The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-11
HIS BABY-EACED WIFE SOLD
HERSELF TO MAN TO BE KILLED
HUscskNOis DAY AND NIGHT
SEARCH FOR WIFE ENDS
IN FINDING HER LIVING
WITH OLD ScHoolMATE-
ANOTHER THAW CASE.

DENVER, Col, Jan. 11.--Denver
will have Thaw case. This much
was made certain when the cor
oners jury. after hearing great
deal of testimony, declared that the
killing of Cuthbert Cuvier Dury by
Burdett Bell, the day before New
Year, was "felonious." y
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 Denver hotel, at
banquet of alumnae of the Cincin-
natl school.
Durys father is Prof Charles
Dury of the University of Cincin-
natl, an orthinolqgist of national
repute and taxidermist of the
Smithsonian institute. The son
has always been daft on the
theater. 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
treasureship 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 worked
about amusement parks, played
and sang, and was a good enter.
tamer.
He met the Ia year old doll
Mabel Perkins. He says she told
him she was Is years old. They
eloped and were married after a |
brief acquaintance.
In less than a year 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. ....... ..s.s4 III &S |
Bell was In hard luck and he
finally set out. to- flnd an opening.
He went to Cheyenne. He wrote
his wife fervent letters, every 9TH
or day. One letter, full of hope,
says that being hard UP he had
taken a Job in a laundry at $40 per
week u spent IS for room rent,
$3.50 for a meal ticket and sent
the rest to the girl in Denver
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.
She tossed her head and told him |
she was living with another man.
She would not tell who nor where.
Bell watched in the streets day |
and night and at last got track |
OF the pair.
Meanwhile to go back to C.
Cuvier Dury.
Three years ago Dury was mar
ried In Cincinnati His wife de-
veloped tuberculosis and for two
years they had lived in tent in
Denver.
Two months ago Dury ceased to
pay any attention to the woman
who was fighting for life. She was
compelled to find employment or
Starve.
Dury hung around the theaters
hnd amusement parks. He wanted
to be an actor-or a manager, or
something theatrical.
Finally he put two ads in the pa
per One was for actors and the
other was for partner, with
money. to back show"
Among those who replied to the
Hrst ad was Mabel Bell. Her beau
ty struck Dury. He ceased going
to the tent where his wife was. He
and Mabel planned a theatrical
conquest.
Then he went to live with Mabel |
in her mothers home, and, so the
girl says, at the mothers invita-.
ton and with her full knowledge.
Bell came back to Denver and
the guilty pair fled. Bell secured
p paper which read as follows:
l, Curvier Dury, do hereby agree
to convey and deliver to Mrs.
Frances Perkins. S. per week, com
mencing aJnuary Is, 1909, and
each Monday thereafter for an in
definite period, governed by the
time Mrs. Mabel Bell. daughter of
the aforesaid Mrs. Perkins, shall |
remain In the theatrical business
with c. c. Dury. sign this docu-
ment in good faith and hereby Sc,
my hand and seal this 2Sth day of
December. 1908. G. Cuvier Dury.
Witnessed by Mrs. Mabel Bell;
MIRO Mory ID iplrar 1900 C,,,t;,