The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-28
PROMINENT MASON
SERIOUSLY SHOT.
WAS FOUND IN A POOL or Bl.OOD
IN HIs OFFICE.
stated That . RSenae Woman Had
Fired the shots Upon nssns Re-
fused Use sf vsctsn's Telepheae
--Thssry sfs -Attenptea suicide.

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. Dec. g--wiIliam
H. Smythe, secretary Of the Grand Ma
sonic lodge of this state. was shot in the
head in his ofiice, in the Masonic build
Ing. shortly after noon today.
Mr.. Smythe says woman did the shoot
ing. but the police have been unable so
far to locate her. II is thought he cannot
live.
Lewis A. Coleman. an attorney. found
MIR. Smythe shortly after he was shot.
He went to Mr. Smythc's ONCE. In the
Masonic building. and found Mr.. Smythe
lying in pool Of blood on the floor. Mr..
Coleman said he detected the smell OF
gunpowder the moment he stepped into
the room.
seious condition. but was able at intervals
10 utter few coherent words. The police
asked Mr. Smythe to tell who did the
shooting. and he told them his son would
give them the information. He was able
TO say. however. that he was seated at his
desk when a blonde woman entered his
office and asked to use the telephone He
said she had been In several times before,
and that the last call irritated him and ne
refused her request. He claimed that
after he refused her tho Use OF the tele-
phone she drew a revolver from the bosom
Of her dress and fired.
Woman seems n Myth.
Shortly after the tragedy DR.. Elmer
Smyihe. the son referred to. came In. lie
insisted that he knew nothing OF the wo-
man or the shooting
surgeon was called Immediately after
the shooting. and when he arrived he be-
gan probing for the bullet The wound
was directly behind the right ear. and IN
a short time pieces OF tho bullet we're
found and extricated
Soon after the shooting Mr.. smythe
asked for his son Elmer and requested
thar all leave the room fer few minutee.
which was done. Later ne said his son
would give them the name OF the woman
and all about her. The son persisted In
his statement that he knew nothing OF
her
An attempt was made to locate the wo-
man at the Lorraine. bur inquiry deyei-
oped the fact that there was OF had been
no woman connected with the hotel who
could have done the shooting.
suieid~ Theory Advanced.
When a search for the woman who IL
said 10 have done the shooting failed TO
rrvcal any trace Of her. the theory was
advanced that Mr.. smythe had attempted
to take his own Hfs. The persons who
advanced the theory say II Is strength
enea BY The fact that within the last year
Mr.. smythe had threatened to taxa his
own life
His son said that while his father would
b.. very dezpondeni al times during the
past year, ha was unwilling 10 believe
thar be mad attempted his own life.
Al the home Of Mr. Smythe Il was Inn
possible 70 flnd any ciue 10 the woman
who he sAld did the shooting,
Mr. sfnythe - widely known Ia Indian
apolis He came ss this city twenty-five
years ago. from Sresneastie. 10 take the
s.gsttlofa AZ aegrefarg of the Masarfr
Grand lodge of Indiana. position which
he allied 20 the present time. He is one Of
the best-known Masons in the state. ard
Il highly esteemed.
Early IN the summer Mr.. Smythe re-
eeived a sunstrnke which incapaciiated
him from work. In fact. ne has never re-
covered.