The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-11

"Why did the fates will
So that the empty gun should
be LOADER" These three questions have
assumed the power of continual night
mare to one certain Indianian-a quon-
dron actor Of leading roles-now pris-
oner Of the law.
Was it the result Of love affair.
was it premeditated-the only answer Is
1t was accidental.
The stage-the artificial unreal stage
has furnished a new sensation in the
form Of something very unartificial and
real.
The actors in melodrama of western
life stepping the boards as rancheroSr
miners, frontiersmen and desperadoes
OF the "Alkali Il1e''-playing their roles
in a manner entirely too true to Hte-
are the cause of the sensation.
Last Monday evening, at a dress re-
hearsaI of q transforming troupe or
local talent at Marion. Ind, one of the
actors shot and killed fellow Thespian.
This act was to be billed as feat
ure of the performance-but the gun OF
the man to do the shooting was not to
be loaded. Again the old tale OF the
supposed safe gun.
The tragedy occurred at the Reese
opera house in South Marion. The COM
pany was known as Fogleson's "Craw-
ford's Claim" and the actors in the
real drama were leading lights-William
Fogleson, the man who fired the shot,
and Oliver Miller, the dead man.
The two men were rehearsing for the
purpose Of soon taking to the road to
play the smaller cities and towns
throughout the gas belt. The other
members of the company were Mae Fog
Lesson, sister Of William; Rosa Hollom.
Harry and Charles Hawn, Orville
Schultz and Roscoe Clawson, trick BIZ
cyclist After the shooting the mem
bers Of the company were taken to po-
lice headquarters, but were later re-
leased with the understanding that they
would be in police court at the coroner's
inquest.
Miller was essaying the part Of the
villain, while Fogleson was the leading
man. In the third act, when the plans
of the villain to secure possession of
some valuable mining lands in the West
were about to be contaminated. Harry
Hawn, acting the part of an officer, APP
peared on the stage with Fogleson, and
Miller commanded him to place Fog
Lesson under arrest, eXclaiming, AT last,
Herbert Stanton, / hold the winning
hand" Fogleson suddenly drew two re-
volvers and covering the officer and
Miller, tragically exclaimed: Eyes, but
i nOIQ the IrlChp anu IIISO
A moment later the report of re-
volver rang out and one Of the men,
with the blood gushing from wound
in his breast, fell to the floor.
So natural was the fall Of the man
that the members Of the company, who
were watching the progress of the play
from the front applauded him. A mo-
ment later the man who had fired the
shot exclaimed: MY God! My God"
and tainted. 1t was not until then that
the other members of the company real
lied that something had happened.
The dying man was made as comfort
able as possible, and Fogleson was car
ried to a couch. Physicians were hastily
summoned but they arrived too late.
Miller was dead when they reached tho
stage.
Thus the tour of ''Crawfords Claim
came to an end even before itsbegan.
The members of the company are not
amateurs, but professionals. For two
weeks they had been rehearsing the
play, getting ready for the road. The
opening performance was to have been
given at Fowlerton Saturday.
Yesterday afternoon when FogIeson
went home to supper he carried the re-
volveF with him. There were no loads in
it. nor had there been since the rehear-
sails began. The revolver was In his over
coat pocket, and while he was eating his
supper his younger brother, aged nine
wears. removed it. He also placed one
cartridge in the weapon and replaced II
In his brothers pocket The latter re-
turned to the theater without taking a
look at the revolver.
After the coroner had been notified and
the witnesses We're examined, Fogleson
was placed under arrest No charge was