The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-17
She Loft Home Last June and
Hos Not Been Seen Since.
A MAN WENT AT, SAME Time.
m HSd Acted 10 The Capacity Of CoafIdsn-
tlaI Secretary 10 Miss lIsn's Father
for a luAg Tima

New York Dec. 1.-THE sudden depart
ure of Miss Bertha Lyons from the lux
urious home OF her mother. 332 Mount
Prospect avenue, Newark, last June and
her continued absence have furnished an
abundance of gossip for the society folk
of that fashionable district and caused
her family ana friends much anxiety.
she was not only u most attractive
young society woman, having been edu-
Gated abroad. and naturally possessed OF
charms and beauty which made her the
envy OF fna++t---+-f.+tlI-g young society
queens, but was heiress to third share
or the large estate left by her father,
Daniel Lyons, who amsssed several mill
Mons as boiler manufactures.
She was made executriX of the estate
by her father. and her presence Is much
needed for the purpose of winding up the
estate and dividing the fortune among her
two sisters and her mother
About the same time that Miss Lyons
went away from home-in fact on the
same day. according 10 information OBJ
tained at the home of her mother yester-
day-a MIR. Onderdunk who had been pri-
Nste secretary and confidential man TO
her father also disappeared and has
not been heard OF since.
Onderduk is married and about 50 years
old. His wife lived with him I'm the Lyons
mansion because Mr.. Lyons wanted his
private secretary constantly near him as
an adviser.
HEARS OF HER THROUGH LAWYER.
Yes, they left here on the same day"
said Mrs. Haynes, the companion Of Mrs
Lyons, who IL an invalid yesterday "and
We have not seen either of them since
We tried 10 keep IL secret The family
has heard from Miss Bertha since she
went away, but not from the private Sec
retary II was only through lawyer
that word was received from Miss Ber-
tina. All the communications are OF a
business nature and refer 90 the estate
OF which Miss Bertha is the executrlx"
Mrs. Haynes explained that none OF the
family could be seen. Mrs. Lyons being
an invalid and her daughter, Miss Ham
nah Lyons. having gone to one of their
plantations i'm North Carolina. The 9TH
ar daughter married Dr. c. ". r. Hol-
brook Of Sayhrook avenue The Hoi-
brooks were also out OF town yesterday
As TO where Miss Bertha is not one
word would be said at the family resi-
dsncs. some OF her friends asserted that
she is probably At one of the southern
plantations which her father owned. but
they could not explain why she left home
so suddenly and why she so persistently
refuses 10 return when matters Of bust
ness Of vast proportions await her at
tention.
Miss Bertha is the youngest OF the three
daughters. She was the pet Of her
wealthy father, who INDUCED her In all
that could gratify young woman Hers
vas an artistic nature. and she studied
art in some Of the finest schools abroad
She was brilliant musician and handled
the violin in q mastery way.
HAD FEW LOVE AFFAIRS
As far az Is known TO the family and
her friends. Bertha Lyons was never
involved In a romance that was out Of
the uspst rrTu love affairs which all
girls OF her position experience In fact,
she was devoted TO art, and men seemed
20 have little attraction FOR her.
Her father, In the later years of his
life, had a private secretary and conf
dental man tho looked after his entire
business This man was taken ll and
could no longer attend TO the duties ard
Mr.. Lyons engaged Onderdunk TO hll his
place.
Onderdunk waS an experienced business
man, apparently. and quickly grasped the
conditions that surrounded the estate de-
spite It's vast proportions. He acted for Mr..
Lyons in every way during the last few
years of the old gentlemans lfe. After
Mr. Lyons death Mrs Lyons and the
daughters prevailed upon onderdunk TO
remain in charge of the estate and aid
them In bringing about The division of
the great fortune as Mr.. Lyons had di-
rected I'm his will He and his wife con-
tlnusd to live in the Lyons residence Mrs
Lyons, being an invalid. had little knoul-
edge Of her husbands affairs and the
daughters trusted almost entirely To on
derdunk for the future management of
the estate, Just az the wealthy boiler
manufacturer mad done prior TO his death