Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-02-26
SUICIDE EXPIRES
WANTING TO LIVE
Niece of Senator Elkins, Recover
Ing, Has a Relapse.
GAVE A FAREWELL PARTY

Young Kansas City Woman Who
shot Herself Because She Could
Net Become An Actress Dies After
Her Recovery Mas Looked For
Tested About Death Before She
Fired Fatal Shot.
Kansas City Mo, Feb. 1s.-Miss
Agnes Leslie Elkins, niece of Senator
Stephen B. Elkins, of West Virginia,
who attempted suicide at the Willard
hotel Wednesday, died last night.
Dependency over the refusal Of
relatives to consent to her becoming
an actress is given by the young
Woman's friends as the cause of her
suicide. She obtained a part in a
play, but Senator Elkins is said to
have influenced her to give it up.
Miss Elkins carefully planned her
suicide. She gave a farewell party to
her friends a few hours before she
shot herself. She TESTED with them
about a plan she had to kill herself.
After dismissing her guests she wrote
a note to the newspapers saying that
she was tired of life.
The bullet passed into her body
lust below the heart. Physicians said
1t was not a dangerous wound. She
rallied and expressed a desire to re-
cover. A few hours later she suffer
cred a relapse.
Miss Elkins was an orphan 26 years
old. Her parents lived here several
wears. The girl was not prominent
socially, but is said to have inherited
a considerable sum from her father.
Senator Eikins was executor of her
fathers estate.
She came to Kansas City two
weeks ago to appear in a suit which
she had filed against the Metropolitan
Street Railway Company for $4,000
damages, alleged to have been sus.
tanned when she fell from a Main
street car and fractured her wrist
Attorney Walsh representing her ex
pected to put the case on trial next
week.
Miss Elkins was known among her
friends as an enthusiast for lads. A.
one time she fitted up a japanese
bungalow in her home and on another
occasion gave a manicure party, tc
which the young women guests
brought manicure sets and polished
each others finger nails.
But the overpowering ambition oi
her life was to be an actress. Sh,
studied under local teachers and play
ed several roles with a stock com
pany here.
When Miss Elkins was in New
York last summer she said to a re
porter: 81 came to New York three
years ago, hoping to go on the stage
but a telegram announcing my moth
er's illness called me home. She died
after two years of sickness.
Senator Elkins was kind and de
voted all through that trying period
and afterwards, so, of course, when
was again ready to seek a stage posi-
ton, ! felt / must ask his consent.
visited him in Washington a month
ago and remained there ten days
arguing the matter with him. He was
strongly opposed to my becoming an
actress, but l was set upon it, and al
last he gave his consent, provided
would not use the family name"
She then adopted Leslie Cecil as
her stage name and Immediately sci
about finding a stage position. Her
exquisite face, wonderous auburn hair
and graceful carriage led managers to
Sc promise in her, even without a test
of her histrionic ability.
Bnt Miss Elhins identity became
known much to her own distress, and
Just when she was considering sew
eral offers she received a request from
her relatives to visit the Elkins home
IN Mast Ntr~tn;a