New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-12
Police Work on Theory
That Dead Wife Doubted
Her Husband.
CHARGE GROUNDLESS,
SAYS OTHER WOMAN
Actors Vaudeville Partner Mar
ried Only a Week Pre-
viously in Denver.

bt ltiesfapl 70 Inc 4f4ulir
Omaha, Neb., April 1l.-Michael
Kilgallen. father Of Irma Klgallen
Howard. who shot herself yesterday in
hotel here, arrived in Omaha this
afternoon and took his daughters
body from the morgue, back 70 Chi
cago with him. The inquest into the
womans death will be held tomorrow.
No reason has yet been given for her
suicide. Joseph Howard, the actor,
who was her husband, did not accom-
psny the body back TO Chicago.
Meets Father-in-Law.
Howard went TO the station this al
ternoon 10 meet the father Of his dead
wife. The two men had never seen
each other before. The actor married
the daughter of the millionaire and the
former wife Of Count Mourik de Beau
fort in Los Angeles little more than
month ago. she went back 70 Chicago
and he went on with his vaudeville
career The next time he saw her she
came TO xii herself in the town where
he was playing.
The kilgallens had never approved
OF their daughters second marriage.
The handsome actor requested police
protection in going 10 greet his father
in-law.
Thanked by two policemen, Howard
met Kilgalien.
I'm Howard ne said quickly. put
ting out his hand. The old man looked
at him keenly for a minute Then he
- ofok I'D J.
went TO waiting automobile without
morgue. Howard dropped off at the
theatre where his act is billed.
81 was too busy TO go to the morgue."
he explained. 81 will not be able TO go
10 Chicago with the body of my dear
wife or even attend her funeral. !
am under contract and must go on
with my act.
Letters for Family.
Tomorrow the Coroner will hold an
inquest into the death Of Irma Kilgal-
len Howard. All that any one knows at
present is that she came here 20 see
her husband. attended matinee per
Torrance az which he was playing. and
shot herself while he was on the stage
that evening. She left letters to her
opened at the inquest. Howard and
Clara LAMBERT. in whose rooms the
woman shot herself, have both been
subpnnsed.
DEVELOPMENTS to-day show that Mrs.
Howard carried her revolver to :he
matinee Monday afternoon and theat-
rical attaches believe she intended TO
shoot her husband from the audience
and then commit suicide. bet that her
nerve failed her. The revolver was
concealed in muff, which she kept IN
her lap during the performance. She
was not able to secure o seat very FAR
forward. and it Is believed this fact
clone kept her from doing the shooting
from the pit Of the theatre.
That jealousy of Miss Ethlyn Clark,
Towards acting partner, caused the
tragedy. is the theory upon which the
officers making the investigation are
working. Miss Clark denies there IS
anything in her relations with Howard
that should cause Jealousy.
ours is business arrangement and
nothing more" she says. "All the love
making is done on the stage in sight
OF everybody. ! was married last week
in Denver 70 Jack Halliday, an actor
ours is business arrangement
pure and simple, she SAID.
One rumor current here says that
just before Mrs. Howard took her life
man burst out Of the LAMBERT suite
and rushed past a chambe rmaid in the
hall of the Fontelle Hotel, calling as
nc did so: Woman. come out Of here
quick or you will get into trouble A
minute later patrons Of the hotel heard
the revolver shot
~
thing concerning the tragedy to-day.
"I'll tell all know at the inquest to-
morrow" was the only assertion which
she would make.
Tho husband Of the dead woman sat
in his dressing room after his per,
Torrance this afternoon. In his hand
he dancled $4,000 pearl necklace
which, according TO Mrs. LAMBERT. his
wife had wished him TO have.
II don't know what will do with II.
he remarked. 81 can't wear the thing
that's sure. Guess III give 1t to
mother"
Each Married Before.
Irma Tracey Kilgallen first came into
notice when. in 1910. she married man
calling himself Jacques Alexander Won
Mourik de Beaufort. and claiming 70 be
a count. De Reaufort's only estab-
lished title 70 nobility lay in the fact
that he married An American heiress
and paid of his debts with her money.
lie went TO work for time in the HI
gallen steel mills. Then his countess
broke a hand and leg, by falling
down stairs" the family said. when
she recovered she divorced him. on the
ground Of cruelty. on April 9. 1872
The woman met Howard in Los An
geles a month ago. The actor has been
married twice before. once to Ida I'm
erson. from whom he was separated
rurnerous times before they were