The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1901-01-01
SAYS WOMAN SHOT HIM
Indiana Masonic Grand Lodge Sec
rotary Badly Wounded.
No Trace of the ShOOtist Can BE
Found, and the Theory Is
Advanced That Smythe
Attempted Suicide.

Indianapolis, Ind, Dec. 2S.-William
H. Smythe, secretary of the grand
Masonic lodge of the state, was shot
in the head in his Office in the Ma
sonic building shortly after noon
Thursday. Mr.. Smythe claims that a
woman did the shooting, but the po-
lice have so far been unable to locate
her.
Lewis A. Coleman, an attorney,
found Mr.. Smythe shortly after he
was shot. He went to Mr.. Smythe's
office in the Masonic building shortly
after noon Tor the purpose of trans
acting business, and found Mr..
Smythe lying in pool of blood on
the floor. Immediately after finding
Mr.. Smythe Mr.. Coleman ran from
the building and telephoned the po-
lice department.
The wounded man was in a semi
conscious condition, but was able at
intervals to utter a 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 tele-
phone. He said she had been in sew
eral times before and that the last
call iTritaed him and he refused her
request. He claimed that after he
refused her the use of the telephone
she drew revolver from the bosom
of her dress and fired.
Shortly after the tragedy DIR. Ell
mer Smythe, the son referred to,
came in. When he was told that his
father had said that he would give
information as to the woman who
did the shooting, he replied that he
did not know her. He was pressed
to give her name by the police, but
he insisted that he knew nothing of
her. DIR. Hodges was called imme-
diately after the shooting, and when
he arrived he at once began probing
for the bullet. The wound was di-
rectly behind the right ear, and in a
short time a piece of the bullet was
found and extracted. Another piece.
found in the same place, was taken
out, and soon afterward third piece
was found.
When search for the woman who
is said to have done the shooting
failed to reveal any trace of her the
theory is advanced that Mr.. Smythe
had attempted to take his own life.
The persons who advanced the the
DRY said it is strengthened by the
fact that within the last year Mr..
Smythe had threatened to take his
life. His son said that while his
father had been very respondent
at times during the past year, he
was unwilling to believe that he had
attempted his own life.
Early in the summer Mr.. Smythe
received a sunstroke, which incapaci-
tated him for work for several
months. In fact, he has never recov-
cred from it.
Indianapolis, Ind, Dec. 29.-The
condition of VIM. H. Smythe, grand
secretary of the F. and A. Masons of
Indiana, who was mysteriously shot
Thursday noon, is improved, and the
man will live.
The police are still unable to find
a single trace of the mysterious
blonde woman, who he claims shot
him, and have practically abandoned
work on the case. The theory of at
tempted suicide is gaining ground.
The mystery surrounding the shoot
ing seemed as impenetrable as ever.