The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-06
Clara BIODdgOOd Pu's Two BuI-
 let's Info Her Brain
NO MOTIVE SHOWN FOR DEED
Mrs. Bloodeood Commits tho Terrible Act at the Hotel While People Wait at the Theatre
 To See Her.

Baltimore, December 5.--Mrs. Clara Bloodgood, the actress, committed suicide by shooting herself in her room at tho Hotel Stafford here this evening Mrs. Bloodgood's body was found lying on the bed with d bullet hole through the roof of her mouth. Nearby lay a book, entitled How to Shoot Straight" and SS-calibre revolver with three chambers empty She attended a matinee perform ance at Albaugh's theatre this afternoon and returned to her hotel about four o'clock seemingly in the best of spirits.
 Later when it was time for the curtain to rise for her own show at the Academy of Music, where she was appearing in
 The Truth she had not put in ap- pearance. Word was sent to the Stafford and bell boy was sent up to her room. Just as he approached the door he heard a pistol shot. Hurrying back to the office he notified the clerks of what la heard and an investigation vas made and Mrs Bloodgood was found stretched on the bed as described.
 Before retiring to her room she had talk with her stage manager, John Emerson, who declares that he observed nothing unusual in her demeanor. The only motive he ascribe Is that Mrs Bloodgood feared an attack of nervous prostratlon. She had been working very hard, he said. and she feared a break down. Mrs. Bloodgood left a note ad- dressed to her husband who Is said to be on his way to this city.
 The audience at the Academy of Music was dismissed with the announcement that there would be no performance to- night. owing to sudden indisposition of Mrs. Bloodgood.
 Bernard Wess the bell boy who was sent to Mrs. Bloodgood room by the manager of the Academy of Music found no difficulty In opening the outer door of the suite. but the inner door, at which he knocked without receiving a reply, resisted his efforts to opel it. lie per- sisted, however, and finally managed to open it slightly. Through the aparture he saw Mrs. Bloodgood standing with her back toward him. She was quite naked but was holding wrapper in front of her. AS Wess hastily closed the door he heard the report of pistol. Help was hastily summoned and the door forced Against it a trunk had been placed.
 The body of Mrs. 3loodgood was found upon the bed. near which Wess had seen her standing and upon which she had evidently fallen Immediately after firing. Three shots We're fired according to the coroner, one of which went into the ceiling and the other two apparently into the roof of Mrs. Bloodgood's mouth The revolver used was q new one, of 3S fibre and would seem to have been purchased for the especial purpose for which ft Was used Coroner Hayden. after viewing the body, pronounced it an unquestionable case of suicide. The shots having been fired. to all appearances. with the mug gle of the pistol in the mouth, the wounds did not dslgure the body greatly.
 Word has been received that Mrs Bloodgood's husband, William Laim- bier. is hurrying here on special train.
 Mrs. Bloodgood's room was in great disorder toilet articles and other things being scattered about. On table was book anatomy, open at a page describing the brain and the most vital parts hereof. This evidence of pre- meditation, were it needed, is supple mented by the fact that the pistol used was purchased last Tuesday by Mrs Bloodgood, who at the time asked how to use 1t. Members of Mrs. Blood goods company are Il unit in declaring that they can assign no cause for her act other than the possible one of nery- ons breakdown due to overwork. On the other hand. her maid, Bina Wig land; William Courtney, her leading man and the bell boy, who were among the last to speak to her, say that Mrs Bloodgood was in exceptionally good spirits, apparently up to the last mo- ment.