The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-01-13

DENVER, Col, Jan. 13.-Den-
yer will have Thaw case. This
much was made certain when the
coroner's jury, after hearing a
great deal of testimony, declared
that the killing of Cuthbert Cuvier
Dury by Burdett Bell, the day be-
fore New Yer, was "felonious."
Bell thought there would be no
trial, and that he would be set
free at once.
The story is one in which lives
have crossed and recrossed and the
lure of the stage has influenced
the lives of the three chief actors
in the tragedy.
Five years ago Dury and Bell
were classmates in the Cincinnati
School of Music. Six months ago
they met in a Denver hotel, at a
banquet of alumnae of the Cincin-
natl school. .s5
Dury's father is Prof. Chas.
Dury OF the University of Cincin-
natl, an orthinologist of national
repute and a taxidermist Of the
Smithsonian institute. The son
has always been daft on the thea
ter. He was 25 years old and had
dabbled In newspaper work.
Bell was singer. He worked
at many things but was always
trying to get into theatrical life.
He wanted to be an actor, but was
willing to compromise. on the
of nickelodeon.
Mabel Perkins Bell is Is years
old. She is blue-eyed, golden
haired, baby-faced and, as she
says, she never knows her own
mind"
Bell went to Denver. He work
ed about amusement parks, play
ed and sang, and was a good en-
tertainer. M
He met the 14-year-old doll,
Mabel Perkins. He says she told
him she was 18 years old. They
eloped and were married after a
short acquaintance.
In less than year a baby came.
The child's mother handed the lit
tie mite over to her mother, Mrs.
Frances Perkins, and resigned
the cares of motherhood at the
same time.
Bell was in hard luck and he
finally set out to find an opening
He went to Cheyenne. He wrote
his wife fervent letters, every 9TH
er day. One letter, full of hope,
says that being hard up he had
taken a job In, laundry at Sic
a week. He spent $5 for room
rent, $3.50 for a meal ticket and
sent the rest to the girl in Den
yer.
There came no replies to his
letter, and Bell fastened back to
Denver. His wife was not at her
mothers house For a week he
walked the streets, Finally he met
his missing wife. 80
She tossed her head and told
him she was living with another
man. she would not tell who nor
where. ~ -
Bell watched in the street., day
and night and q last got SfAS
Msanshiie 70 50 back 70 a.
NJ
Three years ago Dury wal mar
|ried in Cincinnati. His wife de-
yeloped tuberculosis and for two
Years they had lived in q tent in
Denver.
Two months ago Dury ceased to
pay any attention to the woman
)who was fighting for life. She was
compelled to ind employment or
|Btarve.
Dury hung around the thcaters
and amusement parks. He wanted
to be an actor-or : manager. or
something theatrical.
Finally he put two ads IN the
paper. One was tor actors and
| the other was for q partner, with
money, to back 4 show"
Among those who replied to the
first ed Wrs Mabel Bell. Her
beauty struck Dury. He ceased
going to the tent where his wife
was. He and Mabel planned q
theatrical conquest.
Then he went 20 iivo with 1fa-
bel IN her nnothor'e home. and, so
the girl says. ct the mothers In
NContiaued on Page Two.)