The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-05

the Actress-NothInz Done by tho Police.
That the attempted assassination OF Wash
ington Nathan by Mrs. Barrett. in the Coleman
House. on Thursday morning. did not result
more seriously IA almost marvellous. She had
tull opportunity to carry out her purpose.
suddenly opening the door OF small paror
whore Mr., Nathan and Miss Alice Harrison were
sitting. she uttered single sentence. and then
ilred twice. One bullet wounded Mr.. Nathan
tho other was found on the floor. fattened, and.
us there are no marks of injury on the furni-
ture or walls. It must have struck some object
on the person either Of Mr. Nathan or Miss Har-
rison sufficiently hard to resist 1t. Mrs Bar
rett would probably havo discharged tho re-
naming charges Of the revolver. but for Mr.
Nathan's agility In soizlng and wrenchng the
weapon from her. 1t was all over in a minute.
Mr.. Nathan. with his coat collar turned up to
conceal tho wound in his neck at once went to
physicians. Miss Harrison quittod the hotel.
after informing Mr.. Rodgers. the proprietor.
and Mrs. Barrett was givon time enough TO pack
her scnnty baggage. and then ordered away
Not another guest in the hotel know for hours
what had happened. and then the story was in
completely told
Miss Alice Harrison. a wcll-known burlcsque
actress. had been staying at tho Coleman
House three weeks. She told the proprie-
tor few days ago that she would vacate
her rooms either on Thursday or Friday. as
she intended to go to Boston. At about II
O'Clock Wednesday evening the night clerk at
the Coleman House was informed that two
women were in the paror. and that they had
Just come from the Pennsylvania depot in
public carriage. One Of them who was tall and
slender, and seemed to the clerk thoroughly
ladylike in her department requested that he
hat NJ U,,f 4 4 hi. a
adephia. and insisted on being assigned to
apartments on the first story. She said that
her trunks would be brought in the morning.
She expressed annoyance when informed that
there were no vacant rooms on the first story
but seemed satisfied when told that she could
be given suite in the morning. Parlor IS was
assigned to her Thursday morning This
fronts on Broadway, and Is reached by q mar
row passage from the main hall. The pnrlor
next beyond. reached by a similar passage. was
the one occupied by Miss Harrison. After the
shooting. It was learned that Miss ,Zuland was
better known in New York as Mrs. Barrett. As
soon IA she entered the room she drew rock
ing chair TO the thresh hold. and. throwing the
door open. sat whore she could see every ono
chambermaid. who saw this thought that il was
an UNUSUAL desire Tor display, but observed
that Mrs. Barrett looked closely at her every
=. Mr.. Nathan sent note on Wednesday 10 Miss
Harrison, saying that he would call on her the
next morning and escort her 10 the Grand Cen
tral Depot in time TO take the 1 T. NJ train for
Boston. lie went direct to her room without
sending up his card He wore an ulster coat
but WIS not munied, and made no effort to con-
ceal his face. Mrs. Barrett must have seen him
aud was admitted by Miss Harrison who was
dressed in a travelling costume. and needed
her preparations for the Journey. The room is
small. Three chairs. n sofa. and a table are the
tba Gbnly iTrnIpTe; MI Nathan sat in chair BY
five feet away. They were disturbed by the un-
annonnced entrance OF tidy young, woman.
hmnsa&o' HGP RBbYrafItTy rqaH, This person was
have boen pari OF the scheme. II IN probable
that Mrs Barrett after Mr. Nathan mad passed.
sent tll. uaid g. Miss linrris9n's room o. he
sure that Mr.. Nathan was inside. AT az events.
