Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-03
will Search Out
Motives Browning
In Cinderella Move


New York, April 2.-(AP)-Ed-
ward w. Browning, wealthy real es-
tate operator, whose adoption of
Mary Louise Spas was set aside
when welfare agents discovered she
was IL instead of 16, today found his
latest Cinderella" venture beset
from three different quarters.
The Children's Society has began
an investigation Of his relations with
Is year old Frances (Peaches") Hee-
nan, whom, Browning has intimated.
he may marry as soon as she becomes
16 next June. Frances is recovering
from acid thrown in her face while
she slept in her mothers home last
Saturday. Browning is 81 and divorce
ed his wife in 1929
I'VE will hale Mr.. Browning into
| the courts If this proves necessary"
said Vincent Pisarra, secretary and
superintendent of the society. IF a
gray haired man more than SO years
| old takes little school girl out for
| night rides in an automobile ana
takes her to dances-all this without
a proper guardian, it is time that
something was done about it."
/, The newest investigation developed
closely after that started by the po-
lice to learn who threw the acid and
another by the bureau of attendance
of the board of education, which
wants an explanation of Frances
long absence from classes. She was a
student of the Textile High School
for Girls, but has not attended classes
since last Fall.
| A bureau of attendance investiga-
tor learned at the Heenan home that
the girl had been sent away to re-
cuperate from pneumonia. Brown
ing, however. admitted that during
her absence she had been with him
to many parties. The term of her
absence. friends say, also included
efforts to win stage fame on Broad
way.
Detectives seeking the acid throw
err. questioned friends of Frances in
the Phi Lambda Tau sorority, where
Browning met her. Jealousy may
have been the motive for the attack,
police say.
] The Phi Lambda Tau sorority is
also under investigation by the Chill
dren's Society because of Browning S
interest in it. Browning has said he
gave the girls their sorority pins,
sent them flowers and attended their
I parties.
| Mr.. Pisarra said his society would
| investigate Browning's connection
/ with the group, which is not known to
| the authorities at the Textile school.
| PERSONALLY" he said, II would sug-
/ gest that Mr.. Browning confine him
| self to the philanthropies he has said
| he aided when young-educating In
| dians."
] Mary Louise Spas and her mother
| have declined to comment on reports
| that she will bring damage suits
| against Browning. She volunteered to
be adopted last year when Browning
/ advertised for companion for his
adopted daughter. Dorothy Sunshine,
Ii.
| William Heenan, Frances father, a
I. Long Island automobile salesman, who
| has been separated from his wife sew
eral years, yesterday consulted police
| and later visited his daughter. Heenan
l said that If Browning really loved
Frances he would interpose no objec-
| tions to a marriage.
| But if Browning is trying to get
little publicity from this affair ne
said, "then he and the whole state of
| New York could not get me to give
| my permission for it"
| Mrs. Heenan has said that Browning
1 founded the Phi lambda Tau sorority
| about five years ago, but the real es-
tate operator said he had no recol-
| lection of that.