Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-09-21
PAUL THOMAS SHOT
AND BADLY WOUNDED
BY AN ANGRY WOMAN
\ Attacked by Florence Thomas,
Common-law Wife, for His
Alleged Indifference.
MANS CONDITION SERIOUS

Stung by n mans alleged indiffer-
ence toward her. Florence Thomas, 80
Years old. an actress. shot and wound
ed. probably fatally. Paul Thomas.
with whom she had been living at COZ
West Sixth street, about S.45 o'clock
last night With a bullet wound in
the left arm and one through the
body above the heart, Thomas was re-
ported at the Delaware Hospital this
morning as very low"
II meant to kill hlm," she sobbed to
Detectives Mcdaniel and Wallace last
night. as they led her through the
house and she related the story of the
tragedy. She and Thomas. although
of the same name. but not married.
have been living together since her
retirement from the stage. she ex-
planned, but lately friends have been
telling her that Thomas was not true
Go her and did not care for her.
"He was in my room last evening
when | asked him whether he stIl
loved me-" she said in her statement
Go the detectives. He didn't answer
and l repeated the question. He just
stood there and didn't say word and
] climbed on a chair and took a revol-
Yer from the shelf"
80 All right, go ahead. Life's only n
Joke anyway he said and smiled as
I threatened TO kill him He thought
l was only joking" She aimed the
revolver at his body and fired. accord
ing TO the detectives. the bullet strik-
ing him in the arm.
Hiding the revolver in her pocket.
she went downstairs. where three
friends We're playing graphaphone
and talking and did not hear the shot.
In a few minutes she saw Thomas
making his way across the hall to the
bathroom and running upstairs open
ed the bathroom door as the man was
lending the tub. washing the
blood from the wound in his arm. Be
fore Thomas was aware of her pres
ence she placed the revolver close to
bis back and fired.
Il guess you got me this time"
Thomas said. as he sank TO the floor.
The sound of the secoEd shot attract
cd the attention of the party down
stairs and one of them, John W AL
len, Of COS King street. dashed up the
stairs and grabbed the revolver fram
the woman. as she was standing near
her victim. Allen then called up the |
Delaware Hospital and asked for an /
TO transfer the wounded |
man.
Outside World In Ignorance.
BY this time a crowd of persons had |
collected outside the house. which is
located near the southwest corner of |
Sixth and Jefferson streets. The po- |
lice had so far been unaware of the /
shooting when Detectives Wallace /
and Mcdaniel. attracted by the crowd, /
on the scene.
Wallace inquired of Allen what the /
trouble was. When he explained that |
\ man had been shot they quietly shut 4
the house and began an investigation.
in the front bedroom on the second /
iioor they heard a slight noise and /
called for the door TO be opened. "Is
that you. Alleny' a voice asked and
the detectives replied in the aflirma-
tive. The latch was unlocked and as
The officers entered they saw Thomas
his way to the bed with blood
on his clothing and hands. He was
removed 10 the hospital.
Under questioning. Allen said he
was passing the house when the wo-
man. whom he has known since girl
hood, called him in and asked him TO
ioin the party. Allen and another
man and woman, whose names the
olice have not made public Were
sitting in the parlor playing the ;
while The woman and
Thomas We're upstairs. Homemade
wine was the only liquor which they
had indulsed in. Allen said. There !
were no signs of disorder and only
small quantity Of wine was in a bot
De- on the table. The party downstairs
10 not hear the shooting. Allen said.
IN account of the music and talking.
md knew nothing OF the tragedy .
which was being enacted upstairs
'ntil the second shot was fired
Allen turned the gun, .3S calibre
weapon. over to the police.
Arraigned in Municipal Court to-
lay on a charge of assault with intent
% commit murder. Florence Thomas
'ppeared TO be ready to burst into
ears. Asked If she had any objec- ,
ions 10 having the case continued, ,
waiting the result of Thomas in ,
uries. she gulped several times, as IL ,
wing 10 talk and then shook her head. ,
'he was held without bail.
The woman was formerly proprie- !
Z ress Of the Howard Hotel, Fourth .
nd Shipley streets. and one time ,
audeville actress. She was planning ,
o return TO the stage, she told the /,
'olice last evening
Thomas was a member of the Della )
rare Anti-Aircraft Regiment. He ..
srved overseas with the 59th Pioneer :
During the recent encamp- .
cent OF the Ant-Aircraft Regiment at ,
amp John A Chandler. below New
astle. Thomas was visited on several
ccasions by the woman who is alleg-
{ TO have done the shooting.