The Washington times., 1906-03-14
PAINT OF MUMMERY
ON SUICIDES FACE
Actor Thomas Corpse in
Gaudy Costume.
MUSIC RIPPLED AS HE DIED
Player at Columbia Drank Acid While
Audience Was Merry Over Gay
Extravaganza in Front.

In the picturesque costume, which he
wore lost night in wonderland" Will
liam Thomas this morning lay corpse
IN the mortuary of the Emergency Hos
pital. Death through love of a girl
transferred Thomas from the glaring
lights OF the stage 20 a lonely little
room in hospital, where his body lay
attended by one of the companions. who
last night sang their way with him
through one act of a glittering extrav
aganza.
Few more impressive pictures have
ever been presented by the stage OF
which Thomas was a part than the
primitive little room in the Emergency
Hospital where Thomas was To-Day. The
glare of the footlights has been taken
away and instead of the gaudy scenery
which hitherto surrounded him. Thom-
as lies in a white walled room His
stage costume glares. and on his face
is the grease paint OF tine actor. The
blue ursder the eyes served few hours
before 10 bring cut all the life light
that was in them; today the rouge
which last night challenged the strong
est lights OF the electricians switch,
give vivid and horrifying glow 10 the
face of the corpse.
In Property Room.
William Thomas committed suicide at
S:S o'clock last night in the property
room of the Columbia Theater. The be-
lief that Idra Gordon, chorus girl in
the Wonderland" company. had Tilted
him was the cause OF his act.
Thomas and Miss Gordon were seen
talking together in the property room
L. ~
and the girl stood a little to the side.
Thomas held a bottle in one hand and
q glass in tie other, but no one paid the
slightest attention to that until he
raised his right hand and drank the
contents Of the glass. Miss Gordon
screamed. the actor rose and fell for
ward and the odor of carbOlic acid pene-
trated every corner of the room.
Some one near the couple had heard
the man say:
''Ide. you haven't treated me fair.
You played with my affections. You
gave the attention that my heart claim
ed. to others. Good-by. old girl" 1t
was over in a second.
Drinks Acid as Orchestra Plays.
Outside the orchestra was playing a
series of lively tunes and a big audience
sat chattering merrily. The whole front
Of the house proclaimed the happiness
and care-free attitude of a contented
people. Behind the scene death lowered
over the stricken player, whose heart
had cried out against love unrequIted
Principals and chorus alike fitted back
and forth TO the property-room, and the
whole green-room section was IN con-
fusion.
A physician was summoned, an anti
dote was given. and a summons to the
Emergency Hospital was immediately
answered. Thomas was quickly carried
out through the dingy stage entrance OF
the Columbia and placed in the ambu-
lance. A record run was made to the
hospital, but Thomas died before the
institution was reached.
As the ambulance tore down Twelfth
street and turned into PENNSYLVANIA
avenue the call went around the Coium-
pia stage. All on-secOnd act" and on
tripped the chorus, singing n catchy
song, while one place in its ranks was
filed in as best they could Included in
the gay group of girls was Miss Cor
don, who only a few minutes before
had dashed the glass from her sweet
hearts hand and caught him in her
arms as he fell dying
Last night Miss Gordon. accompanied
BY q friend went TO the hospital and
overcome with grief. and burying her
face in her hands she cried Il did not
know he cared so much. He has mis-
Judged me-
Sang in "Parsifal"
Thomas was an unusually handsome
man and was a lyric tenor. He was
formerly a member of Henry w
Savages "Parsifal' company. but had
been with Wonderland" all this season
James Thomas. employed as a book
keeper I'm a feed store in Northeast
Washington, is a brother of the actor
He said he came to Washington from
Saginaw several years ago. and mad not
seen William since his departure, al
though he had received many letters
from his brother.
William had said he was getting along
well and was saving money. The actor
never mentioned that he was love with
member OF the company. and his
brother thought William had left his
heart in Michigan
To Go to Saginaw.
Thomas body was turned over to an
undertaken at noon today to be pre-
pared for burial About IL O'Clock Cap
tain Boardman received dispatch from
Edward Thomas, asking that the body
be prepared for interment and shipped
TO Saginaw.
Coroner NeVitt gave certificate of
suicide.