Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-19
MISS AGNES ELK|NS DIES
NIECE OF SENATOR SUCCUMBS
TO SELF-INFLICTED WOUND.
Suffers Relapse After Recuperating
From Pistol Shot and Express
ing a Desire to Live.

KANSAS CITC, No.. February 19.-Niss
Agnes Leslie Elkins, niece OF Senator
Stephen b. Elkins OF West Virginia, VINO
shot herself at the Willard Hotel Wed.
nesday. died last night.
Dependency over the refusal of rela-
tives to consent 10 her becoming an act
ress is given by the young woman's
friends az the cause for 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 sui
eide. She gave farewell party to her
friends few hours before she shot her.
self She TESTED with them about a plan
she had to kill herself. After Diminishing
her guests she wrote note to he news
papers saying that she was tired OF life.
The bullet passed into her body just be-
low the heart. Physicians said II was not
dangerous wound. She rallied and yes
terday morning expressed a desire to re-
cover. A few hours later she suffered .
relapse.
Miss Elkins was All orphan, twenty-six.
years old. Her parents lived here several
years. The girl was not prominent SOL
cially, but is said to have inherited =
considerable sum from her father. Sena-
tor Elkins was executor OF her fathers
estate.
Had Sued Railway Company.
She came to Kansas City two weeks
ago to appear in a suit which she had
filed against the Metropolitan Street Rail-
way Company for $4,000 damages. al
legged to have been sustained when she
fell from Main street car and frac-
tured her wrist. Attorney Walsh. repre-
senting her. expects to put the case ON
trial next week.
Miss Elkins was known among her.
friends as an enthusiast for fads. At ono
time she fitted up a Japanese bungalow
in her home. and on another occasion
gave a manicure party, to which the
young women guests brought manicure
sets and polished each others finger
nails.
But the overpowering ambition of her
life was to be an actress. She studied
under local teachers and played several
roles with a stock company here.
When Miss Elkins was in New York
last summer she said to reporter: ''I
came to New York three years ago. hop.
ing to go on the stage. but telegram
announcing my mothers illness called me
home. She died after two years OF sick
ness. .
Says Senator Gave Consent. :
Senator Elkins was kind and devoted
all through that trying period and after
ward, so, of course. when I was again
ready to seek a stage position l felt 1
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
1t, and at last he gave his consent. pro-
vided would not use the family name"
She then adopted Leslie Cecil az her
stage name and Immediately set about
finding stage position. Her exquisite
-f.,l L4f- <x<.lS,
carriage led managers to see promise IN
her. even without a test of her histrionic,
ability.
But Miss Elkins' identity became
known. much to her own distress. and
Just when she was considering several
offers she received a request from her,
relatives to visit the Ellkins home in West
Virginia. 3eD
She left New York and never returned.