The record-union., 1897-03-04
His Strange Doings the Cause of a
Great Deal of Comment.
Was Wealthy, and Had Family in
the East, Yet Consorted With a
Woman Whom tie Brought From
New Orleans and Styled Countess
Espanola, Spanish Princess
His Death ASCribed to Alcoholism.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 3.-The
sudden death of John NJ. Oakley, a well
known Pittsburg broker. created a sem
sation at the Palace Hotel, where he has
been staying for several days. The
physicians who attended him ascribe his
death to alcoholism.
Oakley arrived from Los Angeles on
Sunday with female companion, reg
istered at the hotel as Countess Es-
pamela, maid, valet and courier" ex-
planning that he was the courier and
Countess Espanola" was really Span
ish Princess, travelling incognito. The
impression was current for a few hours
that the titled woman was really the
elOping Princess Elvira, but this i'm
presssion was dissipated when it was
discovered that the wOman's trunks
bore the name of Jessie Taylor. The
pair became notorious on the train
from Los Angeles by drinking all the
champagne to be had in three Pullmans.
besides of 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 intoXication. The attending
physician signed a death certificate. al
leging acute alcoholism as the cause of
death. The Coroner ordered the re-
mains removed from an undertaking es-
tablishment, whittier they had been
taken to the Morgue.
All of Oakley's belongings, including
many valuable papers and drafts and
bills of exchange, aggregating several
thousand dollars, will be shipped to his
family at Pittsburg.
The woman who accompanied Oakley
made several statements regarding her
self, all being contradictory. She said
she was a resident of Richmond. Vir-
ginia; that she was of foreign birth;
had met Oakley in New Orleans a year
ago, and again that she lived in Pitts
burg; faa~p5r It come from Vienna etc.
After being forced to leave the hotel by
the management, she regained some of
her self-control and then made the fol-
lowing statement:
Il have known the man who died last
night for little over year. l met him
in New Orleans on Good Friday of last
year, and counted him as an exceedingly
good friend. 1 knew he was rich; that
he lived in Pittsburg, and that he had a
wife and child and that he INDUCED in
periodical sprees, which L thought never
lasted for more than ten days. Tues
day a week ago he arrived in New Or
leans, and begged me to join him on a
long pleasure trip. He said that his
wife and child had gone to Europe. and
that We could go to China. The idea
a
with him. Since that time he has not
been sober. He drank wine like water
and though 1 had doctors try to stop
him, and did everything L knew to bring
his thirst to standstiI, failed utterly.
His registering me at the Palace as a
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 it out AS
to myself, L have gone under several
names, the two most recent of which are
Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Worth, but neith-
er one is my true name. L have been
divorced, and my husbands name 1 do
not care to draw into this disagreeable
affair."
WHO OAKLEY WAS
PITTSBURG Pa~), March 3-John M.
Oakley was a very we'll known and
prominent citizen of this city and was
considered worth at least 81, 100000
He left here alone February 18th to
take a trip to Japan, by way of the
Sandwich Islands, intending to return
by June and take his family to Europe
for the summer.
He was a broker until about three
years ago, when he sold his business
and retired. Since that time he has
spent most of his time in travelling,
visiting all parts of the world.
He was a man of generous disposi-
ton, and indulged in many private
acts of charity.
When he left here he was in the best
of health and spirits. He leaves a widow
and one son whom he intended to take
abroad during the summer. He was a
prominent business and club man and
had host of friends in this city
He was also we'll known in New York.
Philadelphia and Boston. He was
among the first to introduce the direct
private wire service.