SHOT ON A LONDON MUSIC HALL STAGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2405, 21 January 1909, Page 3

SHOT ON A LONDON MUSIC HALL STAGE.

KILLED IN A “WILLIAM TELL” ACT.

ACTRESS ARRESTED FOR MAN SLAUGHTER.

An extraordinary mishap, by which a man named Herbert Lee, aged twenty-five, of 5, Robert-street, Hampstead-road, was shot in the course of a “William Toll” shooting act,..occurred shortly before ten o’clock on November 25 at the Middlesex Music Hall, Drury-fane. A woman artiste who figured as No. L2 in the programme as “Clementine. Lady Expert, Queen of Firearms,” was proceeding with her performance, which consisted of a display of expert marksmanship, and had occupied the stage about seven minutes, when the “William Tell” act was reached.

Lee, who acted as assistant in the previous items of “Clementine's” performance, stood on the stage with a glass ball raised slightly from the top of his head. SHOT IN THE HEAD".

“Clementine” took up a position in the dress circle, distant some fifty feet from Lee, who, in accordance with the story which was being illustrated, was blind-folded. “Clementine” raised a shot rifle to her shoulder, and amid the breathless excitement of the packed audience fired. The greatest consternation followed when Lee was seen to fall forward on to the stage, bleeding profusely from a wound in the head.

The curtain was lowered,_ and D» Bremner, of Drury-lane, was in immediate attendance. A cursory examination showed a wound near the left eyebrow. No tmee of a bullet was apparent, and Lee was removed to King’s College Hospital, where lie died next morning. As a sequel Clementini Dolcini, thirty-three, an Italian, describing herself as a musicdiall artiste, staying at the Coronet Hotel, Soho-strcet, Soho-square, was charged at Bowstrcct with the manslaughter of the man, Herbert Lee, aged twenty-eight, of Robert-street, Hampstead-road. Detective-Inspector Stockley stated that a 11.15 that morning the defendant came to Bow-street Police Station and said that she was the person whom the police were looking for. “AN ACCIDENT.”

The witness told her that a charge of manslaughter would be preferred against her, and -she replied, “It was all an accident —it seems all a dream. I went away last night because I was so upset and stayed with some friends.” She also said, “I have been doing this thing for eighteen years. I have never had an accident before.” . Tho witness showed her a Winchester rifle, and .she said that it was the one that she was using. She took from it several cartridges. The Clerk (Mr Westall) : Arc they ball cartridges? , The Witness: Yes. The defendant, said the witness, was formally charged with manslaughter, and she simply repeated that it was all an accident. • Mr Lloyd Humphreys: From the cursory inquiries that you have made you do not think there was any illfeeling between this woman and the deceased- man ? . The Witness: I have every reason to believe there was not. „ The defendant was remanded, hail being allowed in one surety of £IOO.