The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-05-18
Harry Vane, Vaudeville Actor, is
Found Dead With Jugular Vein
Cut by SeElnflicted Knife Stroke
Little Known Of Unfortunate
Man, and Dependency Over
Financial Affairs is Theory
Accepted.


believed that Harry Vane. a ventrlo-
quist and vaudeville actor. stabbed
himself in the jugular vein yesterday
! morning about four miles from the
city on the Cairo branch of the I'LL
nois Central railroad. He was found
last night about dark by Ed Butler,
who discovered him lying behind a
log just of the railroad track. Gus
Rogers, deputy sheriff, and Coroner
Frank Eaker were notified and they
went TO the scene. The body was
cold. and every indication pointed to
the fact that death had come in the
morning He had not begun to dis
color when discovered. He had a
cheap watch in his trousers that was
still running, and he had a ring. No
money was found. All the evidence
that has been collected by Coroner
Frank Eaker points to the fact that
vane committed suicide.
Little can be learned about Vsne
as a trunk, a suit case and other lug
gage have been searched without dis
In 1900 he left with the Buckskin
Bill Wild West, and after several
months his wife left him. He con-
ltinued with the show until August
when he quit, while the show was
playing an engagement in Michigan.
Since then Vane has played in vaude-
Vile, and his trunk is plastered with
bills of the Crystal 1heater of Knox
vile, Tenn. He was a member of the
Red Men, and il is said he also be-
longed to the Elks and Eagles. He
Joined the Red Men at Baton Rouge,
La.
Vane was over so years old, and
was well educated and he told Patrol
Driver Thad Terrell that he had been
in the show business for 40 years just
company that was here last week u
short time. No money was found on
his clothes, and II is believed he was
discouraged over his financial condi-
ton.
Known ut the Hotel.
Around the New Richmond House,
where Vane stayed while in Paducah.
he made a good impression. Col.
Bud Dale. however. has only a suit
case full of literature and bundle of
old clothes TO show for a bill of s.
Vane left unpaid. Vane registered at
the New Richmond house on April 22.
and had his room reserved for him
when he was not here. He told no
he had travelled widely In his profess
slonal career as a ventriloquist and
vaudeville actor. After his first week
at the hotel, he sold his watch to
Charley Harmon, bartender In the ho-
tel saloon, to pay his bill, and assured
Col. Dale that he had fTpyk In pros
pect that would make esrhin the pay
for reserving his room. He has
trunk at the Kentucky theater now.
where he expected to go on in vaude-
Vile this week.
That Vane was married is indicated
| by a remark he made to Colonel Dale
that he expected his wife to join him
here this week. He spoke feelingly
of her. On his coat lapel he wore
Red Mems button and one other Sc
cret order pin. Apparently he was 40
Years old and rather weather-beaten
| in appearance. One letter In his suit
case is addressed to the Fairyland
theater. Bristol, Tenn, and another
communication was to Chattanooga.
novel founded on the Thaw-White
tragedy was among his effects. as
ere several books on magic nd other
vudeville attractions. In wallet
was a Letter of recommendation signed
by H. Snyder, general manager of the
Cosmopolitan shows. which left here
yesterday for Cairo, stating that Vana
had worked for him for IA months
lprevious to the date of the letter,
July IA, 1906, and had given salts
faction.
The Inquest.
Coroner Frank Eaker held the in
quest this morning at 1880 O'Clock
at Mattil, Efinger & Roth's. and Ed