The Washington times., 1904-06-01
QUIET OBSEQU|ES
FOR MAYOR M'LANE
EpiscOpalian Laws Deny
Church Services.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS DRAPED
Speculation Still Occupied in Seeking
a Motive for Deed of Self
Destruction.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS DRAPED

over peaceful GreenmOunt Cemetery all
that is mortal of Mayor Robert NJ. Nc
Lane viii be laid to rest in the family
plot
The original plan TO have the funeral
take place from St Paurs Protestant
Episcopal Church was abandoned be-
cause Of the prohibHory clause Of tie
church rules in such cases.
Private Interment.
Services will be held at the house of
his father. James L. McLane, 800 Cathe-
oral Street The body was remove,
there yesterday from the mayors home
The Rev. J. S B. Hodges. of St. Pauls
p. Z. Church will officiate. The inter
ment will be private.
The remains OF the mayor rest in
cedar casket covered with black broad
cloth. The body is much emaciated and
many friends who called said they were
scarcely able TO recognize the features
All public buildings are draped and
the courts will remain adjourned until
tomorrow.
"Why Did He Do It?"
The whole city is still dazed by the
terrible tragedy. and the name Of the
dead man is on the lips or everyone IN
the community. The one question up
permost in the minds Of all is
why did he do it?''
Even his most intimate friends and
associates are at loss to account for
the deed. The widow or relatives sug-
gest no single reason why he should
have resorted to self-destruction.
1t is the general opinion that the
mayor shot himself under the impulse
=.
out by some of the most eminent physi-
clans. by many facts OF the mayors
career, his temperament, and by the
testimony of some of his most intimate
friends. who have had every opportu-
nifty TO study him.
The following facts are given by the
mayors friends and associates as proof
that he could not have long premedi-
tated the taking OF his life:
He wrote two letters to friends, max
ing appointments for yesterday after
icon
He sent batch of examination pa
pers to Judge Harlan, with note say
ing that others would follow.
He arranged with the burnt district
commission on Saturday 70 do certain
things on the following Tuesday.
He instructed his messenger TO be on
hand early on Tuesday as he had i'm
portant work for him 10 do.
He arranged with City Solicitor Bruce
20 dine at the latter's country home on
Sunday next
He consented TO attend the celebra-
ton OF the Naval Reserves at the
Broadway Institute on Monday night
and qualified it by saying that he would
surely be there.
lie agreed TO the proposition Of John
Z. Semmes to talk over an ordinance
yesterday
Verdict Must Stand.
The detective department. after a care
full investigation. reports that II IS i'm
possible to arrive at any other conclu
sion than that Of suicide Marsha
Farnam. head OF the police department
said:
q considered It the duty Of the police
to make an investigation, although
was satisfied from what ! had learned
OF the facts that Coroner Hayden's yer
dict was the correct one.
"On an occasion Of this kind the pub
lie is apt TO form many different opin
ions and 7 thought 1t best that the po
lice department should inquire into tn,
case I'm order TO quiet ridiculous ru
more
'Of course. realized that the sendinr
Of an officer into a private household &
delicate matter. but I considered IT II
the line OF my duty under the circum
stances"
Detective Captain Humphrey visited
the home OF the late mayor and In
terviewed Mrs. McI.ane Elizabeth Red.
church the maid. and Nellie Dull, the
cook.
Plain Case Of Suicide.
a plain case Of suicide was tn,
captains expression OF his opinion OF
the shooting of the mayor. Continuing
Captain Humphrey said:
The mayor evidently left the room ir
which was Mrs. McLane, and entered
the one in which the shooting occurred
walked up TO the wardrobe. the door,
OF which are fitted with mirrors, ant
opened the left-hand door
Securing hts revolver. which wa
in the holster, he dropped the holster
upon the floor and stepped 70 the right
IN order that he might see his reflection
In the mirror Of the closed right han,
door. He then placed the muzzle Of tn
the trigger.
ANY other theory than that OF suicid
is not sustained by the facts. I knol
that the mayor was thoroughly familia
with the use OF firearms because on on
occasion. about year ago he toll
me how proficient he was becoming i
target practice with small arms.
LAS 20 what was the mayors motiv
In ending his life I can only say tina
] presume he was worried about some
thing. He probably acted upon the i'm
pulse OF the moment and had no tntcn
ton Of killing himself when he entere
the dressing room. In which the shoot
ing occurred.
LAS 20 what was the cause OF IN
mayors worry I cannot say, and
would be foolish for me to conjectur,
was sent 70 ascertain whether Q
not the mayor committed suicide, an
II Is my belief that he did"
Scandal Busy.
Scandal has been busy with the Mo
Lanes ever since the suicide. and an al
tempt has been made 20 show that tn
mayors family had refused 20 receiv
his wife
This story was proven untrue with tn
statement given out by the father Of u
dead mayor that although opposed t
the sons marriage. Il was because Mr..
Van Bibbcr, whom he married. wa
more than ten years older.
In reference 20 the newspaper crit
clsus OF his administration, II can b
said with truth that there was com
parauvely little OF IL. and, in fact non
at ali that reflected I'm any way upon tn
MAYOR personally rr raaf "a ,I,rtbf .