, died at her home in this city
.,,nirg as a result OF falling from
L,,,s story Of her home on New
hire avenue, in the most fashion,
mart of the city, just off Dupont
The sudden death and the tragic
u surrounding it are a great shock
treat circle of friends she made in
o,rse Of her life in Washington as
E,er of the popular representative in
..s from the South and later AS one
4 cabinet circle of ladies when she
IA over her fathers household during
,ur wears he was secretary of the
under the last Cleveland administra-
|. Herbert's death is traceable indi-
m an accident while horseback
4 IN her native State, Alabama, about
nonths ago. when she sustained Sc
Eniuries TO her back. She was brought
iashiugton, but recovery was exceed
Sow, and II was not untii laCe.un-
MAI she was able TO 70 out OF the
morning she was unusually bright
[heerfill and chatted animatedly. II
kbesn Miss Herbert's custom for sew
wears to take her breakfast in her
and later prepare for the social obi
nd of the day. Shortly before ~
h she dressed to so down stairs.
Instead of descending to the parlor.
10 the rear room OF the third etoI1
home, whence she fell 10 tine
"A. sustaining injuries which caused
beath before DR.. Johnson could ar
| Her father was not at home at the
| being on his way here from Ala
= death wes reported to police he4d-
kers as a case Of suicide due TO meian-
and temporary ALTERATION OF the
as a result of long illness, but friends
4 family believe the fall was the re-
hi an accident Miss Herbert was tho
N Of ex-Sccrotary Herbert's three
iren and was a charming figure IN
hington society.
Is afternoon the following authorized
ment was made by gentleman ia
i With all the facts: Miss Herbert at
tmc Of the accident was suffering from
mclancholia that developed several
IS ago as The final result OF injuries
bed by being thrown from ner horse
spring. Melancholia is not Insanity
. sense of being accompanied by de-
ms AT times there was y profound de-
lion. as is always the case in this type
sease, and there was danger that sui
tendencies would develop. For this
pm nurses Were provided to maintain
ffHest watchfulness. No suicidal ten
p developed, however. until yesterday.
! for the first time Miss Herbert made
ttempt to get out of the window, but
restrained by the nurse. This led to
ionai caution, and two nurses alter
on constant duty, but Miss Herbert
me one on duty and Jumped to her
she was at all times rational, quiet
Eehtle, and it was supposed te disease
Yield TO treatment.
Ply this morning the nurse nm dutv
E oioou on the bed coverings. On
4 - 1~tiSii, however, the nurse
mat the under bed clothes were
fa'ea with blood and that Miss Her
aaa severed an artery in her wrist
par OF scissors. Feeling the emer-
was great the nurse FASTENED to the
saa gave the alarm. In this moment
|nl'narawal from the bedside Miss
|eIt ieaped out and sprang from tie
r.. Inc plunge was made headfore-
50 she lighted on the top If her
VI Inc pavement. This injury alone
|suncient to have caused her death
eohcussion of the brain, and it
fiess was the immediate cause. Aside
mis' a cursory examination indi-
.aat the skull was fractured. The
Ins OF the artery would also have
W. fatally. When physicians reached
ms herbert was still breathing, but
aoout an hour after the leap.
Droner returned a verdict Of sui
|.u'ing temporary insanity. As the
~ the case were clear, ne dcriied
~ inquest was unnecessary.