The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-18
She SHOOTS HERSELF
Pistol Caught in Lace and
Accidentally Discharged
MAY PROVE FATAL
THE BALL STRUCK A RIB AND
RANGED BENEATH LEFT
SHOULDER.
SENATOR BLACKBURN'S FAv0RlTe DAUGH
SENATOR BLACKBURN'S FAvoRITe DAUGH
The Senator Deeply Affected by the Occurrence
The Lanes Appeared to be Doing
Well and to be Living
Happily.

Washington, Jan. 17.-Mrs. Lucille
Lane, youngest daughter of ex-senator
Joe Blackburn, of Kentucky, shot her
self last night. According to the state
ment given out by the family the shoot
ing was accidental Both of Mrs. Lane
physicians refused to discuss the subject
even to the extent of saying whether or
not the wound would prove fatal but
from the best that can be learned she
VIII probably recover, although now suf-
lerlng severely from the shock
a friend of the family, nominated to
give out a statement of the occurrence
said that about midnight on Saturday
.-Ts. Lane was preparing to retire. Her
husband at lie time was in the adjoin-
ing room looking over the paper. Mrs.
Lane opened a bureau drawer to get a
handkerchief and picked up handful
of gloves and lace, which had been
tossed together in the drawer Under
this fluffy mass was tiny lady's pistol.
gift to Mrs. Lane from her father.
and possession of which she was parti-
cularly fond. 1t caught in a piece of
lace as she raised her hand, and. falling
OF its own weight, struck the hammer on
the edge of the open drawer The
pistol exploded and the ball penetrated
her left breast. What became of it is
impossible to say. According to the
statement given out it struck a rib and
ranged around beneath the left shoulder,
making only a superficial wound. At
the same time, it is said Mrs. Lane is
suffering so from shock that the physi-
clans have devoted all their energies to
rallying her without attempting to de-
fnitely ascertain the extent of the in
Nbo -%.a4 II.
either physician would make tonight
was that Mrs. Lane would probably live
till morning. At the request of TIL,
family the book in which the hotel is
situated has been roped off,
Senator Blackburn is deeply affected
by the occurrence. He does not live with
his daughter, and when the affair oc
Cured he was summoned from his
room, on New York avenue, remaining
thereafter at Mrs. lanes hotel.
Lucille is the younger of Senator Black
burns two daughters. She was married
in 1875 to Thomas It. Lane, prominent
business man and politician of Summit,
n. j. AT the time of the marriage Mr.
Lane was a chef of division in the
Treasury department. Subsequently he
accepted place with the Maxim Arm
Company, of New York, as their agent
in Washington. The position is reputed
good one, and the Lanes had appar-
emily always an abundance of money,
which they spent freely, living at fash
ionable hotel, and seeming to lack none
of the good things of life. Their little
girl, something over a year old, was one
of the favorites about the house with
all who knew her, and the particular
pride of her mother. Mr.. and Mrs.
Lane, according to lAose who saw them
every day, were unvaryingly affectionate
ana attentive TO each other, and she,
while of slight physique, was in excellent
healtlE
Mrs. Blackburn. who is not in the city,
has been telegrap4led for. Mrs. Lane
elder sister, Corinne is the wife OF
Lieut. COL Hall, now at Fort Worth,
Texas.