South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-09

staged
Am Dying. Dear.
"G am dying. dear"
These. the last words uttered by
Audrey Creighton. before being TAX
eu FOB The American hospital st Nou-
uy. arc at once the dramatic climax
g." this tangled story OF love. and fear
and the pivotal point of Thomas
Steward Eyau's defense against the
swallow the poison which caused her
death.
They were heard I'm the early
morning iu the Hotel Cnic. i'm the
MOutparnasse quarter. after an eve
ming spent in restaurants iu the Bois
de Boulogne. the first evening passed
/ together 10y this Unmatched couple
since the romantic automobile elope-
ment and marriage in Los Angeles
I four years before. They were caught
/ by the ears OF a young Frenchman,
who happens 20 speak English per
fectly. occupying a room next to
+ that Of the Byans They are-that
is what Ryan asks-the words Of
woman who has just been forced to
take dose of poison by her hus-
I band?
Arriving from India on Jan 10
/ Eyan's only thought was of his
wife and the state Of her mind and
heart as disclosed i'm her letters. lie
wanted 20 make "a last attempt to
win her. Visiting the apartment
where the young woman and her
mother resided. he succeeded in in
ducing his wife TO accompany him
I on an afternoon jaunt i'm the Bots.
/ followed 10y dinner and dancing on
the Butte, as Montmartre is known
by its habitues.
Ryan told the examining magis-
trate. who began the investigation
Of the case which Mrs. Ryan was
dying in the hospital. that durins
the evening he tried TO induce his
wife i'm name 10 be his wife i'm fact
and abandon her idea of divorce.
Apparently his arguments had some
weight with the young woman. for
they went TO his apartment i'm the
Hotel Unic shortly after midnight
As they mounted the stairs. a maid
testified. Mrs. Ryan had her arm
her husbands waist. What happen
ed i'm the apartment is wrapped IN
mystery.
According 10 Ryan's story, he and
his wife resumed their discussion OF
her future. Exasperatcd by her at
titude. Ryan declared to the police,
Inc pointed to his suitcase. and OK
claimed:
All right If YOU want to die
there's bichloride in that suitcase.
Then he sat at table with his
back TO his wife and began TO write.
IL was at this moment that NJ. La
barre. the English speaking French
man. heard 'heartrending cries ana
means from the apartment of Ry-
an ON rushing go the apart
ment.' continued NJ. I.abarre in his
testimony. IL heard Mrs. Ryan say
to her husband: 4 ann dying. dear "
Ryan dashed into the corridor
and yelled for the hotel Waterman.
Madame has taken poison" he cx-
claimed and asked the Waterman to
run for "a doctor The Waterman
said IL would be better for Ryan TO
go himself Ryan returned 20 the
apartment and. seeing his wife lyinS
+ i'm apparent agony ON the floor. seized
a razor blade and tried TO sever his
wrists and his jugular vein. Recov-
ering from his frenzy. he took his
wife i'm his arms. carried her to the
street and hailing a passing taXicab
conveyed her TO the nearest hospital
Thence she was taken the following
evening 90 the American Hospital.
where she died on January 10.
Airs. Ryan's version of the hap
pemngs in the hotel. as related by
her TO the judicial authorities while
she lay in the hospital is vitality Diff
ferent from that given by her hus-
band She declared her husband
forced her. az the point OF a knife.
90 swallow three tablets OF bichloride
. OF mercury after having written at
his dic,aton two letters announcing
her intention 20 commit suicide.
one Of these letters was addressed
TO Peter McCoE. a painter friend.
IT, said. I am going TO die because
. I love YOU too much"
The other. TO her mother. was as
follows When on receive this. l
shall be dead. I ASK your pardon for
acting I'm this way, but I find myself
i'm circumstances which. If you knew,
you would never blame me FOR want
ing 20 die
ON the strength or Mrs. Ryan :
declarations 10 her mother. who Wis
tied her daughter in the American
hospital Ryan was arrested i'm the
office uf the American newspaper for
which ne had been correspondent.
He had returned 20 the hotel after
having taken his wife 20 the hospital
gathered up bis belongings and left
. without saying whether or not he
! expected TO return. The preliminary
/ investigation having convinced the
authorities that there was no ground
4 for a charge Of murder against the
I newspaperman. ne was released on
T bail OF 5000 francs. II IS considered
unlikely that the case Will ever come
I 90 trial.
Ryan maintains silence regardins
/ the details OF the last act in this
drama. Peter Mccoy declares he
knows nothing beyond the fact that
I he was very much attracted by
Audrey Creighton. Her mother per-
sists in regarding Ryan as rcspon-
sibie for her daughters death
The mystery Will probably remain
I one forever