Just time enough elapsed ior the maid 60 have
returnel 90 Mis-. Barrrtt- room before the door
time With oiue violence. and Mrs. Barrett stood
on the threshold second. Then she stepped
i'm and thru-. her hand into her drrs. pocket
Mr. Nathan saw that she was very angry. He
rose from his seat. and ms h" did so Mrs. Bar
rcii Said WIN great yghemenct yen a. roo,,
Go away YOU have no business here" he
replied;
that Mr. Nathan did u9i see what she had M her
hand until ho heard the report She iumhled
little In her attempt t. recock the pistol end he
was near enough - reach her by single stop
and seize her hand. She struggled. Mr. Nathan
having a firm grasp of her wrist; but she was
able 10 bring her arm W nearly 10 a level with
his head Then the pistol WAS discharged again
The bullet went through Mr.. Nathans coat col
lnr and into his neck nearly under the left ear
and passing around among tho cords OF his
neck. lodged in one OF the muscles Just back OF
and below tho right ear Mr., Nathan. however
before she could recock the weapon. he
wrenchod it from her. Then he released her
ee Re turned nqd TO Miss @ Harrison. Who stood in ono ono
corner Of the room, pale, but unhurt He ad-
vised her to send for Mr.; Rodgers. the landlord.
and then assuring her that the h ~ was Il mere
scratch turned up his collar and went at once
TO the oflco OF DR.. Wyeth at "A West Twenty
seventh street where the wound was dressed
thought that there would be less danger II the
ball were allowed TO remain than might follow
driven 10 his residence at 6s3 Fifth avenue.
Miss Harrison's self control loft her when Mr..
Nathan went away. Fearful Of the return OF
the woman whom she did not know, sho ran
into the hall, called "A boy. and then Ned 70 the
servants dining room. there Mr.. Rodgers
strange woman had suddenly appeared at tho
door and had tried 10 shoot Mr.. Nathan and
herself From chambermaid Mr.. Rodgers
learned that II was the woman who occupied
Parlor IS. He at once went 10 Mrs. Barrcus
room and asked her whether + was true that
she had attempted murder. She admitted It.
and at once began. in historical manner. to
tell her story. In 1t she charged Mr., Nathan
enough with him until Miss Harrison alien,
aied his affection. Mr.. Rodgers. remarked
that Mr.. Nathan was an unmarried man. and
ordered Mrs. Barrett and her maid ont Of tho
house A carriage was called and they went
away within ten minutcs. Miss Harrison re-
quested him 10 call u carriage Tor her, and gave
him 10 understand that sho would take the next
train for Boston.
Ii was said on Thursday evening that Mrs
Barrett was really Marian Ward, tho wife ot
Jas NJ Ward tho Irish actor but they are
wholly unlike. Mrs Barrett Is tall. slender
about %. and stylish. with brown hair, dark
eyes. and olive complexion. Miss Ward is short
and irshy. and appears Older than Mrs Barrett
Mrs Ward called at the Coleman House yester-
day morning. introduced herself ami is under
stood 10 have admitted her former relations
with MIR. Nathan. but said that they had ceased
TO be friendly for some years. She ALSO said
that Mrs. Barrett was n woman known about
town as Birdie Bell" who formerly kept a re-
sort in West Twenty second street Mr. Nathan
became acquainted with Mrs. Barrett about six
years ago. and has been more or less intimate
with her ever since but her leulOusy has made
trouble for him before. Once, Mrs Ward says
Mrs. Barrett became SO jealous OF Fanny Louise
Buckingham that she attempted To horsewhip
her but was overpOwcrcd by tho actress.
Mrs Barrett has hecn living OF late at 2O3
West Thirty fourth street. but Mr.. Nathan has
not seen her for some time. She heard that Mr.
Nathan met Miss Harrison in san Francisco.
and wns attentive to her there. Knowing that
Miss Harrison always stopped at the Coleman
House when in New York, and that she had
been here for few days. II Is believed that she
mad learned that Mr.. Nathan WAS renewing his
attentions, and then determined to klll them
both. Tho late arrival, tho demand for rooms
in the first story. and tho excuse for scauty bag
gage are regarded MS indicatng premeditaton.
years Of age, and has been on tho stage over Il
frI - In ia nf "a