The Washington herald., 1907-12-06
Special to The Washington Herald

Baltimore. Nd, Dec. 5.-While the au- |
dience was pouring into the Academy of |
Music to see Clara BIoodgood in 'The |
Truth" the actress blew out her brains
in the fashionable Hotel Stafford, in
North Charles street. tonight.
1t seems a strange coincidence that |
Mrs. Bloodgood should end her life in |
Baltimore, the very city in which. in her |
last play, she was supposed to go when |
her troubles had become too great for
her TO bear. In the play. she returns |
to her father in the Monumental City, |
and there before the inevitable primrose
ending. she expresses a desire that she
might die. 1t may have been the psyche !
logical influence Of this situation that /
led her TO make the elimination of her
1orloln hope reality in this place.
1t all came with such suddenness that
the friends Of the aristocratic and thrice /
married actress are dumfounded. Why
this beautiful and talented woman should |
place revolver in her mouth and pull
the trigger is a mystery. but q letter
she left for her husband. now on his
way here from New York. may explain
her death
Inc only explanation offered tonight |
Is that Of her manager. John Emerson.
VINO SAYS he believes Mrs. BIoodgood
was overworked and on the verge of
nervous collapse He scouts the idea that
the death Wednesday night of H. o.
Havemeyer. her first husband. had any
thing 10 do with il.
Gay Throughout the Day.
Mrs. Bloodgood had been in CAV snirits
all day. During the afternoon she and
members of her company formed a box
party at the Lyceum 10 see Society and
the Bulldog" After the performance she
returned TO her rooms at the Hotel Stat
ford for dinner. and TO get ready for the
night performance.
As she did net appear with her usual
promptness. a bellboy was sent TO her
room, at 900 O'Clock. She was then late
Ior TIE performance, and the house was
filling The boy raped and got no re-
sponse; then he inserted a pass key and
opened the door.
lie saw Mrs Bloodgood entirely dis
robed standing in the center Of the room
The negro closed the door quickly. Then
he Knocked and called again, getting no
response.
BeIIbOy Heard shots.
As he was hesitating what 10 do he
heard a revolver shot from the room
Frightened, he darted downstairs to the
desk, and reported to the chief clerk
Nelson. who sent for Manager Downs
They went to Mrs. Bloodgood's room.
and opened the door
They found that Mrs. Bloodgood mad /
put on silk kimona. and. living fu1l
length on her back on the bed. had opened
her mouth and fired a bullet into her
brain
Her arms were folded across her bosom
and between them had dropped the re-
volver- Three chambers were empty. One
bullet had missed and was imbedded in
the ceiling. The second bullet has not
been found. The third went through her
brain and out the top of her skull She
had rammed the revolver as far in her
mouth as she could get it, and pulled the
trigger tearing the flesh horribly.
Had Barred Her Door,
While Ms. Bloodgood was arranging TO
end her life. her company was dressed
and ready TO go on at the Academy of
Music Worried at her delay, Manager
Emerson telephOned to the Stafford. He
was connected with the phone in Mrs.
BlOodgood's room. He could get no an
swer- Then he called the hotel office
again and told them to send some one to
her room.
II was this message that led to the
sending of the bellboy TO see what was
the matter. When Manager Downs went
10 the room after the bellboy reported
that he had heard a pistol shot he found
that Mrs. BloodgoOd had barricaded the
door with a trunk.
Carefully Planned to Die
While she was one Of the eavest in
the theater party and at dinner AZ the
Hotel Stafford, Mrs, Bloodgood had de-
liberately planned TO die. Last Monday
she bought a 32-caliber Smith & Wesson
hammerless revolver in a downtown
store, and inquired how 10 shoot If. To-
day or yesterday she called I'D the gun
store on the telephone, stating that she
had forgotten the instructions given her.
and had the revolver dealer repeat the
instructions 10 her.
On the bureau in her room were found
prints such as physicians use in the study
OF anatomy. indicating that she had been
studying Zip the location Of the brain or
. susceptible spot into which to fire a
bullet.
Sent Letter To Husband.
Late this afternoon she mailed two
special delivery letters, and at O'Clock
sent off a telegram TO her husband, VIII 1
liam LamRair, of New York. which read:
Go to the Knickerbocker Trust Com
pany. secure my contract with Shubert.
and give IL 20 Jacobs Ia lawyer on
Broadway"
On the bureau in her room was found
a blOod-stained letter addressed to her
husband
Announcement Of the suicide was not
made to the audience which had gather
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