The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-20

tunes. loaded her with honors, worked
for her success, gave up his will for
hers, and, then, after DavenpOrtS death,
asked her to come and share with him
his name as wen as his home.
Here this man who had always had
his own way met with a sudden check.
Blanche Walsh, though perfectly willing
to accept the diamonds, the costumes,
the honors, the success and even the love
Of his dead wife, declined positively to
accept her name and position Nc
Doweu ragged and stormed. Walsh re-
manned firm Mcdowell threatened.
Walsh only laughed Mcdowell tried to
beat the naughty queen of the tragic
roles. Walsh defied him with the high
and passionate scorn Of the Sardou hero
ines.
A series Of storms began which led
to a final hurricane and grand cyclone.
In April they quarreled violently and
agreed to separate.
Walsh got the Davenport diamonds,
the Davenport honors and the Daven-
port sympathy and went abroad Nc
DOWel left the company with the sneers
and the maledietions of the whole the
atrical world upon his head.
He plunged into a. round of dissipa-
tons and emerged still uncontrolled.
He looked around him for a new wife
upon whom to wreak his revenge, and
found her in the person Of little WilheI-
nina Marie Strauss, a young actress who
had played IN Fanny DayenporTs old
company.
and the apparently ardent passion Of
the man. and on the 18th of last June
they were secretly married at Newport
News, in Virginia The marriage was
at first denied, but it had become 50
generally known that it was finally ad-
nitted, and the bride and groom started
for Europe to spend their honeymoon.
Such a honeymoon! Poor little VIII
helnina Strauss had reason to wish be-
fore it was over that it had never be-
gun. During the journey on shipboard
Mcdowell was drunk all the time and
abused her with execTatioIs and blows
He spent his time With other women
about the ship in secluded hooks and
corners, and committed such acts of
indignity as to make both himself and
his young wife the talk and the scandal
of all the passen gers. While they were
abroad he continued his acts of cruelty
and infidelity, which the young wife
managed to endure until they returned
to America
About the end Of August they arrived
in New York and put up at the Breevort
house. It was there that the quarrel
which caused the arrest and the final
separation took place Mcdowell bru-
tally assaulted and abused his young
wife, threw her violently down on the
floor and left her. The next day she
swore out warrant for his arrest.
He took his arrest coolly enough, and
spent the day hunting for a bondsman
that he couldn't find At last, discour-
aged, he had to 60 to jail for the night
and the next morning got off with
heavy fine.
Meanwhile Mrs. Mcdowell is pushing
her divorce suit and Mcdowell is max
ing no resistance
All three OF the women concerned in
the Don Juan career of this singular
man have had remarkable histories and
remarkable characteristics.
Fanny Davenport, his first wife. is
considered to have been the greatest
American actress of her time. She be-
gan her stage career as a child when
she appeared with her father F. L Dav-
export, and her mother, Fanny Nining,
in New York. She made her reputation
with wonderful rapidity, and when she
was still q very young woman she be-
came leading woman of Augustin Days
theater in New York. She married Ed
Price, the great theatrical manager, and
she was happy with him and he with
her until Melbourne Mcdowell appeared
upon the scene
Melbourne Mcdowell was a good actor
and a hard worker, but a heavy drinker
and a brutal lover. He was handsome
and ardent and Fanny Davenport loved
him as she had never loved any man
before. She paid Price to divorce her
and married Mcdowell as soon as the
decree was granted. She Iavished upon
him money and love. She built a little
lovers dove cote in the Connecticut hills
and called it Melbourne lodge; she eS-
hibited him proudly at her side as she
drove about New York in her open vic
toria.
For all this love and tenderness Nc
DOwel repaid her with cruelty and
abuse which united with hard work
broke down her strength and she had
to leave the stage She died alone less
than two years ago. while Mcdowell