The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-09-01
INSANE
AND KILLS SELF
WITH TWO SHOTS
Grace Vaughn Escapes
From Muldoon'S and
Ends Her Life.

an actress. the wife OF Gus Eothner. a
prominent theatrical manager. commit
ted suicide today at the home of her
sister. Rose Gibbs, at 243 West Forty
sixth street. under remarkable clrcuni-
stances. Because of the peculiar man
Her in which the woman killed herself,
Bothner, her husband; Frank Holhngs-
worth, her brother, and Airline Bennett,
an actress. who had been nursing her.
were taken into custody and held until
discharged by Coroner Dooley. who sat
isfed himself that the case was one Of
suicide.
Miss Vaughn shot herself twice. There
was an interval OF at least four minutes
between the first shot and the second
Bothner was taking a bath in an ad-
joining room when both shots were fired
and heard neither OF them. The drst
shot was heard by Miss Bennett. who
started to investigate. but was TCus-
sured by a sight OF Miss Vaughn walk
ing about In the hallway outside the
room.
The unfortunate actress yesterday got
away from Muldoon's rest cure institute
IN Westchester county, where she had
been a patient, and turned up at her
home late in the evening.
Mr.. Bothner says she kept him
awake all night. talking about her fear
that she would become permanently in
sane.
Statement of Husband.
''she asked me repeatedly II I
/ thought she would get WE'LL BOthner
told the police II treasured her as
l best I could. She appeared 10 be
asleep when l went to the bathroom at
I s O'Clock. ! turned on the water and
/ the sound drowned out the reports Of
/ the pistol. I knew nothing Of what had
I happened until Miss Bennett told me.
/ II heard what I thought was a pistol
shot" Miss Bennett says, shortly after
/ s o'clock. ! ran into the hall and on
the landing l met one Of the roomers
| in the house. She, too. nad heard the
sound ana I spoke 10 her OF IL. She
/ said It was a blast set OF at Forty
sixth street and Broadway, and I
/ thought so, too.
| while we we're talking on the stairs
I just below the lancing the door Of
/ Grace's room opened and she stepped
/ into the hall. She was in her night
gown and very pale. Her left side was
toward Us. We could not see the right
side Of her face or her right hand,
which appeared TO be wrapped In the
/ folds Of the gown.
7 called out 10 her. but she did not
rerly. As I was starting down the
stairs she took a few steps in the hail
and then hacked into the room again.
started upstairs and had just reached
/ the door Of my room, when heard an
other shot
This time 1 knew pistol had been
fired in the house I ran down 10
! Grace's room and tried the first door ]
! came 10. 1t was the door of the bath
room. I heard Gus splashing around IN
the Dathtub and went to the door OF
! the room proper
Found Her Lying on Floor.
las I entered 1 saw Grace lying on
| the floor on her right 81 lie. I spoke to
/ her and went over 20 try to get her to
20 TO bed. As I approached her I saw
/ blood on the floor and on her face. Then
! I screamed. and Gus came running out
/ Of the bathroom. Mr.. HoIlingsworth
and the rest were soon On the scene"
/ Corurer Dooley thinks that the first
shot fired was DETECTED by the bones
I
/ spot Half dazed. Miss Vaughn went
/ into the hail. still carrying the revolver
I TIE sound Of the voice Of Miss Bennett
/ aroused her, and she went back and
/ fired another shot at her temple This
/ reached her brain and killed her.
/ Miss Vaughn had. been an invalid fol
| two years. Some twelve years ago she
was treated in insane asylums In Illinois
/ and Ohio. and the fear that she would
/ eventually lose her mind qreyed upon
/ her.
About the middle of August she was
sent to Muldoon's Farm. near White
Plains, for treatment She was prac-
tically under restraint there. but sue
! Ceeded in escaping late yesterday after,
noon. with the assistance OF a sixteen,
year-old boy whose acquaintance she
had made. There was but enc wound
apparent If both struck the woman
they went into the same spot.
Gus Bothner, the husband OF Grace
| Vaughn, is one OF the best-known man
ayers in the theatrical world In tbs
| days Wnen HOyts farces were all tn,
! rage Mr.. BothneT managed "A Bunch
Of Keys" IN which Ada Bothner, ther
his wife. starred
After Ada BOthner died Mr.. Bothne1
| married Grace Vaughn. She was al
| actress who had appeared with the Nc
call Opera Company, the Spencer Operf
Company, and IN various comedies.
Ll0IE I0IlpMEV