The Washington times., 1922-02-23
WEDS IN DAZE,
] HER ROMANCE
! HAS TRAG|CEN
coIorfuI Life Of Audrey Ryan,
Paris Poison Victim. Re-
ve;aled by Friend.

if0Ynidn piolinist Uho died OF ner-
catrial poisoning IN Paris a fe'o
Weeks ago, is printed hereU'th.
The poison tablets were forced
upon her by her husband, Thomas
Stewart Ryan, an American Journal
list. at the tragic end Of an unsuc-
cessful marriage. Mrs. Ryan said.
before her death.
The events which led 10 her pol
soning were no less strange tnah
the unusual Incidents whicht &C.
Cured during the courtship ana
marriage Of the couple according to
II. Sheridan Bickers, Canadian
playwright and friend of Mrs. Ryan.
1t was a love of sensation which
made Audrey Creighton Ryan the
unhappy heroine of an astounding
adventure instead of becoming a
successful, universally beloved vio-
linist, the writer said In en- exclu-
sive interview,
Feared Her Suitor.
Audrey had n combination of
qualities which won for her a host
of men and women friends; beauty
and brains. Her personality was
battling, and her unusual talents as
a musician kept her the center az a
rather over-awed circle 81 admirers.
/ met her, with her mother, a
thorough gentlewoman, in Los An
geles. She was eighteen then, and
very attractive.
II became her good friend. and
one day she told me of a persistent
sutton Of whom she seemed positive
ly afraid. She wanted me to meet
him, and / laughingly gave my con
sent. Ryan, Audrey and Mrs.
Creighton came to tea. He seemed
a rather silent young man, but In
telligent and interesting.
Later on, Miss Creighton told me
OF her growing fear of Mr.. Ryan.
She was afraid that somehow he
would make her marry him. even II
she did not want to. / spoke to her
reassuringly, and asked her what
grounds she had for. her dread OF
him. / told her that Ryan seemed
q. decent, well-behaved young fellow,
and that there was no.tangtbie rea-
son Tor feeling as she did She was
almost In tears, but she left me with
the impression that Ryan had done
hothih6 " JUSTLY ava
terror. 3 H.. -.
1.-TWO. weeks later, however, Au-
drey related an amazing story to me.
She had promised to take dinner
with Ryan and aecompany. him on q
long motor ridG afterward. she said
on the ride, she told me. she felt a
sense of drowsiness, which rapidly
increased, until she became only re-
motely aware OF the events which
followed.
Ceremony Performed.
There was vague recollection
OF stopping with him at a house,
apparently In the town OF Santa
Ana. Here, Miss Creighton went
through the marriage ceremony.
1.-THE full realization Of the per
Torrance swept over her when they
returned to her home, she told me
later, and she nearly tainted with
horror and fright.
"On arriving at her mothers, the
triumphant bridegroom driving her
CREIGHTON With the marriage, the
unhappy young bride rushed to her
room and locked the door on her
"She was frantic with fright, and
appealed to her mother to save her.
The distracted woman locked the
door and Mr.. Ryan, after vainly
attempting to see his newly-made
wife, was compelled to leave her at
her mothers home on their bridal
night. .
Immediately afterward Mrs.
Ryan and her mother attempted to
have the marriage nullified on the
grounds OF the brides insensibility
during the ceremony. For two years
or more the matter. created a sensa.
ton in the American courts, but the
wedding was adjudged legal. since
the girl had passed her eighteenth
birthday at the time.
after the marriage the couple
were separated, Ryan having been
called to an assignment in India for
a newspaper, while his wife went to
Paris to continue her studies"