Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-14
JEALOUSLOVER'S DEATH
TRAGEDY ENACTED BEHIND
SCENES AT LOCAL THEATER.

| While the occupants of seats in the CO.
| lunbia Tbeater were enjoying Wonder
land last night tragedy was enacted IN
| the property room behind the stage. Will
liam q Thomas, member of the company.
| having committed suicide by drinking car
| bolic acid. He was In love with Miss Idra
Gordon, also member OF the company, and
Killed himself II is alleged, because he wss
/ Jealous of her. The young man was twenty
four years of age and his home was In Sag
NAV, Mich. while the home of Miss Cor
| don is in San Francisco. Her mother IL
travelling with her, but is not a member or
the theatrical company. She was with her
| daughter last night after the young man
| had taken his life and accompanied her to
| the Emergency Hospital. There the young
| woman told Coroner hewitt OF the friend
| ship that had existed between her and
/ Thomas and OF how Thomas had become
| jealous because she had paid some atten-
| ton to another young man.
The couple had been good friends during
| the time they had been together in the the
atrical business, Miss Gordon looking upon
| the young man as a candy beau" Seldom
did she appear upon the stage that he did
not appear afterward with his hands behind
him and say; I've got something for you,'
and the gift would be candy
It's not candy this time" he is alleged
| to have said to Miss Gordon last night,
after he had accused her OF having trifed
with his affections.
Alleged She Broke His Heart.
After she had participated in chorus and
had gone behind the scenes she was called
to the property room by Thomas. He was
seated at table, and without asking for
an explanation, he started In 10 tell Miss
Gordon of how she had broken his heart.
His hands were behind him. as they had
been many prior occasions when he
wanted to surprise her.
But he said to her, ITS not candy this
time"
Telling her she had given attentions 10
others she should have given him, he said
goodbye to her and then raised the cup
of poison to his mouth. 1t then dawned
upon Miss Gordon that he was going to kill
himself and she made an effort to knock
the cup from his hand She knocked the
cup to the floor, but not until he had swal-
lowed enough OF the poison to end his
life. Miss Gordon made an outcry, telling
those within hearing distance that Thomas
had killed himself The acid he had pur-
chased earlier in the day was a strong So
luton and he fell unconscious Immediately
after swallowing the potion.
Antidote Fails to Save Him.
While he was being cared for by members
OF the company and persons employed
about the building the ambulance from the
Emergency Hospital was making a record
run to the hospital. An antidote was ad
ministered as soon the patient reached
the hospital by DR.. White, the resident sur
geon. but the surgeon decided at once that
death was q matter of only a short time.
Ten minutes after the patient reached the
hospital life was extinct and the body was
removed to the hospital morgue, when Miss
Gordon gave vent to her grief and declared
she did not know that Thomas thought so
much Of her Later in the night a second
visit was paid to the hospital and Coroner
| hewitt heard the statement of the young
actress He gave a certificate of death
| showing the case was one of suicide.
Capt. Amss sent a message to relatives
of the dead man telling them of his death.
| The body will be taken to the establish
ment Of a local undertaken IN response TO a
| telegram received today and will be for
| warded to Saginaw for interment.