Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-05
BULLET FOR AN ACTRESS.
Fired at n stage-DOor by Another
Woman.


entrance Of Days Theatre. on west
Twenty-ninth street, close to Sixth ave-
nue., shortly before o'clock last night
brought a crowd who found a very ex-
cited young woman struggling with a man
for the possession of a revolver. A second
young woman had darted into the side
door OF the corner saloon as the crowd
began to run toward the place.
George Handley. a special officer EN-
ployed in Lyric Hall, heard the shot, ran
TO the struggling man and woman, and,
seeing no policeman I'm sight, grabbed
them, and after wrenching the revolver
away from the woman, told her and her
companion that they were under arrest.
But this woman IS my wife" explained
the man.
Yes; I'm his Wife" the woman cried,
excitedly.
you can explain at the station-house, h"
said the special officer, as he started
| with his prisoners to the west Thirtieth-
Street Station. The woman began to weep
on the way to the police-station. but
neither she nor her companion offered any
explanations.
! At the station-house Handley told what
he had seen and done, and produced the
revolver. one chamber had been fired,
|
The woman and her companion refused
to make any statement to Sergeant Shire.
except TO give their names. The man
| said he was John DOwd, an actor, living
at - west Twenty-fourth street, and the
woman, he said, was his wife. Henrietta,
an actress, whose stage name Is Harriet
Weens. Dowd said he was employed at
Days.
As they refused to say who fired the
shot or why they were struggling Tor the
weapon, Sergeant Shire was about to lock
them both up as suspicious persons, when
young woman and an elderly man en-
tered the statiOn-house.
There she is Mrs. Dowd said 10 her
husband. as she stepped toward the young
woman. The elderly man stepped in front
of the young woman he was with, ana
said. pointing at Mrs. Dowd:
What did you shoot at my daughter
for?"
The two women and their escorts were
lined ND in front OF the Sergeants desk.
The newly arrived woman said she was
Lillian Marion, actress, OF Days Ireatfe'
p years old, living at 26l west l2sth street
The man who was with her gave MS
name as Professor George H. swain
and said the actress was MS daush.er'
Lillian Swain Marion, and resided with
him.
"That woman fired a pistol at my
daughter" said Professor Swain.
Sergeant Shire asked Mrs. Marion II
thai was true. and she said she did not
know. ,,. ..,d
"and | don't know whether she hreu al
me or not -, -, ch,ro
How did IT happen. them asked Shire.
"She sent in for me- l was on the sease
of paly's Theatre, and as soon as oaiio
ONT Of the stage door there was shot.
ia 49,, tnoy whether 1t was meant for
me or not" explained Mrs. Marion
"Well do you want TO make CUM
plaint?' asked the Sergeant.
"certalnlv. she will make complaint,
cold the Professor. Then turning 10 MS
daughter he said:
IF any one shot at me 1 certainly
would press the complaint
"You are not going to make com,
plant against me. are you MISS swami
asked Mrs. Dowd, dramit'ceily'
~ don't know" replied Mrs MARION:
oJ don't know what II is all about. l
haven't had a chance to talk to you yet
"XNere YOU hurt?" the Sergeant asked
Mrs. Marion.
answered.
How about a wifes feeling?" asked
Mrs. Dcwd
you don't mean to in-nuate that there
is anything wrong wi n the character
of my child. do your demanded the
Professor, turning on Mrs. Dowd. Why
I have brought her up from an infant
and | know her every act, ana tlere II
not better woman on the stage to-day.
Swain was asked 10 be Iulet and then
his daughter decided that she would APP
pear as the complainant against Mrs.
Dowd when the latter Is arralgnei IN
jefferson Market Court this morning
Mrs Dowd was locked up on a charge Of
felonious assault, and her husband, rot
being implicated i'm the shooting, was
allowed TO go.
He refused to tell how he came 10
bring his wife 70 the theatre. He IS
employed there, according 10 Manager
Doney. as a supernumerary. The police
think that his wife was jealous IF him.
and that he took her down 10 me theatre
so that she could talk with Mrs. Marion.
and could see for herself that ne was not
unduiy friendly with her.
Mrs Marion wouldn't talk % the Ie-
pcrters. but her father would. He said she
was a great actress. and was now getting
$3.50 week al Days When asked how
he got his title OF professor, Nh. Swain
said he was professor OF art.
His daughter Is the wife II 'ieorge
SldIiOH, the whistler OK ffOytS company,
and Is billed under her real name. Marian,
though better known as Lillian Swain.
She has been In Days company for a
year or more. She played Puck in "a
midsummer Nights Dream" and Is
booked for that character when Days |
company opens ct the Grand Opera |
House.
Before joining Days forces she was |
with the original Princess Bonnie"
Opera Company. and previous TO that she |
played Flirt In Hoyt's "A Trip 10 China |
town. She made a success as Pitt |
Sing. one OF the three little maids in |
The Mikado." under Duffs manage- |
ment.. She went 10 Europe with Days |
company last year She married Marion |
about two years ago. but 1t Is said that |
they have not been living together for |
some time.
AS an actress. Mrs. Dowd Is not known. |
she told the matron in the Tenderlon ]
station-house last night short time |