New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-06
CHARLES W. DURANT DEAD.
AFATAL ATTACK OF PNEUMONIA.

CAkEEH OF THE MiILtONAlkE HECENILf AD-
JUDGED INSANE.
The Durant habeas corpus case was decided yes
terday by court from which there is no appeal
Charles w. Durant, the millionaire ex-presidsnt
of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway
Company, whom the Supreme Court ten days ago
adjudged to be a lunatc, and whose CHILDREN
fighting in the courts for the
privilege of taking of hun at the
expense of his estate died at 10 O'clock yesterday
morning at The house of his son, Frederick c. Dur
ant no. III East Fifty-seventh-st About five
years ago Dir. Durant who was widely known as
successful fnaneier and q man of unswerv-
ing integrity had an attack of paralysis. which so
cnfeebled his mind, according to the state
ment Of Dr. Thomas II. Allen his physi-
clan, that he was obliged shortly
afterward to give up active business. In that con-
dtion he continued until about two months ago,
when he bad another attack Of paralysis. which de-
prived him in measure of his reasoning powers
and made almost q complete wreck of his faculties.
The death Of his wife, followed by that Of one Of
his sons, preyed upon his mind, and the knowledge
that proceedings 10 have him declared q luuatic
were pending Is said to have aggravated the effect OF
lis bodily infrmitIes. After beingremovei from the
house OF his daughter to that of his sop he failed
rapidly and finally died of pneumonia and gen.
eraI breaking down of the system.
For some honrs before his death Mr.. Durant suf-
fsred no pain. On Saturday it was not expected
that he would be so soon relieved by death. He
lest consciousness at about a. III. yesterday, and
finally passed away without struggle. His sons,
Charles w. and Frederick {. Durant. the wife
of the latter and his brother, Willipm +.
Durant Of Chicago. were at his bedside
during his last moments. His young daughter,
Mrs. Henry G.. Bowers to whom he greatly at
tached, not present She was sent for i'm
mediately after her fathers death.
Mr.. Durant was the Of Thomas Durant, a re-
tired merchant of Hnsdae, Mass where Charles
was born April 90, 1921. When he was fifteen years
old he went to Albany and entered the Office
Of his uncle, Clark Darant. Of the firm of Durant d
Laihrop, shippers of grain. When he was twenty
one years old he took the place Of his uncle who
retired. ana the trm became Durant. Lathrop ~
Co, known for many years ~ the largest gram
merchants IN the East. They were among the frst
owners of tug boats the Hudson kIver and did
a very large tOwage business Gradually Mr.. Dn-
rant ,ocnn Ssscd Interested the Chicago isSS
Rock Island and Pacihc hallway Company, and was
It's president for many years. " hen his sons.
Charles w. IT,. and Frederick g., grew up. he went
INTO the sugar refining business with them under
the name of Charles ". Durant * son, IN which ne
continued until failing health compelled him to
The value of the estate OF Mr. Durant was set
down, in tho report of tie Commissioners adjudg-
ing him TO be Of unsound mind, az II ,2s7 900 lie
them East Iwenty-fourth and East
Twenty fifth sis. valued at $i5O,OOO; an
en- ire township in Hamilton County and larie
quantity OF unimprovcd land in Iowa. lis income
from this property was about $l2,O0O year, and
hc had besides an income OF about $4,000 year
nom bonds ana mortgages. stocks ANA other per-
sonal property worth $747, 600 HIS nelrs at law
are his sons Frederick g., Charles W. IT,, MS
daughter Mrs. bowers, and ms glandcnlldfen
Adele and Victor children of Thomas +. Durant,
who died recently in this city. HIS wife died Ill
December last.
The mental condition OF Mr. Durant was recently
the subject Of inquiry IN the supreme Court ana
on the petition Of his daughter, Mrs. Bowers COM
mission, consisting OF Nathaniel JARVIS, Jr.. DIR.
James W. Kanney and Thomas j. Miller. was APP
pointed 10 investigate tue matter Upon the ties i
mony of DR.. Thomas II. Allen, his family physician,
Or. Austin Flint, Mrs; Bower Bowers ana
before iury, he was declared to
be OF unsound mad. Justice Van Brunt on March
p confirmed the hndInI OF the jury and MI. Ou-
rant was adjudgcd unit aud incompetent TO
manage himself or his affairs or property. IN eonsc-
que1cc of lunacy.p The court appointed inc llon
rust Company OF tins city, committee OF the es-
fate sand directed his son, freGerlck {. Durant,
lis control TO the Trust Company 70 Edward >.
Dakn was referred the question whether
he should be permitted TO remain IN
he mad I secp living at No % Ffihavc. Tor the last
year. WnIle the legal proceedings were pending,
Frederick q. and Howard NJ. Durant, win their
wives called 10 see their father and telling Mrs
Bowers that they were gong to take hun to iiar-
ward .h Durants house Tor luncheon, TOOK MN
away with them. since that time he has been kept
at NE house of Frederick g. Dnraut, where he was
last week attac ked with the disease which yestcr
day caused his death. When this was brought To
tho attention of the court, 1t was directed
that MIR DnTaut be at once returned 10 hls home at
No. 20 FIfth-aye., and Mrs. Bowers was appointed
a committee of the person ~ take charge OF hun
until IL should finally be- determined III whose Gus
tody he To rouialn. No attention was paid To
Tins order and Mrs. Bowers last week obtained "a
writ of habeas corpus directing Frederick Z.
Durant to produce his father In court To
was too I'll 10 be brought to court. The hearing WAS
adjourned until saturday and was then, on account
OF his continued illness. postponed Tor a week lho
funeral will take place at No. III East FIFTY
seyenth-st. tomorrow 40 i n. N. The Kew. Mr..
smith, assistant rector of 81 ThOmass Protestant
Episcopal Church. will 0fliciate. Mr.. Durants re-
mains will be taken to Albany the same after
noon aud inferred III the family lot i'll Rural Gene
terry.