The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-13
Shooting of Sylvanus W. Hickey, the
Theatrical Manager.
SUICIDE OF THE MURDERESS.
The Hopeless Love and Infatua-
ton of Florence Smith.
A STRAN gle STORY.
Tsx TELEGRAPH TO THE HrRAIp.l


CINCINNATI. Oct IL. 1879.
About three O'Clock this afternoon s. W. Hickey.
the business manager of Mary Anderson. the TRACE
dienne. was called into tho parlor Of the Burnet
HOUSE. where he had been stopping during Miss
Anderson's engagement here with the message that
lady wished to see him. Ho obeyed the summons and
repaired thither at There was no one else IN
the room and for few minutes the servants out in
the hall heard tho sound Of voices in earnest CONVEX
sstion; then they heard pistol shot and saw
Hickey burst through the door crying
.'Pm shotl arrest her; don't let her get away!''
He then fell to the floor. with the blood stream
Ing out Of m ugly wound in the side OF his head
minute later three or four rushed into the par
lor and there saw a woman standing in the middle
Of the room. with q pistol to her head. which she
hrod the next moment and fell to the floor. and in
twenty minutes was q corpse.
TRAGIC JEALOUSY.
The name Of the woman who committed the trag-
edy was Florence Mcdonald. Of Syracuse N. Y, and
the cause jealousy. She was sporting woman
and formerly the mistress Of Hickey. when he was
engaged in managing . theatrical circuit in that
action. The story is current that Hickey had
professod to some Of his friends an ardent
love for Miss Anderson and this coming to the
Of the ono no had formerly professed to love. she
determined to kill him and to end her own life at
travel with her. however. say that she had never
apoken . word to Hickey. not even in relation to
business and that If he had any attachment for her
thorough knowledge OF it never reached her
ears.
DANGEROUS WOUND.
Hickey's wound is very dangerous. The doctors
have not yet the ball from his skull where
lies imbedded, but they hope that with the aid Of
his strong physique he will recover.
The widest rumors were the street for awhile,
TO the effect that Miss Anderson herself had COM
mitted the tragedy, and o crowd Of more than
thousand persons gathered around tho hotel with
morbid curiosity to learn all the facts Of the
SKETCH OF THE DIsSOLUTE LIFE OF FLORENCE
sM1TH-FRoM CONVENT TO THE BALLET-
FORMER ATTEMPT TO SHOOT AND POISON HER
LOVER. s
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.1 ea
D-a SYRACUSE. N Y, Oct. II. 1879.
A despatch was received in Syracuse this evening
stating that MIR. s. W. Hickey. the manager of Mary
Anderson the tragedienne. had been shot this after
Aoon by Florence Mcdonald, his mistress. who left
this city Thursday last and followed him to Gin
cannati. The act was caused, 1t Is ssid. by the
voinan's jealousy Of Miss Anderson. The intel
Ngenco created intense excitement.
A MAYNARD GIRL.
Both parties are well known in Syracuse and the
girl has for six years been one Of the most noto-
sious In the town. Hor right name
10 Florence Smith. Her parents formerly
yesidsd in Syracuss and her father kept u
corn hulling establishment here. Six yoars
ago Florence sent to school at the
Convert Of the Good Shepherd in Buffalo. She was
wild aud hayward girl. and had gwen her parents
q great deal of trouble. After remaining In the
cnu n ahopt tivoa sha and
went to Canada. While there she made the &C.
quaintanco OF conductor OF thePulmsn between
buffalo and Toronto by the name Of Mcdonald.
She became infatuated with him and lived with him
Tor some timo. She sfterward returned to her pa
rents In Syracuse. They demonstrated with her
ON her maynard life and persuaded her to return to
the convent in Buffalo. which she finally did. She
stay there however short time and returned to
Syracuse. Her father then utterly repudiated her.
and casting OF all attempts at concealing her shame.
she openly entered q house Of i'll repute where
she remained about two years. She became quite
notorious, ON account of her fine appearance and
her lady like bearing. She always dressed in
neat and modest STYLE and in public comported
herself very demurely.
JOINING THE BALLET
year ago last Thanksgiv Day she first made
the acquaintance of Mr.. Hickey. She was boarding
ct tho Cheesebro House. East Genesee street,
opposite tho Park Opera House. George Rignold
played "Honry the Fifth" ut HickeVs Opera
House. and the stage manager engaged nor
~ one Of the ballet. II on this
occasion that Florence first met Mr.. Hickey
and she at once became enamorcd of him. She fol-
lowed him everywhere and continually logged his
footsteps. Hickey endeavored on frequent occa-
sions to get rid Of her. but without avail. Finally.
the girl again entered house OF i'll repute and
soemed for while to havo given up her infatuation
tor Hickey. but it soon returned to her and she
commenced her persecution of him.
HER FIRST ArrxMPr MURDER HICKEY.
When Mr.. Hickey effected an engagement with
Mary Anderson to become her msnager Florence be-
inordinately jealous. Her state that
abe ON many occasions threatened Hickey's life. A
year ago last spring sho made engagement meet
Hickey at the Hart house. In this city.
He kept the appointment. aud q stormy
scene ensued between them. Florence openly
charged Hickey with DESERVING her tor Mary Ander-
son. and sworc that II "sho could not have Hickey
NO other woman should" Hickey expostulated
with her. and told her that no did not want
anything more to do with her. Ho told
hoR that she was making fool Of herself
aud running his prospects. and no besought her. II
sho carod anything for him. AZ she SAID sho did, to
lot him alone and not mako u fool of herself Flor
once weeping Violently and was greatly agitAtcd
A. Hickey loft tho room sho raised her hand
suddenly aud ircd pistol ut him.
Hickey had closed the door. and tho
bullet from tho pistol crashed clear through tho
door. Ho immediately ro-ontercd tho room. and
calined tho girls agitation well ~ no could. He
begged Florence to shoot him tho street or in
some public place. IL she was bound to shoot him.
and declared he did not want to die in a room with
hor.
TRYING TO POISON HIM.
After good deal OF persu aston Florence was pre-
vailed upon to stop her persecution of Hickey. But
hor jealousy did not die. Sho soon learned that
Hickey was going away on travelling
tour, and invited him to como and 500
her before ho went. Ho complied with
her request and called upon aler ut the
house where she was stopping. Florence had pro-
vided some lager beer and invited Hickey to have