Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-29
TRAGEDIAN DIES,
VICTIM OF DRUGS
PATHETIC END OF CAREER
ONCE PROMISING
WAS FORMERLY MATINEE IDOL
Lawrence HanIey, Reeonciled With
Wife and Child, From Whom He
Was Separated Ten Years,
Passes Away

Lawrence Hanley, at one time one of
Americas foremost tragedians, died
at the county hospital yesterday after
noon at 3:45 o'clock.
With words of forgiveness by his
wife ringing in his ears, prayer to God
In his heart and the name of his baby
girl on his lips, the man who has fought
an uphill fight against sickness and
disease for months met death.
Not the Hanley who had stood before
the footlights and claimed the attention
Of the most select companies of play
the shadow OF his former self, was the
man who breathed his last yesterday.
Last night Edith Lemmert, his wife,
appeared in "Richelieu" at the Belasco
theater.
Twelve years ago Hanley was the idol
Of her life and the idol of the play
going public. Two years later they
parted, and until Sunday evening he
never saw her again.
Calls for Baby Girl
For weeks Lawrence Hanley has
been lying on a cot in the insane ward
at the county hospital. Gradually he
has been growing weaker and weaker,
and on Sunday physicians began to be-
lieve the end was near.
IN, I, ,io holt f-ftr a
actor called for his baby girl, little
Leadith, baby girl when he last saw
her but now a beautiful child IL years
old.
His nurse, H. S. Reardon, heard him
and plans were made by which his wife
was brought to his bedside. The little
girl was in the country and he could
not see her.
He asked forgiveness of the woman to
whom he had brought unhappiness, and
she left after giving it with his bless
ing upon her.
All Sunday night his nurse sat at his
bedside expecting that at any minute
the end might come. At noon yester-
day Mrs. Louisa Evans, the woman
who nursed his little gir, for five years,
went to him and stayed until he died.
His voice became weaker as the hours
went on and he talked often of his
child, saying her name over and over
till it finally became a whisper.
About 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon
Father ONeil, Catholic priest, went
to him. Soon afterward he left and
visited other patients in the hospital.
but five minutes before Hanley's death
was recalled to the sick room.
End Comes Suddenly
At o'clock the physicians visited
him and injected morphine-the first
which he had received in two weeks.
"He will live at least twenty-four
hours longer" was their verdict at this
time. Five minutes later he began to
fail rapidly.
The Catholic priest. Mrs Alice Nc
Curdy of the Ladies Catholic Aid So
ciety, his child's nurse, Mrs. Evans;
the physician, the nurse and Herald
reporter were the only persons in the
room at the time.
Mrs. Alice McCurdy and Mrs. Frank
McGrath, as we'll as other prominent
women of the Catholic church, did
much to make his final moments COM
Portable. 1t was at their expense that
private nurse was employed to care
for him and fresh flowers were always
at his bedside.
Mrs. Evans could not say enough in
his favor. She had been at the home
of his wife's father. Paul H. Lemmert,
1924 Menlo avenue, attending Leadith,
and the actor often called there to see
Mr.. Lemmert. Once he was found by
Mr.. Lemmert in San Francisco and
brought to Los Angeles. For weeks
he was cared for in the home on
Menlo avenue before being sent to the
hospital.
"He was devoted to his baby" said
Mrs. Evans.
Fought Against Habit
"He always had fight to make and
tent to remain SO. He was always
striving to do better, to fight the
habits of drink and drugs, but they
were too strong for him."
Lawrence Hanley was born in sa-
vannah. Ca. of poor parents, thirty
seven years ago. He had wonderful
talents and a splendid physique. and
was always a lover of books. above
all. the books of the master playwright.
He never tired of study and until he
was too weak to hold book in his
hand. some much loved volume was
always with him.
In his profession. he rose until he
was the actor-idol OF the hour. He
drew thousands to see him and won
the hearts of his audiences as few ac-
tors do. Then began the losing fight
y u. -