New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-22
An APOLOGY TO THE FARMERS.
Suicide IN A VlRIErY THEATRE.
DEATH PREFERRED TO DISGRACE.
TRAGIC END OF RICHARD wHALEN-ATTEMPTTD
MURDER OF AN ACTRESS.
Inr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRmUSE.l

lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRmUSg.l
ST.. LOUIS, Sept. 2l.-Richard Whalen,
young man OF twenty. sent bullet crashing through
bis brain last night in the bar-room of
Eshers AlhaInora Theatre. and carried out
ncorpse The pistol with which he committed suicide had
moment before been pointed az tue zeal OF woman;
but his nand unerrug IN the last shot than In
the first. aud the woman escaped being killed
The last act In tao programme Of the show
WAS being performed In the theatre when the
reports OF tho pistol drew into the
bar-room an immense crowd of men. who vainly tried
to obtain look at the limp figure whose life blood was
crimsoping the saw-dust near the bar physician
made his way through tho throng and stopping over
the body saw that tue boy was dead
Various rumors gained ground as TO the cause ohthe
attempted murder and successful sucldei but while
there can be no doubt that intimacy OF some sort
existed between the man and the woman.
no evidence to that effect brought
out at the inquest held to-day. while
abundant testimony was supplied showing that the
young man had with financial misfortune which
had rendered him despondent 10 he verge OF insanity
appears that early The week his employers Broderck
A. Ba.com sent him to New.OreaBs TO make collection,
furnishing him with money defray the expenses Of
the trip. They wanted him to stop ut several OF the
larger the route to New Orleans ana what
he could ia the way OF selling goods siuce that
tirae they nothing OF him. until this morning they
heard his suicide. Alter an absence OF lew days,
Wbaleu returned 10 It, LOUIS aud conceal
ing himself his parents and employers
sought refuge with Charue Howard, the head
waiter at the Ahambra Theatre, and Carrie Howard.
ms WIFE, beautiful wOInai n OF tno per-
formers The theatrical employees say that WhIen
was infatuated with the woman, but that they do
not believe mis- affection reoiprOcated. TO the
Towards and several other OF his friends around the
theatre of when he was. unknown TO his en-
ioyers parents, regular haDtue, lie confessed the
fact that while the trah he had been swindled by
monte $500 which had been entrusted
TO MIN by ms employers; and IN his despondcnoy nc
said frequently II he could not raise the money by
| Thursday might he would Kill himself.
He failed to get the required and On Thursday he
drank deeply, winch 10 MS usual custom
In the evening no went to the theatre and
made several inquiries for Mrs. Howard. and
seemed deeply disappointed every time he
| learned Of her aDseuce from the theatre.
she returned 10 the place about H. and
was soon by Whalen. who called her
over 10 hm. As she drew near, she excused
herself aud turned of saying she would return He
said "No you won't" and fired at her head she
stumbled and the shot passed over her, and Whaen,
thinking had Killed her. shot himself In the night
temple in1icting wound from which ne dlcd III lew
minutes.
The CoroneI's jury heard the testimony OF number
OF witnesses tOsday aud returned plain verdict OF
suicide, all the evidence gong 10 prove that
the unfortunate young had killed himself IN prefer
| ence TO facing his employers and rendering an
account his unjust stewardship. Just why
he wanted 10 kill the woman well as
himself not brought out, aud probably Will never
| be made public, the husband and wife who alone
| know all about IL are relicent on the subject