The Mankato free press., 1921-09-30
Attempted Murder and
Suicide In New York
JEALOUSY The MOTIVE
Miss Mildred Hanan Shot BY
Mrs. Grace LaWes Who
Ends Her Life
[Associated Press DispatchJ

San Francisco, September 23.-
Mrs. M. e. Dittmars, said to be
the mother of Mrs. Grace Lawes,
denied such relationship whom
questioned by an afternoon pa.
per at her home today. She cut
short the interview by closing
the front door in his face. Mrs.
Dittmars told newspaper men that
she was the sister of Mrs. Lawes,
and that jealousy was not the
motive for the shooting.
New York, September 23.-Miss
Mildred Hanan, said by the police to-
be a daughter of the late Alfred B.
Hanan wealthy head of Hanan and
Son, shoe manufacturers was shot
three times, early today, as she was
emerging. from an apartment house
in Brooklyn, with John S. Boland, an
importer.
Mrs. Grace Lawes, who fred the
shots, then ended her own life by
firing bullet into her brain.
Refuses To Discuss Shooting.
Miss Hanan in a hospital refused
to discuss the shooting. According
to the police, Boland said Mrs. Lawes
had stepped out of the shadows as
he and Miss Hanan emerged from
the apartment where they had been
visiting a friend, and fred the shots
He attributed the shooting, police
said, to Jealousy, admitting that he
had quarrelled with Mrs. Lawes
recently over Miss Hanan.
Miss Hanans condition was re-
ported to be critical but not neces-
sarily fatal One of the bullets took
effect in the left breast, near the
heart, one in the left side and one in
the right arm.
Boland was unable to explain to
the police how Mrs. Lawes learned
in Brooklyn. He said he had gone
to Brooklyn yesterday afternoon
with Miss Hanan to help her seek
new apartment. The apartment
hunting trip, he said. ended with
visit to Miss Dorory Gottschalk,
friend of her family.
They left the apartment about II 80
p m, he said, and encountered Mrs.
Lawes as they stepped to the street
a pistol and fired. She then stood
for moment regarding them. Bo-
land said. Then she uttered scream.
pressed the muzzle of the pistol
against her head and fired.
Mrs. Lawes and Miss Hanan Related
Mrs. Lawes, who Is daughter OF
Mrs. M. e. Ditmars of San Francisco.
was distant relative Of Miss Hanan.
For four years she had lived with Miss
Hanan, and the latter's mother in an
apartment in the Park avenue ais
trict of Manhattan. Two weeks ago,
she moved to the hotel Vanderbilt
nearby. The police said that she had
sent several threatening letters re-
Gently to Miss Hanan.
Two letters were found in Mrs.
Laws pocketbook. One addressed to
she had done The other addressed to
Mrs. Birdie Williams of Manhattan,
formerly nurse in the Hanan house
hold, requested that Mrs. Williams
take Mrs. Lawes' body to San Fran
cisco. and have it cremated.
|. Mrs. Lawes' Letter to Mother.
Z The letter to Mrs. Lawes' mother,
Mrs. NJ. e. Dittmars of San francisco.
reads:
Mother Darling: You never
can understand what I have been
through here. Don't try to learn.
1t is past. am too tired and ill
to try to overcome the great OBJ
stacles / have placed in my own
way. Too much high life. The
pace is too fast and the liquor has
and forget and remember, pray
for my soul. Love to all and think
of me as I always say to you,
good, sweet daughter. Lovingly.
Grace"
Letter to Huntington.
The second letter, addressed to the
nurse, asked her to notify Walter
Huntington at the Madison Square
hotel in this city to take care Of her
affairs.
"Send me home to California
cremated," continued the letter.
make it. easy for my darling,
sweet mother. Don't let her know
the truth dear. Can't stand this
sordid, tinsel life any longer ;.
Forgive me. Billie, all my mis-
takes. and remember me as sweet
much liquor and conversation on
all sides =. The black lea
ther jewel case is in the safe and
my rings are gone and l sold the
tickets. All my trunks are at ho-
tel store rooms. All my bags at
Hanan,s. Send them home to my
mother, please"
Borland Is Questioned.
Miss Hanan is twenty -four, while
Mrs. Dawes was thirty two. The
younger woman, according to police,
udu D6Gu mdTTl6Q 10 J0TOIlc wagner
of this city, but a divorce had been
granted about three years ago.
Borland, graduate OF Dartmouth
college, was questioned for several
hours by Assistant District Attorney
Wilson and detectives. Although ad-
mitting he liked Miss Hanan yery
much, he denied they were engaged
folice said the two women had been
almost inseparable for four wears.
They expressed belief, however. that
Mrs. Lawes had become SO incensed
by Miss Hanan's acceptance of social
invitations from Borland that her
mind had become affected. Miss
Gottschalk told the police that Mrs.
Lawes had been in love with BorIand
and had been extremely jealous.
The police announced an examina-
tion of Mrs. Lawes' stomach would be
made to determine II she had been a
drug addict.
In an effort to save Miss Hanan's
life. blood TRANSMISSION was made.
Miss Hanan Tells, Of Shooting.
Questioned at the hotel by detec-
tives, Miss Hanan declined to say
what had let up to the shooting.
we mad Just emerged from the yes'-
tiDule when | saw Mrs. Lawes step
from an areaway on the left of the
entrance. The next thing I heard
xvo