The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-31
Chief Executive of Baltimore
 Takes His Own Life
MARRIED TWO WEEKS AGO
No Cause is Assigned For Tragic Act Unless Ills Mind Was Affect ed By Strain During
 Recent Fire.

Baltimore. May 30.-Mayor Robert M. McLane of this city shot and killed him. self at his home in this city in his bed- room today His bride of two weeks was at the time asleep in the adjoining room. and was awakened by the discharge of the revolver. which Mir. McLane edivent ly used while standing before the mirror of the dressing case.
 The bullet entered the right temple and crashing through the head escaped in the rear of the left ear. Mrs. MeLane and other members of the household rushed to the mayors assistance but he did not regain consciousness after he fell to the floor, and expired within an hour, num- Der of physicians who were immediately summoned. having at once expressed the opinion that the wound was necessarily fatal.
 No cause can be assigned for the act by the members of MT. McLane's s family. Since the fire of last February he had been kept assidiously at work admins tering the affairs of the city besides en- deavoring to direct the rehabilitation and rebuilding of the burned district. This. iDBtlDtI Nitn CiiiltiSiiS ny Hio RohAi'ai opponents. are thought by many to have caused temporary alteration of the mind.
 Signs Verdict of Suicide.
 Coroner Benjamin F. Hayden signed certificate giving suicide as the cause of death. and the remains were turned over to an undertaking firm to be prepared for burial.
 Mayor McLane was elected to the office of chief magistrate of the municipality in May of last year for a term of four years. Under the city charter he will be succeeded by F. Clay Tymanus republi- can, president of the second branch of the city council to serve out the unex- pired term The second branch of the council, which is republican, will elect a president not necessarily a member of the present body, to preside over it's deliberations
 Mayor McLane was 36 years of age, the youngest chief executive Baltimore 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 Pres ident Grover Cleveland's first administra- tlon.
 Antaeonzed Regular Democracy.
 Previous to his election as mayor he had four years filled the office Of states att torney in which he had distinguished himself by zealous and intelligent dis charge of his duties. During his brief administration of the mayoralty office he had brought upon himself the an- tagonism of the regular democratic party by the appointment of the independent members of the party. Recently, there has been marked opposition to him among democratic members of the city council in matters relating to the rebuilding of Baltimore, and this is ascribed by many as contributory the cause of suicide.
 Mayor McLane was married two weeks ago to Mrs. Mary VanBibber a well 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 peo- pie generally, irrespective of party, and the whole community has been profound ly shocked by his tragic end