Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-26
MISS HANAN LEAVES
MYSTERY SEALED.
Victim Of Brooklyn Dual Trag-
edy Dies Mute on Mrs.
, Laws Motive
BROTHER TELLS STORY

New lnTh. lN'Iis -'' A's'T' a'''''' -
y ITanan. granddaughter Of Alfred =
u,ron. multi millionaire shoe manu-
,scturer. of Brooklyn, died in the Ions
I,lsnd College Hospital, early Sunday
with the death Of the Brooklyn heir,
acc there seemed TO vanish all hope OF
.oIving the deep mystery cloaking thf
attack on her by Mrs. Grace Laws, ho,
tormer chum. who committed suicide
;mmediotely after the shooting, carly
Friday morning.
In until she lost consciousness two
hours before the end the police lowered
sbout seeking favorable moment to
ask her once more just why Mrs. Laws,
once her inscparablc friend, shot her
and then killed herself.
But the moment did not come. Miss
Hsnan died still unresponsivc to the
"wby" that the detectives had been
plying her with since she arrived at
The hospital. When the doctors per-
mittcd the police to question her she
cbcerfully answered all questions ex-
cent that having to do with motive.
Now and then she would shake her
head signifying mystificaton and just
ss often she would wave them away
without recognizing the question.
BorIand May Hold Key
John S. Borland. the importer. who
was with Miss Hsnan when she was
shot and probably who is the only sur
yiying poSsessor of the answer to the
policemCn's question. was at the young
woman's bedside with her mother and
brothpr when she died
She will be buried Wednesday. the
service to be held in her brothers
home in Sea Gate. Despite their fail
urc TO get the secret from Miss IIlnnn.
and notwithstanding Borland's insist
ence that hc can only guess mt thr
reason for the tragedy. the police de-
clare themselves confident that Mrs.
Laws shot her crstwhile friend while
in an abnormal mental condition caused
By jealousy. alcohol, drugs and bank
,uptCy--a CONT tination they agree war
ranted to precipitatC murder and sui
eide.
Just before . o'clock Sunday morning
Miss Ianan lost consciousness. The
nurses observing that their patirnt was
sinking. notified Mrs. Clara Hanan. the
mother. and Alfred p. IIauan. the
wounded wOman's brother. They had
been occupying rouchcs in an adjoining
loom. The family physician was scnt
for and DS Robert Barber, a Brook
lyn physician. fcd oxygen to the patient
in q desperate effort to ward IF death.
Borlanl and Miss Billie Williams. the
young woman 10 whom Mrs. Laws ad-
dressed one of the letters found in her
handbag after she killed herself. ap-
pearNd at the hospital soon after.
liberty.
An autopsy performed by 3D. Carl
BOettiger. assistant medical examiner.
showed that bullet pierced the thorax
and the abdomen and lodged under the
ninth rib on the right side beneath the
chest wall.
One blood TRANSMISSION. made Friday
in an effort to save the girls life. !
seemed to give hcr additional strength
lnd led the physicians to hold ont hone
kr her recovery. but n relapse SGT in |
saturday evening and she failed |
sapidly.
Brother Tells Story
The story Of Miss Hanan's death was
told to reporter at Alfred Hanan's |
home in Sea Gate last night. The house
was one OF sadness. for preparations
were being made for reception of the |
!
This is the first and only intimate dis |
cusSlon OF the tragedy given to a news
paper by any member of tho family. /
Mr. Hanan'S manner was suhduCd and
Ad. Tn" blow has crushed him lust rs !
II has his mother, for there was n deem
anertion between him and his only .
sister.
There has been lot published .
ABOUT this sad affair which is not true, :"
SAID Mr.. Hanan. When the tragedy
happened We were. almost as much in
else. '' o'us
Mrs. Laws several months ago i'm
pressed mo as irresponsible. didn't .
NE the way she acted and asked my
sister to try and break the connection
win her. at least so far as her intimate
nature was concerned. She had the
appearance and manner which I
thought indicated the user of drugs.
and Just the suspicion of that dissuieted
ne' Mrs. Laws was cousin Of the |
second Mrs. Hanap and Mildred met
ner through hcr father. She had little .
'"u Mildred felt sorry for her.
Calls Rivalry Absurd
l., Mildred was good hearted girl and .
Ier goodness OF heart has now cost her
ter me- The suggestion that rivalry .
Oet"een MiIdrcn and Mrs. Laws for
Shy man attentions existed is absurd.
Lts. ,tt. laws was fOrty-fvc and not
SAYING. "''' "e''
TO suggest motive for such n
rune rune Is almost impossible. The only !
an np'ana'loh : Is thar her act was that Of |
na no,a insane woman-an insane person
ueed no motives.
AS ] stated, was dsQuictcd about .