The Portland daily press., 1882-12-02
SHOT ON THE STAGE.
Frank Frayne's Fatal Error as ''Si
Slocum"

FRANK Fraynes Fatal Error as 81
Slocum."
CINCINNATI, O., Nov. 3O.-During the matt
nee performance at the Coliseum Theatre this
afternoon. Frank Frayne's company was
playing Isl Slocum," The theatre was crowd
ed, and the play l. ad sp. oceeded to the end OF
the fourth act Frayne persenated 81 Slocum
and Miss Annie Won Behren took the character
OF Ruth, 81 Slocum's wife. At this point the
villain N the play requires Slocum TO shoot 90
apple off his wife's bead, and remarked: II
must be with the backward shot," Positions
were taken, the rifle cracked. and Ruth Slo-
cum fell tt the floor without uttering wor !.
Frayne rushed to the prostrate girl, and swoon-
ing, fell by her side with an arm across her
Lody. The curtain dropped, and the audience,
seeing no blood nor hearing any cry, thought
1t was new turn in the play. The manager
came to the front of the curtain and said tn It
an accident had occurred, and soon all would
be well, but the play would end then without
the fifth act. Surgical aid was Immediately
sun moned, but in fifteen minutes the girl was
dead. Not word or groan was uttered from
the time she was struck until she died. Her
body still lies at the theatre Th ball took
effect on the hair. line couple of inches
above the left eye, near the middle OF the
forehead. The rifle used was breech-loader
Stevens rifle, twenty-five calibre. just as
Arayne pulled the trigger be FELT the catch on
the snap which holds the barrel down at the
breech give way. The cartridge was blown
wholly out, and the flame oil the powder from
the breech burned Frayns's shirt-collar. The
distance shot was thirty feet. The girl wore
hat on which the apple was placed, and the
bottom of the apple was four iDcnes above her
head. Frsyne says the accident could not
have occurred under any other circumstances
than the giving way of the catch-spring at thR
hreech. Frayne was Immediately arrested
He is almost broken-heartened, and desires to
be kept in the station-house. When the Off
GERS we're asked 1hat charges they should
make against him, Frayne spoke up and said
"Oh, put it as hot as you please. Make the
most you CAM Fraynes wife is dead and
Miss Won Behren has taken the character for
the past TWO seasons. After he tragedy the
scene behind the curtain bsi1ed description
and all who saw Fra. ne pitied him from the
bottom of their hearts. About six or seven
years ago Frayne while executing the same
Leaf at Woods Theatre in this city, shot
super in the foot The uall had gone through
tho apple and passed through the butt behind
the woman's head, and dropped on the boys
foot. The affair was settled amicably, Frayne
paying all expenses, in addition to a handsome
gagged to Marry Miss Won Behren, who was a |
Br ,oklyn, N. Y, girl. He was released to-
night on $4,000 bail. He says he will never
fire another shot.
When the curtain went down after the |
fatal shot the excitement behind the scene was |
SO great as to create alarm for fear panic |
might ensue among the audience of 1900 peo- |
pie. Fra5 ne's cries and lamentations were so |
violent that he Was heard before the curtain. |
Manager Fennessy was too much excited to |
Say anything, but he sent friend to the front |
TO say that the accident was slight, but the |
play would not proceed further. The audience |
retired in order, although one lady tainted
Manager Frnnessy took charge of Frayne, and,
though the latter demanded to be locked up, |
be got Mr.. III. II. Enich to go before Judge |
Hig'eg OF the police court and give bond for |
his release from arrest. The bond was fixed at |
$3O00 Frayn.'s mental condition was such |
that one or two of his friends kept close watch |
over him at his hotel. The theatre is closed |
for tonight, and probably will not be opened |
this week.