The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-22
MAYOR .N'LANE A SUICIDE
BaItimore's Young Executive Kills
Himself With a Revolver.
RE MARRIED TWO WEEKS AGO
The Entire City Stunned by Strange
Traeedy-Young and Brilliantly Sue
cessful, McLans Mystifes Friends and
Foes by His Death Eloped With a
Woman Older Than Himself.

Baltimore, Md.-Mayor RoDerC M.
McLane, of this city. who two weeks
ago eloped with and married Mrs.
John Van Bibber. shot and killed him
self under mysterious circumstances.
The tragedy took place in the
Mayors bedroom in his residence at
No. % West Preston street. His bride
was in a nearby room. so it is stated,
md heard the discharge Of the re-
7olver.
Mr.. McLane evidently fired the shot
while standing before the mirror OF
mis- dressing case. The bullet ent ed
his right temple and emerged behind
The left ear.
A mysterious feature Of the tragedy
was that. according to Mrs. McLane's
statement to the authorities. her hus-
oand was laughing and joking with
ner Just before he went to his room to
kill himself. There was a strange in
disposition on the part Of the family to
make any statement to the press, and
nothing they told the police or Coroner
threw any light on the motive for sui
tide. But the official report pro-
nounced it sclf-destruction, and there
Is nothing to controvert that verdict.
The tragedy las stirred Baltimore
deeply, as it has come as the climax
Of the most romantic and dramatic
series of events which has ever been
recorded in connection with the career
Of a city official in this city.
Mayor McLane was the youngest
Mayor Baltimore has ever had, being
only t%hirty-six years old at the time of
bis death, and was exceedingly popu-
lar, although, too. he had many enc
mics. His election marked the sue
cessful activity of a reform party in
Baltimore politics, and in Mayor Nc
Lane the city had a ruler of the
highest type of the gentleman and
scholar.
Although he had served but a year
be had had thrust upon him duties Of
the most difficult and severe sort
through the great fire which destroyed
the business portion Of the city, and
the worries of his position were aug
mented by the opposition Of his rela-
tives to his marriage to Mrs. Van. Bib
Der.
AS far as can be learned the shot
which ended Mayor McLane's life was
fred at $50 o'clock p. m. He died at
fifteen minutes to 5 o'clock. There
will be no inquest. no further investi-
CATION by the authorities, as both the
police and the Coroner reported that
the death of Mr.. McLane was his own
act beyond the shadow of a doubt. .
The tragedy is attributed by some to
mental collapse brought about through
the hard work that has been done by
Mayor McLane in the past few
months. and his worries owe his mar
riage to Mrs. Van Bibber. Perhaps,
also, it is said, there was sudden men
tai alteration as we'll.
The Mayors recent marriage is be-
lieved to have caused an estrangeWent
with his family. He married on May
IA last the widow Of DR.. John Van
Bibber, a we'll known physician. Her
maiden name was Mary Lusby. She
was a leader. socially, and for years
was a famous beauty. She was about
forty-fve years old, while the Mayor
was thirty-six. Despite the disparity
In their ages, they had been devotedly
attached to each other for several
years.