The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-06
THE DEATH OF DE PUY
4 Veteran Lawyer Who Had
Been Twice . Judge.
he DIED IN 4 HOTEL CHAIR.
Having Served on the New York SUI
pYems bench and n Judge in Chi
cago, He Came so the Coast.

Theodore j. DE Fuy, the We4i-AAu8H
attorney and political speaker OF this
city. who died at the Golden West ho-
tel In San Francisco day before yester-
day under circumstances that Indicated
that he had been the victim OF high
way;nan's saildbag, was a man OK great
ability, and had a high standing at the
bar in New York. Chicago and Los An
geies. He had lived In this city about
four years. his last residence being at
s05 Madison street. and had offices
III the Epler block on Second street.
Clifford Hess. salesman at 81. A.
Cox a. Co. 8 shoe store in the Occidental
block, is a brother-ia-iaw OF Mr.. De
Puy. and when seen last night by
Observation-Disclosures reporter and asked
about De Puy's trip TO San FRANCHISES,
he said:
Mr.. and Mrs. De Puy left this city
last Thursday morning on the Sis
o'clock train. 1t was their intention 10
travel as far as San Francisco together
and then separate. Mr.. DE Puy continu-
ing his journey 10 New York, while Mrs.
De Puy went TO Southern California TO
visit friends far the winter. Next March
Mr.. De Puy was to return to Chicago
and be met there by his wife. After
visiting friends there they intended TO
come back to this city"
What do you think Of the sandbag-
ging theory suggested by the dis
patches % was asked.
We'll" he replied, II have lived in
San Francisco and know what the city
is at this time of the year. When Mr..
DE Puy left here he had considerable
sum of money with him and other valu-
ables, such as a gold watch. etc. judy
ing from the dispatch which says he
had been struck On the head. think 1t
very probable that he was attacked by
highwaymen."
DO You think it possible that he
might have been seized with an epilep-
tic fit and fallen on the sidewalk, thus
receiving the blown
Il never heard" was his reply, that
he was subject to fits and do not give
the explanat ton credence."
Theodore ]. DE Puy was about sixty
years old and came from an aristocrat-
lie family in one of the Southern states.
He was finely educated and came nss-
turaiiy by the gift of oratory. AS a
young man he took up the practice of
law in New York city. He was not only
successful in practice but made head
way in politics to such an extent that
he was elevated to the supreme court
bench of the state of New York Ac-
cording to the best information obtain
able on this subject, he held that po-
sition eight years. From New York
city he went to Chicago. where he soon
rose to prominence and was elected
judge of either the municipal or what
-.
of this state. He held that position two
years He resided in Chicago about five
years, after which he went to Los An
geles and began the practice of law.
During his residence OF eight years
there he rose to the front rank OF the
profession and became widely known.
Five years ago he was married to Miss
Carrie Hess of Pasadena, Cal, a young
woman of superior accomplishments.
-Four years ago they came to this city
and made it their home. Although Mrs.
De Puy was considerably younger than
her husband, II was plain that there was
nos more devoted couple in the city.
The theory that De Puy met his death
by violence is disposed of by the fol-
lowing dispatch:
San Francisco. Jan. 5.--Theodore ].
lie Puy, or Seattle, who was found dead
in chair in the Office of the Golden
West hotel at p. m. Friday, was only
slightly known. as he stopped only oc-
casioGally at the Golden West. He was
found intoxicated on Thursday evening
by policeman who took him to the
hotel. He arose yesterday morning and
went to the office. where he sat down
In the chair in which he died. The
body was taken to the morgue.
There was only one-cent piece and
some trinkets in De Puy's pockets, with
the exception of 4 piece Of poetry and
small vial containing a white powder.
De Puy was about fifty years of age.
lie was fairly well dressed, although
on several nights he slept on chairs in
the hotel office. A few hours before his
death he asked the hotel clerk to note
the address OF his wife at Pasadena.
Cal.