The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-03-17
NEvEN TELLS STORY
Of RENO SHOOTING


Mrs. Eta Hanna and began a recital
of his career since coming to Nevada
from Kendall county,. ILL.,, when lie
was 13 years old. Although evnc-
ing some nervousness, Ne,en stood
the ordeal well, on one occasion re-
sorting to irony. This was when his
counsel, NJ. b. Moore. asked him
where he resided. Neven's reply Was
that he was a resident of the coLp,y
Jail, and this provoked g ripple oc
laughter in the court room.
Neven's counsel was leading him
in his direct examination up 10 the
tragic climax of his story. His re-
cital had included his rel ,sions with
Mrs. Hanna for many years. He tod
low he ministered to her in time of
suffering and how he assisted her
financially from the TINA he said sic
was left destitute after the wealthy
David Keith divorced her.
When asked IL Mrs. Hanna had
supported him, the defead .nt replied
THE pour soul didn't hav, enough
20 support herself"
Neven estimated mis- wealth at
about the time he met Mrs. Hanna III
Reno after the Keith divorce at
about $4,000.
Neven said Mrs. Han11 was subject
to mental aberratious and saiC she
had described her own conditions on
these occasions as nerve storms" and
'tantrums" and "hellishness." III,
told of vague threat by Mrs. Hanna
to end her life in Fallon last August.
Accompanied by Mrs. Hanna 10 said
he was on his way 20 mine i'll
which he was interested They were
in an automobile az :ident, he SAID,
and he was rendered unconscious
when he came to his senses he was
in bed in a hotel He found a small
automatic revolver on hi: pillow. He
questioned Mrs. Hanna concerning it
and Mrs. Hanna explained.
Il thought you wee going TO qui.
and l was going VITA you
Neven said Mrs. Hanna told him
she had borrowed the revolver from
friend and he advised her to threw
it away. The weapon which was
identified as ha in. been found IN
Mrs. Hanna's effects after her death
was introduced as an exhibit ia TIE
case.
When Neven'S oyl gun was ex-
hibited to him by his couns sci. he took
the weapon in his hands and exam
ined 1t carefully. He said it was hi:
revolver and had been glze1 to HIM
by broker in Goldfie'l in 1907, bat
he had never fired 1t and had peycr
carried it except on trips to his min.
ing properties when be carried the,
payroll. Neven declared he had MOI
seen the weapon since mis- return
from Fallon after the automobile
accident until the night of ,ls tras-
edy when he found it on the couch
near where Mrs. Hanna lay.
Tom P. Clark, "a years old, mir.
ing man residing at 2O3 West Second
street, told a graphic story OF low he
had found Mrs. Hanna in a state of
extreme dependency on the day of
her death. Clark said he had been
friend of Neven's for twenty-five
years and had known Mrs. Hanna
for some time. He made frequent
calls at the West Second street
premises, he testified and dropped in
there during the forenoon of Febru-
airy 3 The witness asserted that in
response to query as to her health,
Mrs. Hanna said, Il am dying by
inches with this damned ailment I've
got. | am going to kill myself l
have outlived my usefulness and l am
tired of life."
Mrs. Hanna was pacing back and
forth. he said, and was muttering a
prayer, at the conclusion of which
she crossed herself. Thinking to
change the subject the witness de-
clared, he asked Mrs. Hanna for some
wine.
Eyes, | have 1t. Well have a part
ing drink, he quoted her as having
replied and later when she brought
in some wine in her left hand, she
raised her glass to his and said,
Here's hoping I'll meet you in
Heaven SOON"
81 told her / hadn't made any ar
rangements to meet anybody in
Heaven on such short notice." the
witness continued. "and she said L
am determined to shoot myself be-
fore sunrise tomorrow morning and
will meet somebody in heaven or in
hell then when 1t will be over"
When Clark left the Mace. he tes-