The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-02
SARAH IN DANGER.
Bernhardt Asks Police Protec-
ton in New York.
FRENCH ACTOR puRsuEs HER.
1nspeeter Byrnes Heads on the Threat
ened Murderer and Sends Him
Back Across the See.

NEW YORK, March Especial. when
Inspector Byrnes called ON Sarah Bern
hardt at the Hoffman house Q short time
ago there was good deal of speculation as
to the subject of the consultation. Here
were the French actress and the chief Of
the New York detective force talking
earnestly about something or other and
conducting conference in the parlors OF
the actress apartments, and nobody knew
what that something or other was. There
were innumerable surmises made, chiefly
to the effect that Bernhard had lost some
valuable jewels, or that some of heI jewels
had been stolen. Bernhardt said it was
only social call.
1t seems now that although Nine. Bern
hardt's explanation was good as far as ii
went, it did not 60 far enough. During
this social call the actress acquainted the
inspector with the fact that she desires the
protection of the New York police. She
told him that she expected that Philip
GARNER, prominent French actor, would
arrive by the next steamer from Havre,
and he was coming over for the express
purpose of killing her. He had sworn in
Paris that he would kill her, and Bern
hardt believes that he would keep his word
If he were given half chance
GARNER is an actor Of the first rank in
withal an artist. He played in Bernhardt's
supporting company several years before
her recent trip to this country. He played
Antony in the production of Cleopatra, -
and did leading parts in Fedora" and
LA Tosca" with satisfaction to every
body: It is declared by associates of
Bernhardt that he was not engaged for the
American tour because he was higher
priced actor than was needed.
Developments of the last fortnight show
that there were probably other reasons
that rendered his re-engagement undesir-
able. At all events Bernhardt holds him
in terror, and when she learned that
ne was coming over here she sent for In
spector Byrnes at once.
When the Normandie arrived in New
York on Saturday, February IA, there
were four central Office detectives on her
deck, ready to receive the representative
OF French dramatic art. On Tuesday
night, February II, as Bernhard was
hurrying from her carriage into the stage
door of the the theater she felt her right
arm clutched as though in a vice, and q
voice Missed in her ear: "Me voici
Garnier!" She wrenched herself free,
and, almost frightened to death, fed to
the stage door and made her way inside.
Inspector Byrnes was sent for, the facts
communicated to him, and he promised
that supervision of Carriers movements
should be resumed, and that he would be
gently persuaded to go back to France.
The detectives did their work so we'll that
GARNER decided to give up his place in
Bernhardt's company, or Of killing her or
hypnotising her, and sailed away on the
Normandie Saturday week ago, after a
single weeks stny in the country. Six
detectives saw him sail away.
Those who claim to have knowledge of
the case assert that when Bernhardt told
Inspector Byrnes that she was afraid of
GARNER she did not fully explain the situ-
alton. According to their version of the
story GARNER had fpr long time exercised
a peculiar and mysterious power over the
French actress. In fact, it Is said that in
his hands she becomes hypnotized. and
that she is unable to resist the domination
of his will, and there are other sensational
stories to the effect that he used this power
over her brutally, and has at times struck
and otherwise maltreated her.