William H. Lothrop -- The Last Round-Up

On May 2, 1913, moments before the curtain at the Boston Theatre was lifted on the first act of The Round-Up, the theatre's 38-year-old treasurer and assistant manager chatted amiably with a cast member.  Lothrop retired to his office on the second balcony floor and soon afterward a shot rang out.  He was found on a couch clutching a revolver in his left hand and bleeding profusely from a gunshot wound to the head.  Lothrop died at Boston's Relief Hospital a half hour later without recognizing his wife of a year at his bedside.  Shortly before shooting himself, Lothrop had phoned her and their conversation had sufficiently worried the woman to leave for the theatre.  While no reason was publicly stated for the suicide, Lothrop's brother added an element of mystery to the affair when he stated that the man suffered from a paralysis of the left side that made it impossible for him to have committed the deed with his left hand.