The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-09-18
ONCE RICH, BROKER
DIES FROM DRINK
Autopsy Shows That Theodore
kents Death Was Not Caused
nv a Fractured Skull.
PROMINENT IN WALL STREET.
After a Night in d Cell. Former
Friend Of Financiers Passes
Away in Hospi-
1aI.

REPUBLIC WkcIAL
Kew York. Sept I-.-ono. : ooatcmpc-
rsry and companion Of Wall street mag
mates and himself rated as 2 millionaire.
Theodore Kent. o. years old. a well known
cub broker % the financial district, died
in the Hudson Street Hospital after
n,gh; spent il police station. charged
with intoxicsion.
Il had been supposed at nrst that death
had been caused BY a fractured skull or
broken back. the result OF an accident
which happened to Kent, but after an
autopsy by Coroner. Physician Leblanc
ii was announced thst it had been due TO
chronic nerhriis and alcoholism. and that
no physical injury had been found.
Kent lived at hotel al No. ia Park
Row but after the close OF bushes. on
saturday afternoon he and TWO or three
other brokers went 10 a saloon at William
and Pine streets. where they had several
drinks. While leaving the place ,oI.e
lime later Kent stumbled over a low step
and tell heavily to the Sidewalk WI
his companions stopped 10 lift him they
found that he was unconscious and an
ambulance was called from the Hudson
Street Hospital
REMOVED TO HOSPITAL
According to the authorities Of that IL
suitution examination showed that
Kent hsd suffered only a sigh; scalp
wound and that his condition was largely
due TO drink He Wa then taken TO the
Old Slip station. where ne WAS locked no
on charge OF intoXicatiou. but during tas
<n.Snt his condition became SO much worse
that he vas removed TO the hospital
There IL Was seen that nc had suffered a
severe shock TO the nervous system. but
the physicians wer- not sure whether il
Vas the result OF AL injury to the skull or
the spine Without regakling Conscious
ness Kent died about half-past O'Clock
and the case was then placed in the HANDS
Of the Coroner. In the meantime George
Draper. curb broker. and several other
If kents friends went 10 the Tomts
have been imposed and obtain his 70
Lease They We're shocked 20 learn ol
kent's death.
CAREER A ROMANTIC ONE
Kent. career VAS one OF an unusual &C.
gree Of romance and yicissitude, but
whether his misforiUGes were due 10 hs
own weakness or to circumstances beyond
has been said that his life was wrecked
ny a disappointment in love at the very
moment that his prospects were rosiest-
Member OF a weIl-known New jersey
family and son OF ole Of the largest land
owners in Newark. Kent Inherited for
tune estimated al between Sotl.@J and
500 90 when ..is father died, ana he went
into the brokerage business In this city.
He became a member OF the New York
stock Exchange and was associated with
Hsligarten & Co. one Of the Oldest firms
in the financial district
This was in the late sixties. and Kent
Vas then in the heyday OF his prosperity
Then, ihe STORY socs. ne Tell In love with
= Young woman Of great beauty belong
ing TO one OF the weaiIhiest and most ans
tociatic families, and they became engaged
He had always been hale fellow well met
with his companions. and il Is q question
whether his habits did not cause the
breaking of the engagement. AT any rate
II was broken, and from that time kents
course was downward.
Dissipation eventually cost him the high
position he held and, together with the
unfortunate specuiations tina; followed,
soon wasted his fortune. In his palEly
dar. he had associated With men Ike
Gould, who liked him not onig for his
ability as q fnsnoier. but for his iniInit-
able talent as a story teller. he was
CONSPICUOUS. too, for hts fashionable dress
and manners, but gradually he drifted and
of late bis appearance was shabby anu
ne eked out q meager livelihood as
nuts and calls broker.
Probably no man ia the street vas
better known than Kent. and the inteili-
rence Of his death caused widespread Re
greet