The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-11
HE ADMIRED EDNA MAY
SUICIDE OF WALTER JIGGINS FOR
LOVE OF AN ACTRESS.
Was the Devoted Slave of the Ameri-
can Bewitcher, Who Grieved Much
as She Sailed for Home.

CHICAGO, Nov. 10-The Tribune's Lon
don correspondent says: Walter Jiggens,
the latest admirer of Edna May, the pop
ular young American actress and singer,
has committed suicide and Miss May her
self has sailed for New York almost pros
trated with grief. The story is one Of the
most romantic that has come to light in
London for many day. Walter Jiggens
is described in the city directory as meat
salesman, but he has long been familiar
figure among the Piccadilly chappies. With
his Brother Henry, Jiggens conducted a
butchers business at 81 Central Market
place. and both were remarkably success
full.
Walter Jiggens, though only thirty-five
years old, decided about a year ago to
partially retire. He had an income Of SlO.-
600 a year and fitted up bachelor quarters
in Piccadilly and began to enjoy life as a
man of leisure. He was rather short Of
stature. but was always well dressed. ana
had pleasing manners. He was soon taken
up NJ some other youns. swells OF the
neighborhood, among the number being
Harry Cavendish. who is credited with
spending $500 for jewels for Edna May.
Cavendish introduced the actress TO the
butcher and not long afterwards the young
nobleman ceased his visits to the May home
in st. Johns Wood. Jiggens has ever since
been Edna Mays devoted slave. On the
night of Tuesday a week ago Jiggens
6ined at the Cafe Royal, where he met
several friends and appeared 10 be in the
best of spirits. Later he changed his even
ing clothes for tweed suit and disap-
peared.
After a few days absence his brother
became alarmed and employed detectives to
search for him. Sunday last the body Of
a man dressed in tweed suit was found
on the sands off Margate. Every clew
which might lead 10 identification had been
removed from the clothing, and the cor
oner's jury brought i'm the simple verdict,
Unknown, found drowned" On Tuesday
n clerk in Henry Jiggenss Office showed
a newspaper paragraph about the mystery
to his employer, and the next day Henry
Jiggens arrived at Margate and identified
the body that of his brother. just in
time to prevent his burial I'm the potter's
field.
When the news reached London it caused
general regret I'm Picadilly as general as il
was sincere. 1t was decided TO keep the
matter from Edna May. She sails to-mor
row for New York, where she is TO play
under Charles Frohman's management, and
il was thought that she had better hear the
stupid young man who called on Thursday
night to say farewell dropped a word which
revealed the secret
The gloom which settled over the actresses
home was pathetic. Jane May, her sister,
and Mabel Power, her friend, appeared to
feel the blow almost as keenly as the object
of the suicides devotion. To-day the three
young women took the train at Waterloo
for Southampton. Several old-time friends,
among them John Tenant, manager Of the
Empire Theater, John Sterrett, Monte De
Lisser and Winifred Chancellor were pres
ent at the station to bid the party farewell.
hysterical and weeping bitterly. She had 10
be half carried into the train by her sister
and physician.
OF the causes assigned for the suicide one
is that Jiggens had spent almost twice his
income the last year and was respondent
over the debts which naturally resulted
This theory his brother disputes for the
reason that within fortnight hence Wal
ter would have had a fresh supply of funds
The second explanation is to the effect
that the young man was desperate over the
departure of his sweetheart, and the third
and least probable of all, is that he worried
over a rival sutton
Miss Mays friends insist that her grief is
due TO her Observation-Disclosures over the loss
of faithful friend. The actress herself
was in no condition to talk, but those best
acquainted with her insist that Jiggens
was the most honest OF all her many adj
mirers.