The Washington times., 1909-10-25
Mrs. Darne Declares Mrs.
Grace Herds Death Was
Not Natural.
BROTHER MAKING
AN INVESTIGATION
Aged Woman Tells Why Suspicious
Were Roused-No Physician
Attended Her.

Expressing her belief that foul play
had brought about the death of her
daughter. Mrs. Grace NJ. Herd, of New
York city, Mrs. Susanne Darne, of 261o
P street northwest, wept when informed
that her son. Richard NJ. Darne, had de-
manded OF Coroner Harburger. of New
York an investigation into the death OF
his sister.
Mrs Herd lived with her husband,
Andrew Max Herd. at S24 West Twenty
fourth street. The day after Mrs Herd
died, Mr.. Dame told the coroner. he
was summoned from Washington and
found that no doctor had attended his
sister in her last illness.
CoroneTs Physician O'HanIon has
been directed to perform an autopsy.
Fears Foul Play.
Grace must have met with foul play"
This was the only exclamation that
escaped the lips OF Mrs. Susanne Darne,
who at one time was che of the wealth
lest residents Of Georgetown, when in
formed by a Times reporter this after
noon that the coroner in New York city
had been asked 10 investigate thet death
Of her daughter, which occurred last
week
Mrs. Herd, who, rior to her marriage
ten years ago. was one Of the bellies of
Georgetown, is a sister-in-law Of Leon
Grajeda, a former secretary in the
Mexican legation. Saturday night Mrs.
Darne received a telegram from the
former secretary. saying her daughter
had died In New York. Since then she
has received no information Of any sort
as Herd. himself. has not informed her
of her daughters death.
Her son, Richard N. Darne, went TO
New York yesterday TO learn il his
sister had reaal died.
Son Investigating.
This afternoon Mrs. Darne was in
formed by a representative of The
Times that her son had requested the
coroner Of New York city 20 investigate
into the causes Of Mrs. Herds death.
Hoping to the last that the report Of
her daughters death n.igf not be true,
the information conveyed to Mrs. Darne
caused her TO break down completely.
After SHE had recovered sufficiently 70
speak OF the matter, Mrs. Darue said
she feit sure that her sons action
meant mat ne had discovered that his
sister had me with foul play OF some
sort
Herd, Mrs. Darne said. was a printer
and at the time he met her daughter
Grace, ten years ago, was employed in
Washington. They were married shortly
after they became acquainted with each
other and continued to live ia Wash
ingt0n until six years ago. when Herd
went to oBstOn. From Boston ne went
10 New York about three months ago
taking ms wife with him
"SOmathing Strange"
There was something very strange
about Herds telegraphing my daughter,
Mrs. Grapeda. in san Antonio. Tex,
that his wife was dead, and not letting
me and my two sons know anything
about il IT was late Saturday night
when we received the news from my
daughter, in San Antonio. We could
not believe the story was true, and
Richard went TO New York yesterday
10 investigate I have not heard from
him since, but I know NJ VIII sift the
matter 10 the bottom. If he has asked
the coroner 10 investigate, / believe he
had found that my daughters death
was due to mistreatment of some sort
8irs. Herd leaves four children. who
are Mary Margaret, aged nine years,
Andrew Max, aged eight years. Paul
aged six years, and Grace. aged thee
years. Mrs. Herd was thirty-fOur years
of age.
ars. Darne does not know what dis
position has been made of her daugil-
ter's body.