The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-17
MRS. MARY SHOAFF EXPIRES SUDDENLY Was an Aunt of Mrs. William
 Mckinley VERY WEALTHY RELATIVES Deceased Passed Away at Residence Of Her Nephew, pr. J. M. Bosworth, on Fifth Avenue-She Was
 S6 Years of Age.
VERY WEALTHY RELATIVES

S6 Years of Age. Mrs. Mary M. Shoaff, an aunt of Mrs. William Mckinley, the widow of the late President died yesterday at the resi- dence of her nephew. pr. J. M Bosworth, at 2l21 Fifth avenue. The deceased was SC years old, and belonged to a wealthy family, which has connections in many sections of the country. Her death was very sudden.
 Mrs. Shoaff complained of not feellng well a short time before breakfast yes- terday morning, and in few minutes was taken i'll. She died before medical assistance arrived. The remains will be sent to Fort Wayne, Ind, either Friday or Saturday. Relatives will decide after they have reached the city.
 Mrs. Shoaff had large estate. She had lived in Fort Wayne for a number of years, but had been in Birmingham for the past month in order to escape severe northern winter. She had not com plained of being unwell until yesterday morning, and her death was, therefore, shock to her relatives
 Relatives Will Arrive.
 Telegrams announcing her death were sent to all parts of the country, and rela- lives will arrive this morning and tonight. Shoaffs remains have been embalmed by Ed. Warner.
 The desceased was born in Piqua, ohio, and lived there for a number Of years. She afterwards moved to Fort Wayne, where she married MT. Shoaff. and they lived together there until a few years ago, when her husband died. They moved to Fort Wayne in that towns infancy, and both lived to see the city grow to have a population of 100000
 A Wealthy Son.
 The family made quite a fortune. T. B. Shoaff, the deceased's son, went to New York and became a member of the firm of A. T. Stewart and Co.,, and when he died several years ago, his fortune was esti- mated at many millions. He received a royalty on every carpet imported to New York for a number of years. Dr. A. w. Shoaff, one of the most prominent minis- ters in the Alabama Conference of the Methodist church, Is another relative of l the deceased.
 Mrs. Mckinley was the daughter of Mrs. Shoaff's brother. The deceased was Miss Barber. All through her life she has been greatly interested in charity. and in her home city she was one of the most liberal contributors to the poor and needy. She educated many young girls, who were unable to educate themselves. She would take them from meagre cir cumstances and pay all their expenses at school
 contracts with members of congress for the rental of premises either in their own names, the names of their agents or some member of their family. MT Bristow says:
 "A careful investigation does not show that the government has been defrauded by the payment of excessive rentals to members of congress, either directly or indirectly I recommend. however, that all leases where a member of congress is party be cancelled and leases executed In conformity with the statutes.
 Wanted Men Under Obligation.
 "There is no evidence to indicate that Beavers reckless and high-handed pro- ceedings in the matter of leases was the result of any general scheme of corrup- ton or blackmail on his part. His purpose seems to have been to place members Of congress and influential politicians under personal obligations to him." l All the postmasters who gave testi- monials for the Elliott and Hatch book 1 typewriters, for implication in the sale ] of which w. Scott Towers, a postal su- perintendent here, was removed, have been called on for explanation. letter from Auditor Castle of the postoffice de- partment recommending the machine, is printed with the statement that his let ter was used in the advertising literature l of the company. while the protest of his clerk against the machine quietly stepped | in and filled the office of first assistant postmaster general. The machines were | finally barred by First Assistant Post master General Johnson.
 1 The report says that the case of As sstant District Attorney Baldwin at New against the government and insultingly refusing information to inspectors, has been laid before the attorney general, and that the case of his father, Judge E. | Baldwin, consul at Nueremburg, whom Mir Bristow says probably knows as much about the fraud as anybody, is re- ferred to the secretary of state