TWO WOMEN SHOT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 98, 28 April 1930, Page 8

TWO WOMEN SHOT

MURDER AND SUICIDE? MRS. GUY BATES POST A VICTIM. NEW YORK, April 25. A report from Laguna Beach (California) states that Mrs Guy Bates Post, the divorced wife of the actor, and a woman friend with whom she had been living, were found shot dead at the latter’s bungalow. The police reconstruct the tragedy as murder and suicide resulting from a quarrel over a luncheon invitation. The authorities to-day expressed the view that Mrs Post, who was fiftythree years of age &nd known on the stage in her youth as Adele Ritchie, shot her friend, Mrs Doris. Murray Palmer in the back, when the latter started to go to a garage to drive off to a luncheon engagement fifteen minutes after another friend had arrived with an invitation, which did not include Mrs Post. After brooding over the act for two hours, according to the police theory, Mrs Post went to a business section on a shopping .tour, thriving to regain her calm, but returned to the bungalow some time later, placed the muzzle of the same revolver in her mouth, and pulled the trigger.

The tragedy, which is one of the most sensational in the history of the theatrical cinema colony here, was discovered when two neighbours went to the bungalow to return a pet dog, which had strayed. The police learned of the invitation quarrel from a friend who was present while the women exchanged sharp words over the noninclusion of Mrs Post, and heard the latter warn Mrs Palmer against making the trip. A shot was ilred, killing the latter. It entered her back, piercing the heart, while that killing Mrs Post pierced the brain. The Posts were divorced in December, 1929, Mrs Post alleging desertion and the actor not contesting the suit. They had been married in 1916. There were no children. She had been married once before and divorced after a sensational trial. Following her separation from Post, she went to live with Mrs Palmer, ..nd both worked together in the Little Theatre movement. Mrs Palmer was the daughter of a wealthy Illinois resident and the divorced*’ wife of a leading Minnesota physician. She was 33 years old. Post, who has been playing “The Masquerader’ , in various of the English-speaking world for many years, and was featured in the Australian and New Zealand season of 1925. is at present at Honolulu playing the same part as the guest of a local com-

pany. When informed of the tragedy he was profoundly shocked. “Oh, that is terrible; simply terrible! ” he said. The actor continued ‘‘lt is all so startling to me. Mrs Post had no enemies that I know of, and I cannot conceive either murder or suicide in connection with her or Mrs Palmer. He referred to the reasons of his divorce as “negligible,” adding that to him she would always be remembered as “a lovely, startling woman,” whom he had married when she was the toast of New York for her singing and acting. He stated: ‘‘The two women had things in common, and it is simplv beyond me how this thing could'have happened.”

CAUSE OF TRAGEDY. THE AUTHORITIES’ VIEWS. NEW YORK, April 25. Laguna Beach authorities have decided that Mrs' Post’s fear that she was losing the close friendship of Mrs Palmer caused the trag. ly. Officials learned that Mrs Palmer was gradually drawing away from Mrs Post, whom her growing coolness greatly angered. Sheriff Pernigan discovered that when Mrs Palmer failed to rush to the side of Mrs Post when the latter was taken ill at Wednesday night’s rehearsal, several witnesses heatd Mrs Post mutter, “I could kill that woman.”

FUNERAL RATES Received April 27, 5.5 p.m. NEW YORK, April 26. A message from Laguna Beach states that the funeral services of Mrs Guy Bates Post and Mrs Palmer were held here to-day at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. An hour's intervals separated the rites, the same minister officiating, and the service for Mrs Post coming first. Mrs Palmer will be buried here, but Mrs Post’s body will be cremated at Los Angeles.

The authorities state that a coroner’s verdict of murder and suicide would close the case.