The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-09-11
PARIS PROBES DEATH
OF OLIVE THOMAS
Poisoning of Film Actress Fol
lowing Champagne Orgies
Stlrs Authorities.

PARIS, Sept i0,-'rhs French police
have begun thorough investigation
into the death OF Olive Thomas, an
American moving picture actress, who
hueeumbed this morning 10 poison taken,
u IL said by mistake several days ago,
The authorities have issued u permit
for tho embalmlng Of tho body OF Miss
Thomas, but aa yet have not hhno-
toned It's shipment 20 tho United states
on board tho steamship Mauretanla,
sailing from Cherbourg September 49,
Investigation also IL being made by
the police NJ sinister rumorA OF cocaine
orgies, intermlngled with champagne
dinners which lasted into the early hours
OF the morning that have been anoat
In the American colony and among tho
hgltues Of the French cinema world
during tho last week.
Tonight In tho Sante prison tho police
were closely questioning n man named
spaldlng, said TO be former American
army Captain who was sentenced 20
six months In jail last Monday for
vending cocaine,
In connection with the death Of Miss
Thomas the police aay they desire 10
interview Jack Piokford, q motion plc-
and also n woman friend Of tho actress
who is said 10 have accompanied Mlaa
Thomas during her last pilgrimage 10
tho MOntmartro district Saturday even
Ing, Mr. pioktord to-day left the Ritz
Hotel, where he hnd been stopping, and
has taken up quarters In the Hotel
Crlllon, llo declined 10 receive visitors
to-day Tho physlclan who Ia In at
tendance on Mr., plokford said he was
In q very bad state OF health.
10 QniE Jack PIckford.
Police Commissioner Docrocq said this
evening that no had entrusted tho In
vestigatlon OF tho death OF Miss Thomas
TO Captain Of Police Catrou OF tho First
District When questioned concerning
tho case, Capt, Catrou said no had not
concluded his inquiry, Ho had received
the testimony Of tho walters, portera
aud chambermads at the Ritz Hotel,
whore Miss Thomas ia said 20 have
taken the poison, but had been unable
as yet 10 secure Mr., Plckford's account
H the affair
Several Of the Montmartro resorts
which Miss Thomas visited Saturday
night were subjected TO u close investl-
cation to-day.
Miss Thomas, popular on the Amer
lean musical comedy stage as n
dancer for several years and re-
Gently known for her beauty as Aim
star died IN the American Hospital at
NeuIlly Rt II o'clock this morning, She
had been taken to tho hospital last Sun
day from the Ritz Hotel suffering from
mercurial poisoning, Or. Joseph Choate
Of Los Angeles. former physician to
Mary Plckford, attended her and said
she had swallowed by mistake twelve
Prammes Of bchlorIde OF mercury, suf-
flclent 10 kill score Of persons
II was stated that her plight was
entirely accidental, denial being made
that there had been any quarrel with
her husband, Jack Pickford. She had
arrived in Europe suffering from ner-
yous depression, and her physician had
prescribed medicine for her, II was SAID
that while looking for this medicine on
sunday she took the mercury
At the selznick studios Mt Fort Lee
~ j., where Miss Thomas did her last
work before tho camera, sorrow NJ her
death was general. and II was expected
that the officials OF the company would
Immediately direct some Observance OF
her passing. Myron selznlck. head OF
the studios, said:
Miss Thomas was the most popular
player that ever appeared at our studios
can hardly believe yet that she Is gone
II doesn't seem possible that young
woman, only 2l years old, 80 full OF
vitality and charm, should have died
| have cabled my condolences 10 her
husband Jack Pickford, from whom
received message few days ago stat
ing that she took the poison accident
ally"
Began Career nt 10.
Olive Elain Thomas was born at
Charlerol, Pa, near Plttsburg, on oc-
tober 20, 1898, the family name being
Duffy. After an education In the Pitts
burg High School she went to work IN
n department store, where her Irish type
OF beauty led fellow worker to suggest
that she try tho stage.
, When she was fifteen she came to
New York, and while studying music
and seeking foothold In the theatre
she posed for Harrison Fisher In a
year the attractive picture made by her
light complexion, brown hair and blue
eyes In his magazine covers drew the
attention of +. Ziegfeld. Jr, who gave
her position In his Midnight Frolic'
In 1914.
From then on her rise was excep- |
tionaly rapid. She made such an out
standing impression, even among the
Ziegfeld bevy of bellies, that the man
ager engaged her for his 'Follles' and
his "Frolo" OF 1915, where her dancing
and her plquant personality were hits
After a career of only three years on
tho stage the screen, always in search
OF beauty, claimed her.
After appearing In Ince-Triangle pro-
ductions OF "a Girl Like That" and
'Madcap Madge" in the lesser film
houses, she rose to the top degree OF
picture presentation by being shown at
the Rlalto on July 22, 1917, in IAN Even
Break" n Famous Players photoplay |
This picture was somewhat autobio- |
graphical, depicting her as a little girl
who wanted husband, farm, two cats
and dog. but achieved instead a mid
night roof career, with n Pekinese TO
share her apartment. Her other Fa-
nous Players productions included |
Frankly Chaste" and Betty Takes a
Hand"
Succession OF Triumphs.
In 1919 she became star for SelznicS |
Pictures Corporation, appearing In the
screen version of the Hattons' play, up |
stairs and Down." in June OF last year. |
This assured her OF an important place |
with the cinema public. Then followed !
THE Spite Bride" THE Glorious Lady,"