The St. Johns herald., 1897-10-16
FRAMES T4L SHOT.

for eXcitem me3t was the result 0A , accident almost Identical ID ever! ue tail with a tragedy that occurred soIno years ago in this country. AOou' siA weeks ago in 6 Berlin music hall d marksman attempted 10 shoot an apple from the head of q young girl. He hao frequently accomplished the feat Oe- 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. H. was sentenced for thls to six months imprisonment. There was no charge O. negligence or criminal ln- tent. So the charge that he had at tempted to "pander 10 the public lust for excitement" was invented to fit his case.
 The victi1n Of the American tragedy was Annie Yo1 Behreu, and the man who shot ler was Frank T. Frayne, who, when he red from the stage, had made fortune through his expert ness as marksman For many years he had traTaIed trough the United States actirg in a play called "Si Slo- cum." It was -eugh-and-ready piece, devised chiefly to exhibit his skill in shooting and in the management of wild animals. He caraed q whole men agerie about with hin. and this method of exhtbiting his talents had been adopted afTer an ul2 I.cessful career as an actor His wifi Clara Butler, who used to sing in ba plays and act the part of Mrs, SlOcUu was for a long tune the Woman on wlom his feats of shooting Were tried One of the best Known of these was that in which, standing wirh hls baga b her. ne shot an apple from her laa0. md as in the story of William Tel. this incident was crucial one h the nav. When his Wife died, a young Brooklyn girl named Annie Von Belren took her place in the company. The apple shoot Ing feat Was successfully continued for three years. It was done every night and frequently twice tue many mati- nees given in the cheap theaters at which Frayne appeared.
 
 Toward the end of Novem Der. 1882, the company reached a theater n Gin clnnau known as the Coliseum It had been opened only two weeks when "Si SiOcum" was acted there. On Thanks giving Day there were more than 1000 persons iu the theater atthe extra mat inee. The play progressed to the scene in which the apple was 10 be shot from Mrs. Slocums head The apple was placed on the girls head and Frayne took aim and fred. As they heard the crack of the rife the spectators saw Miss Von Behren fall 10 the stage with q spot of blood on he1 forehead. The actor turned and seeing what Lad Oc- cured, rar to the spot where ne girl lay and fel fainring bv her side The curtain dropped immediately and the manager appeared before the curtain to announce that the play would be brought to a end immediately. Some of the audieEce had supposed mat the scene was a part of tle 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 tho-s.1I-I oopIe had gath. cred in front Of the building, although nobody knew certainly of the tragedy inside.
 The girl died within a 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 ot her death. FrayHe protested that there was no danger iu the backward not, as 1t had repeatedly been done 7yithOut serious result. The yoroner's jury re- leased him and he declared mat 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 a wom- an, and indeed abaLaouod the play in which the accident occurred.
 It is said of the German that ne was about to mary che girl he kiled, and the same story was told of Frayne and Miss Won Behreu. lie died about six years ago, and the shock he received when he killed the girl Is said 10 have impaired his healtL seriously.
 The shot that killed Miss Yon Behren seems to have had g fatal effect on plays of this class. Twenty years ago they were highly popular. and they continued so down to a very recent date. But they have almost wholly dis appeared from the stage now.-New York Sun.