Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-19
WILL RECOVER FROM HER
SELF INFLICTED WOUND
STARES AT CEILING AND REFUSES
TO TALK
Upon Being Released From Hospital
Steps Will Be Taken to Have Mrs.
Gertrude Howard Confined and
Treated in Asylum

Watched night and day, Mrs. Ger
trude Hamilton Howard, who made a
frantic attempt to commit suicide by
slashing her neck and wrists at her
home, 257 North Hope street, on the
morning of February A. lies at the
county hospital staring up at the cell
ing and refusing to speak of the trou-
bles which led to her desire to die.
Mrs. Howard is a beautiful brunette,
with large lustrous eyes and a mass of
wavy black hair She is but 81 years
old. yet she has had such stormy life,
it is said that her mind gave way un-
der the strain.
At the county hospital Sunday the
nurse in charge of the case said that
Mrs. Howard was rapidly recovering
from the wounds in her wrist and neck,
but her sprained ankle is slow to re-
gain its strength. She is booked as
an INSANITY case and when able will
be taken before the insanity commits
sion sitting in Judge Gibbs court.
She comes of family in which the
men have been soldiers. Her father
was Major r. H. Pond of the Twelfth
II. S. infantry and her grandfather
was Captain E. G. Ross, for many
years an instructor at West Point.
Marries an Actor
Some years ago, it is alleged the
beautiful but ezra tic daughter returned
to her mother and announced her mar
riage to Charles Howard. an actor. The
marriage proved an unhappy one and
Mrs. Howard again came back to her
mother, saying that she was divorced.
With some secret sorrow preying
upon her mind Gertrude became sub
ject to spells of insanity and acted
strangely Once she alarmed the house
by asserting that a detective was hid
ing in her closet. 1t was but fancy
of her deluded mind.
At the cozy little home on North
Hope street, the mother, Mrs. Pond,
has tenderly cared for her and sought
in every way to cheer her and divert
her mind from brooding fancies.
There was no hint that Mrs. How
ard would try to kill herself until the
morning of February IA. Giving a cry
that she was tired of life Mrs. How
ard seized a knife and deliberately
slashed her wrists.
Her mother rushed from the room
shrieking for help, and in a few
minutes N. V. Hudleston and r. H.
Hunter fastened in and caught the
struggling girl in the act of slashing
her throat. Breaking away from their
grasp, the young woman fled to the
bathroom and locked the door.
A telephone message was sent to the
POilCe StdllOii anu OLllCer Ingram re-
sponded.
Sees Woman Jump
While outside the house he saw the
frenzied woman jump upon the win
dow sill. Don't jump" the officer
called out, but he was too late. Mrs.
Howard deliberately took the twenty
foot leap and landed on the ground
with blood streaming over her white
wrapper. She tried to climb the fence,
but was caught and held until the am
bulance came
At the receiving hospital her wounds
We're dressed and the police matron,
Mrs. Gilbert, stayed by the cot of the
young woman until an ambulance car
ried her to the county hospital
But for the aid of Hudleston and
Hunter, Mrs. Howard would have ac-
complished her purpose and bled to
death.
Overwhelmed by the terrible tragedy
Mrs. Pond was prostrated at her
home and had to have a physician's
care. I...
Mrs. Howard has without question a
suicidal mania. She may at any mo-
ment, when unmatched, say the ply
sicians, try again to end her life. once
she attempted to strangle herself but
was prevented. '.
1t is the opinion of the attending
physicians that Mrs. Howard will need
restraint in a hospital.
Kept in seclusion and given medical
treatment she may be able to recover
entirely. 1t is sad story to think
about. Young. beautiful. very intelii-
gent and born of splendid ancestors,
to be confined in an asylum is ter
lible fate,
Mrs. Howard was very clever
woman and worked on several papers
as solicitor. She was capable and
successful and made many friends.
Some mental worry that no one seems
to know of turned her brain and she
labored under a delusion that she was
a disgrace to her family and ought
to take her own life.
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