Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-21
And Now Mrs. John Murray
Comes Back to Scenes of Sor-
row to See Friends
OLD ACTORS DEATH RECALLED
John Murray, While Appearing at Cd
con in 1889, Took Sick and Died =
Young Vito Stranded Here Without
Appropriateness, Assisted by New
Found Friends-Now Returns With
Theatrical Organization.

The Stranger In Town company,
which Is to appear at the Odeon next
Sunday evening, is coming back to
Marshalltown and to the scenes of her
lifes one great sorrow, to greet friends
Of nearly twenty years ago, who were
then kind to her. In the death OF
her husband, who was here to fill an
engagement at the Odeon, then just
opened to the public. Mrs. Murray was
left penniless. People here were kind
to her and she has never forgotten
them. To Mrs. Warren Nichols, Of
Minerva, Mrs. Murray has written. in-
forming her that she will be here with
her company on the 9th. Eighteen
years ago no one could have been q
more complete stranger in town" than
Mrs. John Murray.
When "Joe" Hisey was manager Of
the Odeon, and "Ab" Click was secre-
tary of the new company that built
the theater, John Murray was starring
as "Trip Van Wrinkle" in a production
that was more than ordinary. Murray
was sick when he reached the city. and
could not go on. His condition was
so serious that Hisey, Click and "Thad'
Binford, then director Of the Odeon,
had the sick actor removed to the
home OF the late Mrs. Rachel Baum,
who then lived at the corner of Third
and State streets, where the McCreery
home now stands. These men took
a kindly interest in Murray, who was
without means, and guaranteed all the
expenses Of his keeping. A better home
could not have been selected, for a
kinder soul never lived that AUNT
Rachel" Baum.
Murray got no better and died a
few weeks later at the Baum home.
When his condition became realized
his young wife and baby son, the latter
then three years old, were sent for, and
arrived before the man died. The
death bed scene was most pitiful. Mrs.
Murray, herself an actress, had never
witnessed such scene off the stage,
and her efforts to awaken her hus-
band from his last sleep were heart
rentling..
After Mr.. Murray's death the reali-
ties Of life were forced upon the wild
ow in way she had never experienced.
She knew nothing but stage life, and
in her work she could not well care
for her babe. Worse than that, she
was without money! stranger in a
strange land. People here were good
to her, however, q company in town
gave her the proceeds Of matinee,
and the late Mamie Emery, Of Liscomb,
sister of the late s. A. Emery, Of
Beaumont, Tex, once county treasurer
here, took her little son to rear. Mrs.
teur production Of "The Two Orphans"
and by giving elocution lessons to sew
eral private pupils, managed to get
enough ahead to pay the bills and join
la theatrical organization. She has
never forgotten the kindnesses shown
her by the people Of Marshalltown, and
has corresponded quite regularly with
Mrs. Nichols, formerly Miss Ella Baum.
The baby, now a young mani has a
good position in Newark, N. j., and Is
his mothers pride. Miss Emery kept
him for several years, or until Mrs.
Murray was in position to take him.
1 Mrs. Murray Is known professionally
as Louise Fraser, and in ''The Stranger
in Town" appears as Aurelia Miller,
one Of the leading parts in the feminine
portion of the cast. Many friends in
the CITY remember Mrs. Murray very
we'll, as her sad plight. following her
husbands death is indellibly stamped
ON their memory. Mrs. Murray has
never visited the city since she was
here before as "the stranger In town."