Evening star., 1949-04-22

formation along this line when he
returns. =,
The detective chief said he had
been unable to locate man
runored to have accompanied MI.
Garris from New York.
A telegram from a Dallas hotel
advised police that the tenor had
reserved q room with twin beds
there for tonight. The opera has
a performance in Dallas sched-
uled today.
The police, hardened to hoodlum
killings. saw q touch Of artistry
in the death of the foreign-born
opera tenor. His antagonist aimed
at his heart. 1T was not a gang
ster's crude or random Shot.
Bullet Lodged in Spine.
A steel-jacketed bullet dealt
death. An autopsy surgeon found
it lodged in the spine. 1t had
pierced the heart.
Nor was 1t a crime for monetary
gain. Mr.. Garris' purse with $40
in it was near the body. A costly
wrist watch was on his arm.
Instead, there were fantastic
and theatrical touches. Mr.. Garris
was hatless ands coatless when a
Negro portef, Love Thomas, on
his way to work. found him dead
in the misty rain. The singers
coat, unpierced by a bullet, and
his hat were found atop a garbage
can three blocks away.
The rest Of the Metropolitan
Opera company, after three nights
in Atlanta, were en- route by train
for Memphis, Tenn, when in
formed of the tragedy. They were
shocked by the news.
Character Called perfect"
General Manager Edward john
son, on arrival in Memphis, vas
quick to say that the tenor's
character was perfect as far as
we know" Then he added-"We
all loved him"
1t. Coppenger and another IN
vestigator reached Memphis by
plane ahead Of the company. They
questioned the members briefly,
then released them for their one
night Memphis ,ssppearance. .
|"Lucia Di LamnasTmoor." ~
The show kwe1t on without q
sign from the csst Of the tragedy
left behind. In the lobbies, Mr..
Garris' bizarre death ruled the
conversation.
Police officers circulated back
stage. They watched. but dis
closed nothing.
Took Luggage to Station.
This much they knew:
Mr.. Garris took his luggage to
the Atlanta station about mid
night to entrain with the others.
The special train did not leave
until after 4 am. and police be-.
lieve the tall. blond and balding
singer was dead by then.
Miss Cathy Sanger. 4 member
of the ballet, said she saw Mr..
Garris leaving the station just af-
ter midnight. He told her, she
related in Memphis. that he was
going to get something to eat.
Detective ]. M. Pack said he be-
lieved the singer was shot to death
In an automobile in the gloomy.
stone-walled warehouse district
and the body later laid out In the
alley. The time was put at about
2 am, leaving the tenor's last
hour and q half unaccounted for.
He was first known In opera for
his Wagnerian roles, especially IN
die Meistersinger." His last'opera
|portrayals were. as Cassie In
"Otello" here Monday and Laertes
in "Mignon" Tuesday.
He attended a Wednesday per-,
Torrance the cast Of which In
cluded Bidu Sayao. Ferruccio Tag
liavini, John Brownlee and Saliva
tore Baccaloni.
Other stars in the company are
Robert Merrill, Dorothy Kristen.
Charles Kullman, Rise Stevens.
Patrice Munsell, Ramon Vinay,
Leonard Warren and Licia Alba
nese.
Parents Attending Opera
When Told Of Tenors Death
FRANKFURT, Germany, April
"a R.-The aged parents OF John