Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-06-07
BULLETS
END LIVES
D. e. GRINDELL KILLS HIMSELF
AND ALICE DAVIS AT
ELDoN
SAD END OF LOVE STORY
Both Were Members of the Angels
Comedy Company Now Playing at
Eldon and Were Devoted Lovers-
Man Was Victim of Consumption
Inquest This Afternoon.

June o.-(SpeClal) ID. T..
Grlndell, comedian, and Alice Davis,
soubrette, members of the Angels
comedy company, which is showing in
a tent here, were both found dead in
a room in the Exchange hotel this
morning. Indications are that the man
shot the woman and then himself
Failure of the couple to appear at
breakfast awolSe suspicion in the
mind of the hotel manager and an in.
vestigatfon was made. Several at
tempts to arouse the couple by knock.
ing on the door of their room failed
70 bring response and when an en-
trance was finally forced both the man
and the women were found dead.
The body of the woman, partially
dressed. lay on the bed, while Grindell,
who was fully dressed, lay on the
floor, the body partially under the bed.
From all appearances the couple had
been dead some time.
Back of the murder and suicide lies
the story of romance which began
over hve years ago, when Grindell and
Miss Davis met as members Of the An.
gels company. Theirs was love at
first sight. If they were married they
have successfully kept it secret and
even in death the secret of their un-
ion remains hidden.
Last night the couple appeared in
their respective roles as usual. Mem
bers of the company found them more
entertaining and jovial than ever be-
fore. They returned to the hotel after
the performance with the other mem
bers OF the company and went directly
to their room.
What happened after that no one
knows. No shots were heard; no sound
that would indicate that tragedy was
happening.
The discovery of the bodies this
morning brought the first news of the
murder and suicide.
A Story Of Sacrifice.
There is absolutely no word or line
TO explain the mystery surrounding
/ me tragedy There is no one living
who can fathom it satisfactorily, BIZ,
the theory that is held by those who
have known the couple and who have
visited the scene of the shooting Is
that Miss Davis, or Mrs. Grindell for
| she is called by both names, sacrificed
her life in order that she might not
be left to mourn the death of the man
she loved, whose days we're numbered
and who no doubt desired to end his
life Immediately, rather than drag
along any longer through the slow but
sure stages Of consumption. For
years Grindell had been fighting
against death, but le felt the grip OF
the white plague tightening upon him
daily, and when, a few days ago, q
physician told him he could live only
a short time, the news was like a
veritable death warrant Apparently
Grindell told the woman of his inten
ton to kill himself and she elected to
die with him, for there is nothing to
show that there was struggle before
the shooting took place.
Seemingly to have been resigned to
her fate, Miss Davis, from all evidence
lay down on the bed, calmly folding
her hands under the back of her head
and allowed the man she loved 10
murder her. The body of the woman
was found on the bed, bullet hole in
her right temple, her hands clasped
behind her head.
Grindell was found lying on the
floor, bullet hole in his head
Members of the company say that
Grindell and f-iss Davis were devoted
to each other. Grindell was AZ years
old and he has relatives living in
Plattsmouth, Wis. Miss Davis was IS
years old and her home is in Hamil
ton, O. Relatives Of both the dead
people have been notified of the trag.
edy.
Coroner F. w. Mills arrived here