OWNER OF HOPE DIAMOND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 166, 28 April 1947, Page 3

OWNER OF HOPE DIAMOND

Death Announced WASHINGTON, April 26. The death has occurred of Mrs Evalyn Walsh McLean, aged fao. a leading Washington hostess and owner of the reputedly ill-omened Hope Diamond. She had been ill for several days with pneumonia. She was the widow of a former newspaper magnate, Edward Beale McLean, and a daughter of an Irish immigrant, Thomas Walsh, who made a huge fortune from Colorado gola mines. She lived the early years of her life in mining shacks and came to Washington in 1897. Subsequently she established a mansion named “Friendship,” where she lavishly entertained notables. The Hope diamond, which weighs 445 carats, and.'is reported to he valued at 2,000,000 dollars was a gift from her husband. A brilliantly bluish stone it is believed to be part of a larger diamond from the Crown jewels. The larger gem was stolen and never reappeared The Hope diamond derived its name from its purchase by H. T. Hope foi 90 000 dollars more than 50 years ago. It is supposed always to bring misfortune to its owner. Mrs McLean’s marriage broke up and her husband eventually died penniless in a mental hospital Her eldest son was killed by a motor-car in 1918. Her only daughter, Evalyn, wife of a former Senator, Robert Reynolds, died mysteriously seven months ago, her doctor saying the possible cause of death was an overdose of Sleeping pills. Two sons survive.