The herald., 1897-03-04
BROKER OAKLEYS THIRST
Fired by Wine and Quenched by
Death
HIS FEMININE COMPANION
Most Positively Declines to Reveal Her
TrIe Name
A WeIi-Known and Wealthy Plttsburg Bres
ksf's Long Debauch Brought to
. 5 hooking Close

Associated PreDs Special Wire
SAN FRANC CISCO. March 3.-The sud,
den death of John M. Oakley, weR
known Pittsb urg broker, created sem
sation at the Palace hotel, where he has
been stayinfs for several days. The
physicians w'ho attended him ascribe his
death to alcoholism. Oakley arrived
from Los An geles on Sunday with q fe-
male compan ion, registering at the hotel
as Countess Espanola, maid, valet and
courier" explaining that he was the
courier, and shat the Countess Espan-
ola" was realty Spanish princess, trav-
cling incognito. The impression was
current for a few hours that the titled
woman was really the eloping Princess
Elvira, but this impression was dissi-
pated when it was discovered that the
woman's trunks bore the name of Jessie
Taylor. The air became notorious on
the train from Los Angeles by drinking
all the champs. .gne to be had in three
Pullmans, besid es quantities purchased
at towns along the line. During the
three days they were at the Palace the
hotel officials state that Oakley kept
ordering champagne every hour, and
the physicians state that both man and
woman were in a continual state of in
toxication. The attending physician
signed a death certificate, alleging acute
alcoholism as the cause of death The
coroner ordered the remains removed
from an undertaking establishment
whittier they had been taken, to the
morgue. All cf Oakley's belongings
including many valuable papers, draft&
and bills of exchange, aggregating sew
eral thousand dollars, will be shipped to
his family at Pittsburg.
The woman who accompanied Oakley
made several statements regarding her
self, all contradi ctory. She said she was
a resident of Richmond, Va; that she
was OF foreign birth; had met Oakley in
New Orleans year ago, and again that
she lived in Fittsburg, had just come
from Virginia, etc. After being forced
to leave the hotel by the management
she regained some Of her self control,
and then made the following statement:
II have known the man who died last
night for little over year. met him
in New Orleans on Good Friday of last
year and counted him as an exceedingly
good friend.
II knew he was rich; that he lived in
Pttsburg, and that he had a wife ana
child, and that he INDUCED in periodical
sprees. which thought never lasted for
more than ten days
Tuesday, week ago. he arrived in
New Orleans, and begged me to join him
on long pleasure trip; he said that his
wife and child had gone to Europe, and
that we could go to China
''The idea was an attractive one, and
I started off with him. Since that time
he has not been sober He drank wine
like water, and though 1 had doctors to
try to stop him, and did everything I
knew to bring his thirst to a standstili,I
failed utterly
His registering me at the Palace asa
Spanish princess was simply the act of a
crazy man. He got the notion Into his
head on the train. and nothing would
satisfy him until he carried 1t out.
''As to myself, have gone under sew
eral names. the two most recent of which
are Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Worth, but
neither is my true name.
81 have been divorced, and my hus-
bands name do not care to draw into
this disagreeable affair"
A WE'LL KNOWN MAN
PITTSBURG. March S.-John M. Oak
ley, who died at San Francisco today.
was one of the best known men in thiS
city. He was engaged in brokerage bus-
mess and conducted the Hotel Anderson
from 1884 to 1884, before which he was
identified with various local business
ventures. He was 55 years of age and
is survived by wife and one child. He
lived at III Lilac street, East End.
Oakley left home February IS, intend-
ing to visit Japan. He had engaged pas
sage for Yokohama and should have
sailed this evening. He was not ac~
companied by his family. Oakley was
unusually successful in the brokerage
business. His inclinations led to travel.
however, and nearly all his time since
he turned over his business to John d.
Armstrong & Co., three years ago, has
been devoted to foreign travel, his wifo
accompanying him on most of the trips.
The first intimation of Oakley's death
was received at the Chronicle-T Telegraph
office. His friends were greatly shocked.
Steps were Immediately taken to inform
Mrs. Oakley: Instructions will be sent
to San Francisco to forward the body
to Pittsburg without delay.