The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-22
Beautiful Widow of Washing
ton Man Leaps From
Window of Tower
SERIOUSLY IF NOT
FATALLY INJURED
Mrs. Ledroit Barber Attempts
to Kilt Herself in Room
in Which Husband
Passed Away

W ASBIN1TOS. May s1.-MrS. Led :
roit Barber. daughter-in-iaw OF the
late Amzi l.. Barber. the millionaire
asphalt king. and famed as one Of the
most beautiful women in Washingt IN.
leaped from a room In which her hts
band died In the tower of the Barber
mansion today and Is seriously. IL not
fatally. injured. After plunging frori
the window, Mrs. Barber gra sped a
flag pole. four stories above the graund
and chung there until the pole broke.
Then she fell scr1s ming 10 "A versnda
re0ounded INTO Il tree. and dropped TO
the ground. For several weeks Mrs
Barber has been suffering frnm nerv-
Gus prostration.
Members of the Barber family do
not deny that the unfortunate, young
woman attempted to end her life al
though they say they do no. know
such to have been the case. The VIC
tim has not recovered fun conscious
ness. and Is not able To talk.
Mrs. William II. Hopper, who lives
opposite the Barber mansion. was arr
eyewitness To the attempted su'ssie. II
such IL were.
II heard a crash and Scream sai.
Mrs. Hopper. Il looked up from my
veranda. and saw the figure Of
Young woman spinning downward
from the tower OF the Barber man
sion. she struck the roof of a bni-
cony and bounded into big oak tree.
From there she plunged to the ground.
She lay unconscious and notionIess
for five minutes before I collected my
wits sufficiently to scream.
As screamed. the elder Airs.
Barber and half dozen servants,
rushed out OF the house. One Of the
men picked up the unconscious wosn-
an and dragged her into the house.
Methar-in- Lxw Talks.
Mrs. A. L. Barber said toalsfat:
MY worn. Esedfoft Barber. died six
Years age. Even before his death. ws
noticed that Ieopodine. his vile, wss
subject to spells Of melancholia. This
WIS the result or sertous illness at tile
birth Of her daughter. Julia.
Following my sens death. Leo
poldine came with Julia to reside with
me. During the past winter she de-
cided TO open home OF her own.
hoping 10 awaken new interest in iife.
Two months ago she returned. unable
TO withstand such solitary life.
"A month ago Leopoidine was
stricken with acute nervous prostra-
,lon. At the same time. Julia was
stricken with whooping cough. and We
have had one nurse for the two ever
since.
Maid Sees Leap.
"Leopoldine and Julia were in the
separate rooms on the third floor az
noon today when the nurse, left them
and went downstairs. a maid saw
Ieopoldine arise from her bed and 60
70 the room near the tower In which
my son died From there she went
UP spiral staircase 70 the tower.
THE maid who was following, saw
my daughter in-law lean out OF the
window. and In an instant she had
disappeared. The maid rushed up the
steps in time to see fseopoidine cling
ting TO the flag pole. which quickly
broke.
II was In my study when aroused
by the screa ms OF the maid. and a
crash against the roof of the veranda.
7 rushed 10 the lawn with several
servants. and ssw Leopojdine Tying
there She had never threatened to
commit suicide. and I am at loss
10 know whether II was premcditated
or an accident"
.ss at Ma Niene~s.. :. .s, .,,s
Mrs. Ledrotf Barber was Frauiein
teopotdiue X. Franzf. a beautiful and
brilliantly educated Vienese OF eigh-
teen when young Barber met her In
Austria, ten years ago.
The other members OF the Barber
family were delighted with Fraulein
Franzies. approved of the engagement
and marriage, which quickly followed
abroad.
The young coupl~ resided with the
hridegroorp's parents at the Barber
mansion. one Of the shew paTaces OF
the capitol.
Young Mrs. Barber was a particu-
lar favori.e in the diplomatic set
In Washington society. where she was
noted for beautiful brown eyes and
4 perfect brunette complexion.