DEATH OF OWNER OF HOPE DIAMOND

Chronicle (Levin), 28 April 1947, Page 8

DEATH OF OWNER OF HOPE DIAMOND

Eeeeived Siihday 7.50 p?.m. WASIEINGTON, ApTil' 26. The death has OCcurred of Mrs. Eval'yn Walsh McLean', aged 60y ieaufng Wasfiingtori hostess and owner »f Cfie reputedly ilX-omened Hope Dtanioncf. She had been il'l severn! days \Vith vpn'eumonia. Slie' was the Widow. of a former newspaper raagnate, S|i'. Edward Beale MeLean,.' and daughter of an Irish immigrant, Mr. Thoitias Walshy who.made- a huge fortune frora Oorlarado- gold mines. She lived- in the early yeara of her iife in mining shaeks and came to Washington in 1897, She subsequently establislied a mansion named ' ' Friendship "--where she lavish ty entertained notables. * The Hope Diamond, whieh weighs 44.-, earats and is reportecl to be valued ai 2,000,000 doltars, was a gift from her husband. The brilliantly blnish stone is believed to be a part of a largef diamond. from the- Freneh Crown jewels. The larger gem was stolen and never reappeared. The Hope diamond derived its narae from its purchase by Mr. II. T. Hope for 90,000 dolJars over 50 years ago'. It is supposed alwajTs to bring misfortnne to the owner. MrsMeLean 's marriage broke np and her h'usband eventually died penniless in a mental hospifal. The eldest son wac kil-led by a fliotor ear tn 1918 and hef only daughter, Evalyn, wife of a t'ormer Seriatof, Mr. Eobert Eeynolds, died niysteriously seven nionths ago: her doctor saying the possible cans't of death was an overdose of sleeping pills. Two sons survivea