The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-09-06
PAUL Bern, HUSBAND
OF jean HARLOW, IS
DEAD FROM CUNSHO7
Body Is Found Slumped Before
Mirror h Dressing Room
At His Home
RIGHT HAND HELD PISTOL
Leaves Note to Platinum Blonde
Wife Who Goes Into hys-
terios at News
RIGHT HAND HELD PISTOL

hollywood. Calf. Sept. 6.-N
The death Of Paul Bern, husband ol
Jean Harlow. platinum blonde Of TIL
screen. Tuesday confronted Holly
wood with . mystery akin to thu
death stories which have swept ths
film world OF late.
Slumped before . mirror In q dress.
ing room OF his picturesque home
Bern's body was found Monday. bull
let hole through the head. Detectives
said the young film executive had Oh
viously taken his own life. but they
found no hint Of the cause. His bride
Of only two months was 50 hysterical
when informed Of his death she could
not discuss It.
When found BY Z butler, John Car.
michael. Berns right hand gripped
80 calihre revolver, one chamber dis
charged. on . nearby dresser wa
another firearn. Beside . picture Of
Miss Harlow note lay. 1t read:
Dearest dear Unfortunately thia
Is the only way TO make good the
frightful wrong I have done you and
to wipe out my Abject humiliation.
love you. Paul" A postscript: "You
understand last night was only q
comedy"
Miss Harlow was overcome with
grief and her anguished crics could
bc heard by q crowd which gathered
about the -rcaidcnce, Of her mother
Mrs. Marine Bello. Physicians quiet.
ed her with sedatives and detectives
who sought to discuss tho tragedy
with her left. They said they would
return Tuesday. after . coroner'l
autopsy, In an attempt to find Z
plausible reason for BernS act.
Deny Marital Trouble
Close friends OF the l2.year-old film
executive, including Irving Thalberg
who was among the first to reach the
residence after the discovery by the
butler, said Bern had appeared at hia
office infrequently during the last 10
days. Some expressed the opinion he
was on the verge Of nervous break
down. Others said Bern had limited
q man might well conclude his life
when his work was done. Possibility
OF domestic difficulties between the
couple drew quick denials from init
mate friends.
Miss Harlow was ut her mothers
home when she received word Of her
husbands death. She had gone there
on Saturday night after working ct
4 studio. Friends said she understood
Bern would be occupied by . business
engagement and she wished 70 Be
with her mother. whose husband VA
on . fishing trip.
Sunday Q dinner party was ar
ranged at the home OF the actress
mother. When Bern did not appear
Miss Harlow telephoned him. Author
tiles were informed he told her he
was occupied with business affairs
and wished to be alone. When she
suggested she return to their home,
he asked her to remain ct her moth.
er's home.
Bern's servants had been ct Mira.
Bello's home for the party and It Wa
upon their return to the film execu.
tives residence that the tragedy was
discovered.
Bern, q bachelor until his marriage
July 2 to Miss Harlow, was known @
Z good Samaritan to the hard-luck
wanderers Of Hollywood. He sponsor
ed activities to aid unemployed film
workers and provide money for school
children whose parents were desti-
tute.
His career began some years ago In
New York AZ an actor, stage director
and production executive. In 1928 he
became q technical director Of films.
Besides his widow. Bern leaves 4
brother. Henry. who was reported ny-
ine here from New York.