Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-31

moved by the mayor during the term for
which he was appointed. except for cause.
and the cause must be brought and tried.
Mourning the untimely end Of the bril-
liant young mayor, even the handful of dis
gruntled ring politicians give the late may
or in death the homage they never =
corded him in life. About the public build
ings flags hang at half mast and the coun-
tenances of those who served under him
showed the real feeling better than draped
desk or dropping flag. In the city hall
and courthouse. from charwomen and
watchmen to judges and Office heads. there
were only expressions of great sorrow.
No one. not even those closest associated
with him, felt the loss more keenly than
his former mayoralty antagonist. Frank e.
Wachter.
"It is terrible" he said to The Star cor
respondent today. "One calamity follows
another. and at this critical time 1t is
great civic misfortune. Calm. cool. always
collected and master of the situation, 1
always felt he was doing his very best in
administering the city's affairs since the
great fire..
Shot Himself in the Head.
Mayor Robert M. McEane shot and killed
himself yesterday afternoon in his bed
room at his residence. No. % West Preston
street. His bride of less than two weeks
was. at the time of the tragedy. asleep In
an adjoining room, and was awakened by
the discharge of the revolver. which Mr..
McLane evidently fired while standing be-
fore the mirror of the dressing case.
The bullet entered the rigat temple, and,
crashing through the head. escaped In the
rear Of the left ear. Mrs McLane and
other members of the household rushed TO
the mayors assistance. out he did not re-
gain consciousness after he fell to the floor,
and expired within an hour, a number Of
physicians who were Immediately summon
ed having at once expressed the opinlcn
that the wound was necessarily fatal.
No cause can be assigned for the act
by the members of Mr.. McLane's family.
Since the fire of last February he had been
kept assiduously at work administering the
affairs of the city. besides endeavoring to
direct the rehabilitation and rebuilding of
the burned district. This. together with
criticisms by his political opponents, ,is
thought by many to have caused a tenn
porary alteration Of mind.
Death by Suicide.
Coroner Benjamin F. Hayden signed
certificate giving suicide as the cause of
death. and the remains were turned over
to an undertaking Arm to be prepared for
burial
Mayor McLane was thirty-six years Of
age. the youngest chief executive Balti-
more ever had. He was the son Of James
L. McLane. president Of the First National
Bank. and nephew of Robert M. McLane,
former governor of Maryland and United
States minister to France during President
Cleveland's first administration.
During his brief administration Of the
rnayoralty Office he had brought upon him.
self the antagonism OF the regular demo-
cratic organization by the appointment Of
independent members Of the party. Re-
Gently there had been marked opposition to
him among democratic members Of the city
council in matters relating to the rebuild
ing OF Baltimore. and this Is ascribed by
many as a contributory cause of suicide.
Mayor McLane was married two weeks
ago to Mrs. Mary Van Bibber. we'll
known and popular society leader of Bal
timore, and the newly made bride Is pros
trated by the terrible tragedy.
The dead mayor was very popular among
the people generally. irrespective of party.
and the whole community has been pro-
foundly shocked by his tragic end.
City In Mourning.
The entire city of Baltimore is In a con-
dition of mourning today over the tragic
ending of the life of Mayor McLane The
flags on the court house. city hall and
chamber OF commerce and number of ho-
tells are at half mast.
Mayor Timanus' first official act was to
order the draping Of the city hall In mourn
ing for his predecessor.
All the municipal boards met and ad-
journed as mark of respect to the late
mayor The supreme bench of Baltimore
nelu a SDecldl meeting To-Day and ordered
that the several courts of the city be ad-
jcurned until the morning after the funeral
Chief Judge Harlan and other judges re-
ferred 10 the great public sorrow" that
had coma upon Baltimore.
Many leading citizens. including Cardinal
Gibbons. are giving public expression to the
view that the death of the mayor is In the
nature of a serious public calamity
Mayor McI4ane's family physician and
many of his friends dispute the theory
that his death was suicide though Coro-
ner Hayden still maintains that there Is no
doubt upon that point.
Mayor McLane's Career.
Robert NJ. McLane was elected mayor of
Baltimore by the democrats I'm May of last
year after one of the bitterest factfonai
fights ever known. He was at that time
thirty-six years of age-the youngest mayor
Baltimore has ever had.
The board OF supervisors, which was con-
trolled by the democratic, decided that the
ballots In four disputed precincts could not
be counted. and gave the result of the ON
ciai canvass of the vote as 5G4 plurality for
McLane In a total vote of $1,000.
A few days after the great Baltimore fire
last February the mayor expressed him
self as greatly encouraged by the spirit
and grit" shown by his people In their de-
termination to assist in the rehabilitation OF
the city.