Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-10-18
PUT A BULLET IN HIS BRl.
Suicide of Thomas F. Lane
Washington, D. C.
S0N-IN-LAW OF jos. BLACKBuS
Senator Learned the Sad Ne,
at Harrington.


To ~ NtetttbB-atl HE UU
gagements in Delaware Cancelled.
Washington, Oct. 16. ---Broodinp a. 4
the act that he bad Bright's diseass 4
given as the cause which last night r
Thomas +. Lane, son-in. law # Senal 4
j. g. S. Blackburn of Kentucky, y
shoot himself in the head. Tho d H
was committed in the presence Of IN
little daughter, and be died instant
Mrs. Lane, formerly Miss Luc18
Blackburn, was 10 an adjoining r.
resting ON couch. Three yeats "
she had narrow escape from death
q pistol wound. She and her FAM
were then living at the Hotel WelDiII
ton. Mr.. Lane was out of town mvj4
of the time and Mrs Lane kepti4
loaded revolver in her bureau draVI
One night she was found in her rod8
with bullet wound 10 her breast, MI
il was explained by the family that
taking some laces from the drawer M
pistol had been lifted up and falIiI5
on the hammer exploded. She linpertf
between life and death for some I'M
but ultimately recovered.
The shock of last nights TRACED
completely Frustrated her mud she
now Under the constant care Of
physician.
As Miss Blackburn Mrs. Lane was
popular belle in Washington societ]
especially with the Southern colonI
She figured 10 several romances, al
Of which had a somewhat sensation
ending when it was found that youIi
Washington man. b. Shepetd Will
who had visited the Blackburn famkl
in Kentucky, was negro. This NJ
brought out Oh his trial for allepky
embezzlement in this city.
Mr.. Lane was chief of a bureau A
the Treasury Department during HI
second Cleveland administration, ar1
his summary removal by Logan Oh
Isle, son OF tie Secretary, it il aaA
was the real cause of the bitter i'm
that has since existed between N
Carlisle and Blackburn families. 4
ths tim' Of his removal, Mr.. Lane b
spent his honeymoon in Europe MI
had afterward gone to Kentucky
assist Senator Blackburn in bis efo1
for re. election, being absent from d
desk at tue Treasury for several montai
For the past few years Mr.. Lane
represented in Washington the VickI
Sons g. Maxim Gun Factory, an I'd
lish couccrn, and had been very
cessful in making contracts with
government. During the Spanish III
he was tho agent for selling guns
ships to the government and made,
largo sum in fees.
Thomas +. Lane was native Of NJ
Hampshire, but his parents moved M
Summit, N. D., when he was boy al
he spent many years there. SenatS
blackburn was in Harrington, Del
when tie news of tho suicide reactd
him.
HEARD THE EEwshT HARRINGTON.
Harrington, Oct. 16.--The Dem
Gratis Of Kent county gath cred to-day
great force at this place TO hear Unita
States Senator Joseph Q. S. Blackburn
who had been billed to make an ID
dress here.
Senator Blackburn arrived in Hal
rington shortly after noon and was nd
by large number Of the townspeopi.
who escorted him to the hotel to awa
the hour for the meeting to Upe.
While sitting on the veranda sui
rounded by crowd to whom the SeH
tor was reciting some of his campais
experiences, he was interrupted by
messenger, who told him that he vi
wanted at the telephone. He walsl
across the street to the telephone otts
The connection between Harringt$
and Washington had been broken, ID
while waiting the restoration of con
munication the Senator amused hias
self by caressing 4.years- giiE
who, he said, resembled a little gran
daughter whom he bad left in Was
ington on Sunday last. When W
operator told him that the connectl
was ready he placed the receiver 10 u
eur.
The message came that Mr.. Lane hi
shot himself. The Senator reeled fOi !
moment and, calling to friend to tail
the receiver, sat down almost prs.
trated. AS soon as he was told thil
Mr.. Lane was dead the Senator saI
that he must return to washington \
once. Stepping from the room out int
the street, he was quickly surroundS
by number of persons who wG'
awaiting his temperance. The Sens
tor saw on the faces of the crowd ID
| curing looks and, raising his head, b
said: MY friends, have received
dreadful shock and will not be abe u
address you today" He left for Wash
ington by the first train.
Tho news soon spread throughou
tho town and both men and wome
congregated about the hotel and olfere
their sympathy. just as the Senate
was leaving for the train be was prt
sented with handsome bouquet b
the ladies Of Harrington.
Senator Blackburn was scheduled
speak at Smyrna tonight, but all of h
engagements have been cancelled. TT
the train left the meeting was callod
order, and Mr.. Berry OF Virginia AZ
dressed the audience. Tho announce
ment that Senator Blackburn wouI
not speak at Smyrna tonight was n
ceivtd with great regret, as the Sem
tor Is we'll known there and has alwa.
been favorite with the people.
large audience which had assembled
give him a welcome was addressed
s. y. McLane and others.
Chairman Saulshury has secure
Hon. ]. NJ. Griggs of Georgia and ca
j., Il. II. Wood of Frederick, Nd,
take the appointments of Senat
blackburn. Mr.. Salisbury is makil
arrangements TO have Bourke Cockri
speak here during the week beginnil
October Goth.