MADAME HANAU.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19633, 20 July 1935, Page 8

MADAME HANAU.

DIES IN GAOL. FAMOUS FRAUDS RECALLED. A CHEQUERED CAREER. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received July 20, 3 p.m.) PARIS, July 19. Following attempted suicide. Madame Hanau, involved in the infamous Gazette du Frano scandal in 1930 ruining thousands, died in the infirmary of Fresnes Gaol, aged 50, after serving successive terms of imprisonment. She had occupied a carpeted book-lined cell like a lawyer’s office In the State prison, whence a lady's maid, by bluffing two warders, assisted her to escape through a window by means of knotted blankets. Later she gave herself up. The governor dismissed the warders and placed Madame Hanau in Mata Haris’ former cell.

Though hunger strikes and a motor accident impaired her health she founded two financial papers, while on ball. Her last sentence was three years’, imposed in 1934. Her divorced husband and ex-par-ner, M. Block, died last year.

Madame Hanau achieved great notoriety by prepetrating some astute frauds, victimising many. She claimed to he in possession of valuable securities and bonds. These were alleged to he stored in a trunk in a bank, but when opened the trunk was found to contain nothing of value.