The sun., 1919-07-19
SLAYER HANDY
IS REVEALED AS
SOLDIERS SON
Chicago Woman Says His
Father Probably Was
"Busy Jim" Handy.
HOME IN WINNIPEG
Elder Handy Quit Race
Track Work to Enlist in
Canada at 56.
HE DIED OVERSEAS
Condemned Man Gives Sing
Sing Officials Clue to Mys-
terious Identity.
HOME IN WINNIPEG
HE DIED OVERSEAS
Special DespatcA to THE suS.

CHICAGO, July 1S.-The veil of mys-
terry behind which Gordon Fawcett
Handy. New York's unique condemned
murderer, has hidden his life history
since he was convicted a few weeks
ago Of the killing of two officials Of the
East Brooklyn Savings Bank was
lifted to-day by the aged widow Of
Blind John" Condor. one lime race
track king" Of Chicago and the middle
West
Mrs. Condor, after a long struggle
with her memory, identified Handy as
in all probability the shiftless son Of
Busy Jim" Handy, race track en-
ployee of her sightless husband. Handy
shook the turf dust from his heels
when Canada began sending troops
across the ocean, and despite his 56
years, gave his life as a soldier, al
though he died OF disease before get
ting in action against the Germans.
II the "Hamby" of Sing Sings death
house Is the son Of Busy Jim" Handy,
he comes Of a substantial and highly
respected family Of Winnipeg, Canada.
Reports from that city tonight tended
to confirm Mrs. Condon's Identification
OF the son Of her husbands late race
track runner"
Finally Breaks silence.
In the death house of Sing Sing
Thursday the bank slayer. apparently
annoyed over the persistence with which
officials pursued their efforts to pene-
trate his alias, gave way finally and told
them they would learn who he really Is
II they asked the information OF John
Condor. 2S2s Michigan avenue. this city.
No John Condor could be found there,
but Mrs. John Condor was found, and
she readily identified herself as the
widow of Blind John" Condor, of rae
ing prominence.
Tracing the history of Busy Jim"
Handy revealed that he came originally
from Canada and that Gordon Fawcett
Handy apparently had imbibed some OF
his fathers rowing traits. Inquiry in
Winnipeg established the fact that
Busy Jim" Handy had lived there and
that after he had left to satisfy his
desire to follow the racing game" his
children were cared for by the family of
George Handy, an uncle Of Gordon.
George Handy is a Health Inspector for
the city OF Winnipeg.
He told reporters there that the family
came originally from Yorkshire, but had
lived in Winnipeg for twenty-eight years.
Gordon's parents made comfortable
living conducting a laundry. but Cor
don's uncle. George, sold the laundry
business some years ago. Gordon s
mother died when he was quite young
and the uncle took over the care of
Gordon. his brother and a sister. BUSY
Jim" Handy in the meantime had moved
on to the Chicago and other tracks.
Jackson Handy, brother of George and
John. also helped in caring for the three
children. Jackson Handy now Is living
In Victoria. b. c., and Is In Ill health.
What became OF Gordon Fawcett
Hamby's sister, ii this Identification OF
the bank murderer is correct Is not made
entirely clear.
Went to College in Winnipeg.
Hamby's uncle said also that Gordon
had received a good education and was
sent through high school From high
school, his uncle said. Gordon was sen,
to st. Johns College in Winnipeg. but
seemed not overenthuslastic about a
college course. 1t was at this time thai
he went to Join his father in Chicago
and from then-the exact date of his mi
grafton was not made clear-little hat
been heard OF him except from time &c
time, when, in trouble or out OF funds
he played upon the heartstrings OF his
relatives for money or other means L
get him out OF trouble. George Hanb,
said that although he and other rel.
atives frequently gave money to theil
rowing nephew. he never took the troubl,
to repay them.
There the story OF Gordon Fawcet
Handy stops. SO far as his relatives II
Winnipeg are concerned. Efforts here
however. eliclted the fact that BUS!
! Jim" Handy was not the only membe
OF the family to get into the war at tn,
earliest possible moment. Friends o
his here said they had been told that a.
soon as the opportunity offered, jim
Hanby's daughter volunteered for over
seas service as a nurse, and that sh,
went abroad. II she Is In Saskatche
wan. they said. she has not been ther,
| long.