New-York tribune., 1907-12-06
SUICIDE OF ACTRESS.
ILL FROM OVERWORK.
hrs. Clara BIoodgood Pats Bullet
Through Her Brain.
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune ]


Baltimore, Dec. 5-Clara Bloodgood. the ac-
tress, who had been playing the leading role az
the Academy this week in Clyde Fitch's COM
edy, The Truth" committed suicide this even
ing in her apartments the Stafford Hotel
She had been chatting gayly with several friends
and associates in the theatrical business at a
matinee several hours before, and had just
mailed a letter to her husband, in New York.
A moment later two reports OF pistol startled
the guests and hotel employees.
Mrs. Bloodgood found lying dead on the
bed in her night robe with her diamonds and
other jewelry scattered about the room. She
had placed the muzzle of the revolver in her
mouth and the ball had pierced her brain.
This afternoon Mrs. Bloodgood. together with
William Courtney, her leading man, and several
members of her company. occupied box at AL
baugh's theatre. She appeared in the best of
spirits and seemed to enjoy heartily the per-
formance of Mr.. Farnum and the stock company
in Paul Armstrong; comedy, Society and
the Bulldog" She nodded gayly to Mr.. Far
mum and one or two others in the cast whom she
knew and appIauded them.
She was observed to turn deathly pale during
the second act, and few moments later COM
pialned of feeling ill., Mr.. Courtney accompanied
her to her hotel
The only motive ascribed is that Mrs. Blood
good feared attack of nervous prostration
She had been working hard. he said. and she
feared breakdown
The audience at the Academy of Music was
dismissed with the announcement that there
would be performance tonight owing to a
sudden ndsposition of Mrs BIoodgood
The news of the suicide of Clara Bloodgood at
Baltimore created a sensation in theatrical circles
here tonight. Expressions Of uni
versal. but none OF her friends willing sug-
gest q motive for her She a partcu-
larly cheerful disposition and all at loss to
assign
Clara Sutton Boodgood. Mrs. Laimbeer con-
tnued be known the stage after her third
marriage, granddaughter of Mrs. Ann Sophia
Stephens, the well known novelist, whose son mar
ried Miss Nina Sutton, a sister of Mrs. Walter
Crosby.
When she was a girl of seventeen, Clara Sutton
Stephens made runaway match with William
Havemeyer. one the younger members of the
large family of sugar refners. The marriage did
happily. and a divorce followed
Mrs Havemeyer was then married 10 John X
Bloodgood. the son OF John Boodgood. the banker
and broker. who married Miss Emily Iattimer
John Bloodgood the father died In 1888. and It was
+ then found that the estate OF his father-in-la"
William LattimeI. had been d!ssipated, and that
Mr. Bloodgood had lost not only his own fortune
but that of his wife. Young John h. Boodgood
accordingly found himself without means and
obliged TO live upon the small salary he was able
draw from a commercial house. "here ne sousI'
and obtained employment.
/ His wife a young woman OF ambition ana en-
ergy then determined TO adopt the profession o.
the stage, and in December. 1885. she applied tS
Daniel Frohman for engagement Although
well known in fashionable society. AIRS. Bloodgooe
was without experience. and did not aim To appear
as a star In the following year she was cast foi
a part In Clyde Fitch's The ConqueroTs
While she was appearing in this play Mr. Blood
good her husband, died from Brights disease, or
February 10. 1898 Mrs. Bloodgood also appeared II
/ Mr. Fitch's Miss Hobbes,' and later attracted
favorable attention by her performance In Mi
Fitch's The Climbers and The Girl with tbs
Green Eyes"
On May q, 1892, Mrs. Bloodgood was married. al
ST Georges Church 10 William Laimbeer. son o.
William Ii. Laimbeer. former Commissioner oi
/ Charities of New York City. Mrs laimbeer die
not retire from the stage after her marriage.
In September, 1904. she appeared as a star IN The
Coronet Of the Duchess written for her by Mr.
Fitch The play not a success, and was
shortly withdrawn Mrs. Bioodgood Laii:lbeer had
better success in Mr.. Fitchs play THE TRUTH In
which she first appeared in January of this year
and in which the author had more happily fashioned
his material to fit both the capabilities and the
limitations of the actress.