The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1897-09-23
FRAYNE'S FATAL SHOT.
American Parallel to the Recent
Shooting on the German Stage.

crime of ''pandering to the public lust
for excitement was the result Of an
accident almost identical in every de-
tail with a tragedy that occurred some
years ago in this country. About six
weeks ago in Berlin music hall
marksman attempted to shoot an apple
from the head of a young girl He had
frequently accomplished the feat be-
fore with success. But through some
inaccuracy in aim the bullet, instead of
passing through the apple, struck the
woman in the head and killed her in
stantly. He was sentenced for this to
six months Imprisonment. There was
no charge Of negligence or criminal In
tent. So the charge that he had at
tempted to ''pander to the public lust
for excitement was invented to fit his
case.
The victim of the American tragedy
was Annie Won Behren, and the man
who shot her was Frank l. Frayne,
who, when he retired from the stage,
had made fortune through his expert
ness as marksman. For many years
he had Travelled through the United
States acting in play called Isl Slo-
cum. 1t was rOugh-andready piece,
devised chiefly to exhibit his skill in
shooting and in the management of
wild animals. He carried a whole men
agerie about with him, and this method
of exhibiting his talents had been
adopted after an unsuccessful career
as an actor. His wife, Clara Bu; ;ler,
who used to sing in his plays and act
the part of Mrs. Slocum, was for a long
time the woman on whom his feats Of
shooting were tried One of the best
known of these was mat in which,
standing with his back to her. he shot
an apple from her head, and as in the
story of William Tell, this incident was
a crucial one in the play. When his
wife died, young Brooklyn girl
named Annie Won Behren took her
place in the company. The apple-shoot-
ing feat was successfully continued for
three years. 1t was done every night
and frequently twice at the many matt
nees given in the cheap theaters at
which Frayne appeared.
Toward the end of November, 1882
the company reached a theater in Gin
clnnad known as the Coliseum. 1t had
been opened only two weeks when Isl
Slocum'' was acted there On Thanks
giving Day there were more than 1000
persons in the theater at the extra mat
lnee. The play progressed to the scene
IN which the apple was to be shot from
Mrs. Slocum's head. The apple was
placed on the girls head and Frayne
took aim and fired. AS they heard the
crack of the rifle, the spectators saw
Miss Won Behren fall to the stage with
:aspot Of blood on her forehead. The
actor turned and. seeing what had oc-
Cured, ran to the spot where the girl
lay and fell fainting by her side. The
curtain dropped Immediately, and the
manager appeared before the curtain
to announce that the play would be
brought to an end Immediately. Some
of the audience had supposed that the
scene was part Of the play. But it
was soon whispered about that the girl
had been killed. The holiday crowd in
the streets heard the report, and before
long several thousand people had gath.
cred in front Of the building. although
nobody knew certainly of the tragedy
inside.
The girl died within few minutes
after the bullet struck her over the left |
eye. Frayne, who was frantic with ex-
citement, was locked up. The apple |
was four inches above her head on a |
hat, and the accidental Use of defect |
i've cartridge was the cause of her
death. Frayne protested that there |
was no danger in the backward shot. as |
it had repeatedly been done without
serious results. The coroners jury re-
leased him and he declared that he |
would never shoot again. But after a |
brief retirement he returned to the |
stage and acted in his drama for nine |
years longer, although he never re-
peated the backward shot with wom-
an, and indeed abandoned the play in |
which the accident occurred
1t is said of the German that he was
about to marry the girl he killed, and
the same story was told of Frayne and
Miss Won Behren He died about six
years ago, and the shock he received
when he killed the girl is said to have
impaired his health seriously.
The shot that killed Miss Won Behren
seems to have had q fatal effect on
plays of this class. Twenty years ago
hey were highly popular, and they
continued so down to a very recent
late. But they have almost wholly dis
from the stage now.-New
York Sun.
The FraternaI Orders.
The recently published statistics of
he fraternal and benevolent associa-
ions of the United States present some
acts that may be surprising to per-
ons who have never looked into the
subject. The total membership of these
'rders is 100000. of which number
bout 100000 are Free Masons, more