The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-03-21
VAULTING AMBITION.
A YOUNG MAD TO GO ON THE
VARIETY STAGE.
Emil Laux Shoots Himself The
True Inwardness OF the Affair
He Would be an Athlete.

This morning Judge Neuendorir held
an inquest on the dead body OF Emil
Iaux, who was found yesterday after
noon shot in the head. ut the top of the
stairway over Oppenheimer's store. The
first witness called was Madame Mag
erald Davene, n variety artistic. who tes-
tilted that the deceased was In the habit
of visiting the house to see several peo-
pie who stayed there, and that on the
occasion in question he had visited the
| house three times that day and was told
to 20 away because he was drunk.
Madame Dayene said she heard three
shots. but did not know who fired them,
she being mp stairs at the time.
The next witness that testified was
Sadie Byne, the landlady Of the rooms
where the tragedy took place. She
1 stated that she knew the deceased, Emil
| Laux, and that he was In the habit
of visiting the house to see various pro-
fessionals who used to stay there. On
the day In question laux visited the
house about II O'Clock In the morning
| and sat and talked to witness about half
an hour until she went to get breakfast
when he left Later in the day he re-
turned and she told him that he was
drunk and she did not like him coming
/ to her house drunk. "lfyou think am
tight that settles II; will 60 ut once"
/ lie acted on his assertion. but In the
evening while witness and Madame Da-
vene were upstairs, witness heard a
step. and going down saw LauX coming
through the hall. She then told him she
would not let him come in, and he said
that was all right, he was going to re-
liove his brother nj work. Mrs. Byne
then turned round and went back and
thought he was going down stairs until
she heard shot. She then ran to LauX
and caught hold of his arm, saying.
"Don't. "Don'tw and by shaking II the
second bullet missed. At the third
shot. however, she was unable to hold
LauN any longer, and the shot he then
fired was fatal ana he fell while Mrs.
Byne ran into the back room crying.
Jack labutt testified to having visited
the spot with DR.. Herr Immediately
after the occurrence. and he saw the
man living in pool of blood. with u piss
tol near his right hand. The two wo.
men were screaming. and ON asking
them how 1t was done, they said they
did not know.
Charles Christopher testified to stand
ing at the front Of the house on the side
walk. when he heard the first and second
shots fired. lie thought they came from
Oppenheimer's store. lie heard third
shot and then some screaming, where
upon he rushed up TO Mrs. Byne's rooms
and found, at the top of the stairway. a
dense cloud of smoke. Mrs.
Byne came out and said II man
haG shot himself. and he then saw the
body of a man whom he recognized as
that Of deceased. lie knew deceased
well.
Adolph IIebgen testified that on yes
terday afternoon he was with Emil
IauX in buggy. l.auN was rather
drunk. As they neared MarucbeauX's
store LauX drove into street car and
he then wanted to turn round and get
his pistol, and with this idea of return
ing he tried to pull the buggy round
sharply. In n way that inevitably
would have upset, but witness caught
the lines and drove further on until he
could turn safely. They then drove to
Laux's home. where he got out and said
he was going TO fetch his pistol. Heb
gen refused 10 90 with him II he did so.
After LauX had obtained his pistol he
returned to the buggy, but could not
prevail on witness 10 accompany him,
and LauX then drove oil. That was the
last witness saw of him until after his
death.
DIR. Adolph IIerll's testimony went to
show that the deceased had wound on
the right temple, the ball traversing the
Uranium. There were three shots fired,
one Of which went in n glass door on to
bed, and the other was found on the
floor, the third being the deadly one.
After hearing the evidence the Jury re-
tired short period and then rendered
verdict that deceased met his death by
pistol shot fired by his own hand.
II is very evident that suicidal mania
is strongly developed in the Laux fam
lily, two other brothers having already
committed suicide, one by poison and
the other by pistol. Emil Laux him
self has made one attempt previous to
Kill himself, wounding himself in the
breast by a shot which, however, was not
fatal, the scar of which is plainly evil
dent in his breast None of
the witnesses who testified
this morning could state the
probable cause Of the suicide, but from
inquiries 1t appears that the moving pas
sion in Emil LauX was to 90 on the stage
as an athlete, and he embraced every op-
portunity Of cOnversing with anyone
connected with the variety profession to
assist him in satisfying his ambition.
Mesdames Davene and Cleo, both of
whom are gymnasts, were accustomed to
practice at the residence of Mrs. Byne's
on horizontal bar they had specially
fixed. Emil LauX, who came very fire.
quently to see comedian named Burke,
often saw these two artistes practicing,
and gave an exhibition of his own
skill. The two women taught him sew
eral trapeze feats, and it was decided
that Madame Cleo and he should try TO
obtain an engagement as trapeZe per-
formers. Madame Cleo. ut that time
being separated from her husband,
A mutual arrangement appears to have
been made, and LauX was making pre-
paratiOns to launch on his professional
career, when, the day before Yesterday.
the husband of Madame Cleo, who had
been separated from her only about two
months, through some slight misunder-
standing, came and saw his wife. and a
reconciliation was effected. When
Laux heard this, he was in
state bordering on frenzy and com
menced drinking heavily, borrowing
money to do it with. Yesterday after
noon he had quarrel with his brother,
throwing some bottles at him. He then
obtained the buggy, and going to where
Madame Cleo resided, he asked her TO
come for a ride. This she naturally re-
fused, and would not see him. lie then
| dove off, mutterinp threats of shootins,