The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-05-31
MAYOR M'LANE
SHOT HIMSELF
TWO WEEKS AFTER WEDDING
BALTIMORE'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE
COMMITTED SUICIDE.

McLane stood Before His Mirror ana
Blew Out His Brains-His Bride
Was Asleep in mn Adjoining Room
at the TIme-He Did Not Regain
Consciousness After He Fired the
Shot-Cause for the Act Was Not
known.
Baltimore, Md. May 30.--Mayor Rob-
ert M. McLane Of this city, shot and
killed himself this after
noon in his bedroom at his residence.
No. 29 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 dis
charge of the revolver, which Mr.. Nc
Lane evidently fred while standing be-
fore 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. Nc
Lane and other members of the house
hold rushed to the Mayors assistance,
but he did not regain consciousness
after he fell to the floor, and expired
within an hour. A number of physi
clans, who were Immediately sum-
moned, at once expressed the opinion
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 Febru-
airy he has 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,
are thought by many to have caused a
temporary alteration of mind.
Coroner Said Suicide.
Coroner Benjamin F. Hayden signed
a certificate giving suicide as the cause
of death, and the remains were turned
over to an undertaking firm to be pre-
pared for burial.
Mayor McLane was elected as Dem
ocrat to the office of chief n agistrate
of the municipality in May of last year,
for term of four years. Under the
city charter he will be succeeded by
E. Clay Timanus. Republican, presl-
dent of the second branch of the City
Council.
The second branch of the Council.
which is Republican. will elect a pres
ident, not necessarily member of the
present body, to preside over it's delib-
erations.
Mayor McLane was SO years of age.
the youngest chief executive Baltimore
ever had. He was the son of James
L. McLane, president of the First Ma
tional Bank, and nephew of Robert NJ.
McI,ane, former Governor OF Maryland
and United States minister to France
during President Cleveland's first ad-
Jninistration. Previous to his election
as Mayor he had for four wears filled
the Office of states attorney, in which
he had distinguished himself by zeal
GUS and intelligent discharge of his
duties.
During his brief administrati ton of the
mayoralty office he had brought upon
himself the antagonism of the regular
Democratic organization by the ap-
poiHtinent of independent members of
the party. Recently there has been
marked opposition to him among Dem
ccfatic members of the City Council in
matters relating to the rebuilding OF
Baltimore, and this is ascribed by many
as a contrIbutory cause of suicide.
Married Mrs. vanBibber.
Mayor McLans was married two
weeks ago TO Mrs. Mary VanBibber, a
well known and popular society leader
OF Baltimore, and the newly made bride
is prostrated by the terrible tragedy.
The dead Mayor was very popular
among the people generally, irrespective
OF party and the whole community has
been profoundly shocked by his tragic
end.