The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-23
Wealthy Frisco Woman in N.
Y. Shoots Rival and Suicides.
Victim in Hospital, Refuses
to Tell Her Story.
QUARRELED OVER THE MAN
With Importers Broker When
Angry Woman Fired.
The Two Had Been Out Hunt.
ing Apartments.

New York, Sept. 23.-Mrs Grace
Lawes, 26, San Francisco, living at the
Hotel Vanderbilt. early today shot Miss
Mildred Hanan, "a, as she was leaving
a fashionable apartment house in the
exclusive Brooklyn Heights section
and turning the revolver upon her
self, ended her life with a bullet in
the brain.
Miss Hama, whom the police believe
to be the daughter of the late Alfred
p Hanan, wealthy shoe manufacturer.
Is in a serious condition at the Long
Island College hospital
with Miss Hanan as she met Mrs.
Lawes, was John S. Borland, who de-
scribed himself as an importer. He
admitted having been an admirer of
MISS Hanan and the police believe
Jealousy of Miss Hanan caused the
! tragedy.
Vivtim Won't Talk.
Miss Hanan. at the hospital refused
20 discuss the shooting According to
the police. Boland said Mrs Lawes
hao stepped out of the shadows as he
ana Miss Hanan emerged from the
apartment where they had been visit
/ ing a friend and fired the shots He
attributed the shooting, police said to
Jealousy, admitting that he had quar-
reied with Mrs. Lawes recently over
1 Miss Hanan
| MISS Hanan's condition was reported
to be critical but not necessarily fatal.
one or the bullets took effect in the
left breast neaf the heart, one on the
left side, and one on the right arm.
Boiand was unable to explain to the
Ipolice how Mrs. Lawes learned he and
MISS Hanan were visiting in Brooklyn.
He said he had gone to BROOKLYN yes
lterday with Miss Hanan to help her
Iseek a new apartment.
Were Hunting Apartment.
The apartment hunting trip, he said.
ended with a visit to Miss Dorothy
Gottschalk, a friend of her family.
They left the apartment about 1:25
a. m, he said and encountered Mrs.
Lawes as they stepped to the street.
without speaking, Mrs. Lawes drew a
pistol and fired. She then stood for
a moment regarding them, Boland
lsa1d- Then. she uttered a scream.
ipressed the muzz1e of the pistol against
her head and fired.
Mrs. Lawes. who is a 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 exclusive Park
avenue district of Manhattan. Two
weeks ago, she moved to the Hotel
Vanderbilt near by
The police said she had sent sew
eral threatening letters recently to
Miss Hanan.
Two letters were found in Mrs
Lawes's pocketbook. One addressed
to her mother asked forgiveness for
what she had done. The other ad-
dressed to Miss Birdie williams. OF
Manhattan, formerly a nurse in the
Hanan household, requested that Mrs.
Williams take Mrs. Lawes's body to
San Francisco and have it cremated
TOO Much High life"
The letter to Mrs. Lawes's mother
read:
Mother Darling: You never can
) understand what / have been thru
here. Don't try to learn. 1t is past. L
am too tired and ill TO try to overcome
the great obstacles l have placed in
my own way.
TOO much high life. The pace is
too fast and the liquor has driven me
crazy, dear. Forgive and forget, and
: remember, pray for my soul. Love TO
all and think Of me as I always was
to you, a good, sweet daughter.
Lovingly GRACE"