The New York herald., 1921-11-17
dan R. HANNA Died
CATHOLIC in spirit,
RENOUNCINGWOMAN
A ,ceptance Of Roman Faith
Precluded Contracting
Another Marriage.
LONG BATTLE CERTAIN
Miss Evans's Lawyers Say
Cancellation Affected
Blotted Will.
FINANCIER WAS PENITENT
Priest at st. Patrick's His Ad-
wiser in Last Hours of
FINANCIER WAS PENITENT
Priest at st. Patrick's His Ad-
wiser in Last Hours of
Deep Reflection.

Dan II. Hanna, whose four divorces
attracted much notoriety, died en-
bracing the Roman Catholic faith. He
had not been received formally into
the church, but on his death bed he
clasped a rosary and died protesting
the tenets Of Catholicism, including
its doctrines on divorce and future
life.
This profession became known yes
terday, and his friends say 1t was the
reason why he attempted to blot from
his will the clause declaring it his in
tention to take Miss June Avis Evans,
actress, for his fifth wife.
Blotted marginal notes on the will,
together with line written in pencil
that the clause providing for Miss
Evans was stricken out, form the
basis for long legal battle for the
Hanna millions. The groundwork for
the fight has been laid by attorneys
representing Miss Evans, who now
resides at 157 West Fifty-seventh
street. With her mother, Miss Evans
spent the summer at the Hanna es-
tate, the Croft, at Yorkville in West
chester.
Died Deeply Penitent.
Inasmuch as the Catholic church does
not recognize divorce there was surprise
when it became known that Mr.. Hanna
had accepted this faith.
In his latter days he gave much
thought to religion. Those close to him
said he believed his end was nearer
than did even the physicians attending
him. He was deeply penitent over the
mistakes Of his life, and his errors We're
the subject Of his constant prayers.
One of the priests at st. Patrlcks Ca
thedral was Mr.. Hanna's close friend
and adviser.
The Catholic church receives into its
membership divorced persons who re-
nounce their misdeeds. One Of the
priests at the cathedral, who said he
knew of Mr.. Hanna's deathbed belief.
said that his acceptance by the church
would have included declaration that
his first marriage was his only true
and rightful marriage.
Whether or not Mr.. Hanna.s religious
beliefs in his last hours caused him to
change his will, it was explained that
he would have been compelled to re-
nounce all prospects of future marriage
to put his mind in complete accord with
his new faith. As far as the printed
record can show his friends declare he
RI lya cIa rot h,,t
claim. it Is expected, will be disputed
by Miss Evans If she seeks to break
the will on the ground that she was
Hanna's betrothed.
The reference to Miss Evans was:
And give, bequeath and devise in
equal shares to my wife. should have
one. and to my three sons as recited In
paragraph 6. II being my intention TO
marry June Avis Evans Immediately
after this come several words blotted
out with ink and then: Should / die
before such marriage takes place, in
struct my executors to provide Il
trust followed by more blots. The
bf0ts appear to be an attempt to cancel
these provisions OF the will. according to
some who have seen the document now
on file for probate in the Surrogate's s.
office in White Plains. Written in the
margin near the blots are the words
This Is cancelled"
Contest on Word "CanceIled.o
The hearing in connection with the
probate of the will will be on November
% in White Plains. The first point said
to be raised by the attorneys for Miss
Evans Is that there Is nothing to indi.
cate that the word Cancelled" does no.
apply to the entire will and not merely
to the blotted phrases referring to her
by name. On behalf of Miss Evans. n
Is asserted by her counsel that "ap-
parent1y" Hanna intended to give hor
y25,0O0 a year and the estate in West
chester. with all its furnishings and
equipment.
II her attorneys go through with tho
contest the four former wives OF Mr..
Hanna may likewise join In IL.
William Evans OF Evanston. III
nephew OF Miss Evans. said Yesterday IN
the Chicago correspondent OF THE Nrw
YORK HERALD:
There Is no possible foundation for a
report that Hanna intended turning
Catholic in order to marry Miss rrv,ns
She is an Episcopaliau and her nsrsnt,
are members Of the Church OF England
I always have been In close touch with
my aunt and think / would know If
she we're a Catholic"
Miss Evans. who Is about a. decI;pad
to be interviewed. sending word she WA J
not at home. She Is described aa br,,.
nette, OF medium height and English bv
birth. She cane 20 this country with
her parents when child and they wen,
to live in Evanston. Ill. Her father. now
dead, was employed as superintendent a,
the Armour a Co plant in Chicago.
When young woman Miss Evans
was said to have been married. she and
her husband parting when she went on
the stage. Last spring she Is said tc
have met Mr.. Hanna and they became
fast friends. II was understood thai
Hanna announced his intention of mar.
rying her as soon as his fourth wife's
divorce decree had become final. The,