New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-31

The cause OF the suicide IS a mystery. The
Mayors wife, whom he married in Washington
only two weeks ago. was asleep in an aoJoih-
.ng room when awakened by the report OF the
pstol. She found her husband lying on the floor
Of his room in front OF mirror. blood stream
ing from the wounds in his head.
Mrs McLane summoned DR.. A Trego Shertzer'
who found that the Mayor had shot himself IN
,he upper part of the right temple, ana the
buIlet had made its exit behind and above the
,.,+ ss- The pistol and a white holster were
under Mr.. McLane's right side. -Four more pn!
s,cians were soon on the scene and the hve dia
everything IN their power but the NlaSoi 'ie'0
spoke after the shot was fired
Tbo,gh the coroner officially declares the
Mayors death a suicide, DR. Claude Van Bloper'
the brother of MIS-. McLane's first huspahu 'o-
night stated that he believed the Mayor shoI
himself accidentally, saying that the course VI
The bullet SO indicated. He insisted thal Ile'e
had been no GOODNESS or estrangement pe' '77''
the Mayor and his family over the mar i'e7'
and that only last evening he and the Nas ''
called on the Mayors father. Not~lthstaiiui.'
,he statements Of members Of the family the
coroner's certificate based on an inVes'lsa'ioi-
Of the tragedy establishes SUICIDE
No one saw the shot fired The Tragedy h"9
sosused intense excitement Throughout lne o'''
and by many politicians. as Wen a9 IA
N. roung MAYOR. his death is regarded as
sequel to the great fire which swept away -, -
business section of the city last February me
Naxor .elt ,be burden of responsibility upon
him va ,aborad necessarily. Some of his acts
were criticised in connection with making I'M
movements IN the burned district, but the may
ors public znsrit seemed mistaken. In lac'' iie
wa. more praised than criticised, but the Ne'shO
Of responsibility undoubtedly worried MIN
The Mayors recent marriage is peheHeu !"
have caused an estrangernent with ms Iaiii'l'
Re married on May 14 last the wido" oi ~
sohn Van Blbber, well known phsSi'ia'i
Her maiden name was Mary Lushy' 'i7 "'
.soer socially. and for years was a famous
beauty She WAS about forty-live years old'
while The Mayor was thirty-siX. Desp''e ti'7
disparity in their ages, they had been 0e'o''Ni'
attached To each other for seyerai years
engagement however. was never aiiiioui'00-'
ard wsen they went to Washington and were
. married by the Rev. George Carter oA %
dr.ws Eplscoq,a. Church, that city. Inc an
nouposrnen, cs.,scd a great surprise in official
and political circles here, but rot SO Inuch Ia
Their own social circle, In whieh 'i'7-
rent had long been noted.
The MAYOR had had political troubles 'lSo'
Re was 2 Democrat and was elected pS the
Democrats but he was not I'm touch WIN 'i'e
Democratic marty organization, because OF lgi'or-
ing the politicians in making his appointments
10 Office lie turned down the city bosses ana H'u
hsd difficulty with the organization members "a
the cOapclls as well. nr. McI-ane was man %
The highest honor and integrity, and apoFe
Political irckery Of any sort, bat ne was OF hsh
Strung, nervous temperament and sensitive to
the criticism of what he believed his duty To
the public
The Mayors father James L. McIane. was
aaiong the first 20 arrive at the house after the
usgedy. His distress pitiable. Mrs. Nc
merit
-. naer the charter. = Clay Timanus president
~ me second branch OF the City Council, suc-
-. Mr. Nel<ane as Mayor for the rest OF his
-i+ Af- McLane was elected la Mag OF last
H. lor -FOUR years. His successor is Repub-
wr e., aid a member OF the regular organization.
i-'Aailps is senior member OF the firm Of d.