The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-02
ACTRESS SHOT BY ACTOR
MRS. KATE HASSETT KILLED BY
BARRY JOHNSTON.
Former Was Leading Woman I'm a
stock Company and the Latter
Formerly Was with Mansfield.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Dec. Mrs.
Kate Hassett. aged twenty-eight, leading
woman in Keith's Eighth street Theater
stock company. was shot and killed to-
night by Barry Johnston, a well-known
actor and formerly a member of Richard
Manfields company. and who is known to
theatrical people throughout the country.
After the murder Johnston attempted sui
eide The tragedy occurred at Darien and
Wood streets, in Phladelphia's disrepu-
table district. Johnston fired at his victim
five times. Two of the bullets took effect,
one in the left breast and the other in the
left arm. Johnston shot himself through
the breast and is not expected to live The
cause of the tragedy is believed to be
jealousy.
The murder was one of the most sensa-
tional that has occurred here in long
time The streets in the neghborhood were
crowded. Johnston is said to have arrived
here from New York Sunday. He had been
paying considerable attention to the
woman, it is said Tonight he attempted
to see her before she went to the theater
to take her part in the cast but he failed
He lay in wait for her at the stage door
until after the performance. His presence
there was noticed, but nothing was thought
of it. When Mrs. Hassett left the play
house she started for her boarding place
Unknown to her she followed by
Johnston. On Daien street, between Wood
and Vine streets, Johnston approached her,
laid his hand upon her shoulder and Kissed
In her ear "You have been untrue to me-"
Before the actress could flee the man
pulled out seven-chambered revolver and
began shooting at her. She fell to the
sidewalk with the first shot, the bullet
piercing her left breast Four more shots
were fired, one of which took effect in the
arm The murderer then turned the weapon
on himself and fired a bullet into his own
breast He staggered and fell almost on
the body of the actress. The tragedy was
enacted so quickly that no one could inter-
fere. Several policemen, hearing the shoot
ing, rang for an ambulance and the wound
ed man and woman were removed to the
Hahneman Hospital. The woman was dead
when she reached the hospital. and the doc
tors said that Johnston's wound may be
fatal Mrs. Hassett did not live with her
husband and Johnston did not live with
his wife.
Mrs Hassett opened Keith's stock COM
pany at Keiths Eighth-street Theater
about three weeks ago, when Mr.. Keith
opened his new theater on Chestnut street
and transferred the vaudeville business to
the new house This week she was play
ing Marjorie I'm Broadhurst's comedy
What Happened to Jones'" She opened
the theatrical season in the early fall at
the Broad-street Theater in "The Last Ap-
peal" Later she went West starring In
Mrs Danes Defense"
Johnston was known among theatrical
people. He had been taking the part of
Cassius in Richard Mansfield's production
of Julius Caesar in New York and left the
company on Saturday night.
At 2:25 a. m. Johnston was resting easy
In the hospital. He lies In a half con-
scious state. and repeats the words, ''She
was false to me-"