The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-09-10
MYSTERY OF
BERN'S OTHER
WIFE SOLVED
Jean Harlow Sobs at Rites
for Mate; Hunt Body of
His First Lover.
ACCEPT SUICIDE THEORY
Executives Brother BareS
All Details in Story of
Old Affair.
BY RONALD WAGNER
United Press staff Correspondent

HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 10.-While
police sought the body Of Paul
Bern's other wife" believed to have
followed the screen executive in
self destruction, the veil was lifted
today from bewildering and mys-
ferrous circumstances of Bern's
tragic end, the suicide which left
his glamorous bride of two months,
Jean Harlow, a widow
AS the silyery- haired star, dis
traught and weeping, attended the
private funeral services for her hus-
band, San Francisco and Sacra-
mento police were investigating the
reported suicide Of Dorothy Mil
lette, one-time stage star, who for
ten years carried the name Of Mrs.
Paul Bern" and who was the bene-
flciary of his will.
But if mystery surrounded the
disappearance from a Sacramento
river steamer of this woman in
Berns past, it remained for Henry
Bern, his brother, to brush aside the
veil which hid their life together.
Police reported that woman who
took the river steamer Delta King
for Sacramento Tuesday night was
not aboard when the boat docked
Wednesday morning. She had
checked out of San Francisco
hotel Tuesday.
She had lived there since May 4,
when she registered as Dorothy
Millette, New York"
Captain w. j. Atthog, the vessels
master, reported that her bed was
found undisturbed that her clothes
were heaped in confusion about the
cabin, and that pair of stockings
and shoes were found in the COM
panionway leading from her cabin
to the ships rail.
Bares Love Story
Authorities believed this indicated
she had leaped to her death perhaps
shortly after the Delta King left San
Francisco.
The love of this woman and Paul
Bern was told by Henry Bern. He
had no explanation of the note
which his brother left, but said Miss
Harlow wa stold about Dorothy Mil
lette before the wedding.
TIE traced the history of his broth
ers old affair since it began, eight
cen to twenty years ago"
They met in Canada, he said, lived
together there and in New York for
about four years.
Came to San Francisco
"She became i'll with a mental all
ment and was confined to a sani-
tarium," Bern said. Paul provided
the best medical attention, at an
expense which if he were a mil
lionaire might have been warranted.
Paul later came to the coast. After
eight months she was discharged
from the sanitarium, not as cured
but as harmless.
Paul continued to provide for
her. sending a substantial sum each
month. She went to the Algonquin
hotel and lived there all these years.
Paul continued to send money until
the very last day"
The brother said Paul Bern had
not seen Miss Millette for ten years,
but had talked to her over the. tele-
phone. He said his brother knew
she was in San Francisco. Henry
Bern admitted he had made at
tempts to reach her by telephone at
her hotel.
Last Rites Private
He said he wanted to assure her
that she would be well taken care
of, just as when Paul was living.
rs he did not know whether the will
which he said his brother made
after his marriage to Miss Harlow
had provided for her.
Paul Bern's funeral services were
private. There were thirty eight
friends in the pews when Rabbi
Edgar F. Magnin began reading,
THE lost is my shepherd A half
dozen relatives and intimates sat
in an ante-room, within hearing of
Dr. Magnins voice.
The screen star widow was dry
eyed, but internationally half sobs
shook her.
A black turban perched high on
her heavy treSses and a long black
coat concealed the figure which
made leading siren of the screen.
After the service and when the
chapel had been cleared, she walked
slowly to the casket and gazed on
the features of the man she mar
ried two months ago.
In a well-chosen eulogy, Conrad
Ns1,l, the actor, hkened Bern to
"a child wandering around in a
world of nauchtv orour,, ,,,,s