Los Angeles herald., 1891-01-04
HER CORSETS SAVED HER.
FRANK H. MANDEvILLE ATTEMPTS
MURDER AND SUICIDES.
A Tragedy Last Night in a Main-Street
Lodging House-The Horrible Sight
Witnessed by Ten ear-Old Child.

II will blow your brains out if you
open the door?" shouted Frank n.
Vaudeville about 10 O'Clock last night.
Vaudeville was locked in room 26 in the
third story of the Roberts building, at
the corner of Seventh and Main street,
and Officer Farmer was attempting to get
into the room.
II command you to open the door. !
am an officer, and will burst open the
door," shouted back the officer.
The officer had no sooner spoken than
he put his shoulder against the door and
burst it wide open.
'Stand back,sor I'll shoot - hissed
Vaudeville, as he leveled a revolver at
the officer, who had stepped to the side
and warned Vaudeville that he was an
officer and that he had better not shoot.
stand back minute and l will
come," said the man with the gun.
These were the last words spoken by
Vaudeville, for he held the pistol close
to his face and put bullet in his head.
A HERALD reporter arrived few min
utes after the tragedy. Vaudeville lay
on the floor of room occupied by
Mrs. Millie Shaw. In his right hand
was an ordinary revolver, in his left
hand was q razor. and after the coroner's
arrival bottle of poison was found in
his pocket. The deceased was dressed
in black, and on his vest was displayed
grand army badge. AS he lay on the
floor he appeared to be man of about
thirty five, but it was afterwards learned
that he was almost fifty years old.
Before Vaudeville took his life, he
labored under the impression that he
had shot and killed Mrs. Millie Shaw.
Three times he fired at the woman, and
it is only a miracle that she escaped
with her life. 1t appears that
early in the evening, Vaudeville must
have sneaked up stairs and secreted
himself. Mrs. Shaw suspected that she
heard somebody and stayed in Mr.. and
Mrs. Humphreys room until they came
home. This, room is opposite the hall
way and in close proximity to the two
rooms occupied by Mrs. Shaw. At about
10 O'Clock, Mrs. Shaw, lamp in hand,
started to go into her room. She was
about to enter when Vaudeville rushed
out and. without speaking, fired three
times at her in rapid succession. Mrs.
Shaw ran screaming down the hall, the
lamp falling to the floor. In minute
all was confusion-men and women
rushed all over the building.
Vaudeville, however, entered Mrs.
Shaw's room and locked the door. The
arrival OF Officer Farmer and the sue
ceeding event of Mandeville's death, has
already been told.
At first it was thought that Mrs. Shaw
III cd Orc J,1
An examination showed that she es-
capped without injury, except powder
wound on her right wrist. Two of the
balls struck her corset and glided off
harmlessly. Nothing but the corset
saved her life.
Johnny, the ten-year-old son of Mrs.
Shaw, occupied cot in the room all the
while the shooting was going on, and
from under the bedclothes saw Mande-
vile send bullet crashing through his
brains. 1t must have been a terrible
experience for the little fellow.
Vaudeville is well known all over
California. He is a manufacturers
agent. Recently he was the agent for
an elastic tug spring and patent mop.
He was apparently infatuated with Mrs.
Shaw, who is dressmaker. His visits
were Objectionable, however, but he
continued to force himself upon her
until she asked Mr.. Pearson. the land
lord, not to allow him to enter the
building. One of the roomers at the
Roberts block told the HERALD reporter
that Vaudeville had threatened Mrs.
Shaw several times.
Mrs. Shaw was interviewed by the re-
porter. She did not throw much light
on the mysterious affair, being in very
excited and nervous state.
1t was ascertained that Vaudeville
and Mrs. Shaw were school mates in New
York. Vaudeville had been seen prowl-
ing around the neighborhood Of the
Roberts building since early yesterday
morning. He evidently watched his
opportunity to get up stairs, as Pearson
had previously threatened to throw him
out if he ever crossed the threshold OF
the building.
The coroner found letter on Mande-
yille's clothes, On one side was written