The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-22
CLARA HATHAWAY'S SUICIDE.

4 wronged Woman Who Was Dis
carded by n Wealthy PittsburEer.
NEW YORK, March 21.-The identity of
the young woman who committed suicide at
the Adams House, Boston, on Tuesday has
been established. She had lived here for
several years, but never lived in Holyoke,
1t is said. She registered from the latter
place and signed a fictitious name-Grac
NJ. C. Norton-on the hotel register, for
the avowed purpose of hiding her identity,
for she went to Boston with her mind fully
made UP to take her own life. Clara Hatha-
way was her maiden name. About a year
ago she went to Boston, her friends under
stood, for the purpose of joining Rice's
Extravaganza company. There she met a
wealthy shoe manufacturer, Richard Laird,
who induced her to go to Pittsburg, where
she lived with him for several months as
Mrs. Laird. Last August the woman, it is
said, insisted on a ceremon of marriage be-
ing performed and a quarrel was the result.
The aid of the police was invoked by Laird
ana MISS natnamay was aeco4panied nfty
York by a Pittsburg officer. When relieved
of her escort she very promptly returned to
Pittsburg and prosecuted Laird criminally
for his part in her forcIuie removal from
the city. size succeeded in having him fined.
She then began a suit for breach of promise
of marriage against Laird, ex-District At
torney Archibald III. Rowand, of Allegheny
county, being her attorney. THIS action was
PCAi0A4S at liz tii4C Va 1SA oSohA. AttiSo
Hathaway is described as ali educated
woman, and is said to have been the daugh-
ter of wealthy parents. She eloped from
an Iowa seminary at the age of seventeen
and was ~disowned by her father, and when
deserted by her husband within two years
after their marriage, she would not seek
a reconciliation with her family, but came
East. Often. it is said, she tried to get out
of the life she was eading, and at one time
she was about to become a trained nurse,
but was dissuaded by Mr.. Laird. She was
twenty-nine years old.
The Pittsburg End Of the story.
P~ITTSBURG, Pa, March 21.-The identi-
fication of the woman who committed sui
eide at the Adams House, in Boston, as
Ada (or Clara Hathaway, forms a new
chapter in a scandal which first came to
the surface in this city on Aug. 6 last. On
the evening of that date Ada Hathaway
called at the office of the wholesale shoe
house of Laird & Ray, and had a long con-
versation with Richard Laird, one of the
partners. What passed between them is not
known, but Laird was seen to push her
through the door, and when she tried to
force her way back again, the police took
her in charge. On the way to the police
station she placed to her mouth a handker-
chief saturated with chloroform, but it was
taken away from her before any harm was
done. On the morning after her arrest she
promised to leave town and was escorted 10
the hotel where she had been stopping, by
an officer. On reaching her room she placed
a revolver to her breast and threatened to
kill herself II any one approached her.
Finally. after much persuasion. she was
took q train for Boston. But on arriving at
Philadelphia she took the first train back
to Pittsburg. The following day she re-
Laird for the part he took In forcing her
to leave the city and a~fterSard entering a
short time after the scandal came out. the
firm OF Laird & Ray was dissolved and the
former LETT the city.