The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-17
MRS.LANE SHOOTS HERSELF
SIZE rs THE DAUGHTER OF Ex-
SENATOR BLACKBURN.

The sheetinE Done as she was Preparing to
Retire FOR the Might, ana IL said By the FAM
iy TO Havo Hleen Accidentni-Ths wound
Dangerous, hut Net Necessarily Fatal.
WARRINGTON. Jan. 16.-Mrs. Lucille Black
burn Lane. daughter Of former Senator J. {. s,
Blackburn OF Kentucky, shot herself in her
apartments Mt the wellington Hotel at an early
hour this morning, and is In q critical condition
tonight. A statement made In behalf Of tho
family is that tho shooting was accidental. Ac-
cording TO this statement the shooting occurred
while Mrs. Lane was preparing to retire, Just
after midnight. Mrs. Lane was In her bedroom
standing before tho dressing case, while Mr..
Lane was in the parlor reading.
Between the two rooms Is the nursery, in
which their little daughter Teresa and her
nurse wero sleeping. Suddenly there was q
sharp report from the bedroom, and when Mr..
Lane rushed In he found his wife lying on the
floor, with blood gushing from her left breast
and %coloring her night robe.
ORA. Sewers and J. Ford Thompson were
called In. and ex-senator Blackburn was also
summoned. The examination by the doctors
showed that Mrs. Lane was very severely
wounded, but they could not determine whether
the injury was likely to prove fatal. because her
condition was such that 1t was inexpedient to
probe for the ball. Apparently the bullet had
not entered q vital spot. and unless 1t had pen
etrated q lung or severed an artery there was no
immediate danger.
Mrs. Lano was not conscious until this after
noon, and 10 yet unable to tell how the shooting
occurred. She had been in the habit of keeping
In tho dressing case q small revolver Of 22-cali.
bro, presented to her by her father several years
ago. She was a good shot with the weapon.
Last night in getting out some laces, 1t is said.
she had occasion to open the drawer where the
pistol was kept. The supposition is that she
let the pistol fall by accident on top Of the case
and caused q cartridge to explode.
Two consultations were held by the physicians
to-day, but they decided not to probe for the
bullet while Mrs. Lane was in her present condi.
tion. Mrs. Blackburn, tho mother of Mrs. Lane.
who was at her home in Versailles. KY, was
telegraphed for. and left for. Washington at
once. Mrs. Lanes sister Corinne. the wife Of
Major Hall. an assistant Adjutant-G eneral o!
the army, who is with her husband at San Anto-
MO, Tex, was notified. and will come to Wash.
inRton II the condition Of Mrs. Lane grows worse.
Mrs. Lane was for years one OF the most popu'
lar girls in Washington. AS Miss Blackburn
she was one of tho coterie of young women
prominent in the first Cleveland Administra.
ton. among whom were Miss Bayard and Miss
Garland. both Of whom had tragic deaths
About three years ago she was married to
Thomas F. Lane, q newspaper man and the son
Of the then Postmaster at Summit, N. J.
During the second Cleveland Administratio
Mr.. Lane was appointed Chief of the Note,
Coupon, and Currency division of the Treasury
Department. When Senator Blackburn was
making his unsuccessful fight for reelection to
the Senate Mr.. Lane went to Kentucky to work
for him, and at the instigation Of Logan Carlisle,
then Chief Clerk Of the Treasury Department,
Secretary Carlisle dismissed him from tho public
service on the ground that he was absent from
duty without leave.
1t was generally understood that Senator
Blackburn's disagreement with tho Cleveland
Administration on the silver question was the
real reason for young Lanes dismissal. At any
rate, Senator Blackburn considered 1t as such
an affront to himself by Secretary Carlisle. and
the incident marked the beginning Of the feud
between tho two noted Kentuckians. Mr.. Lane
is at present the Washington representative oil
the Maxim Ordnance Company.