Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-14
MRS. TINGLEY
ANDBRO7-HER
RECONCHED
TO END 25-YEAR SILENCE AT
DEATHBED
PIT. Iona LEADER CUTS SHORT
HER TRIP
James Wescott, Gambler, Stricken
Parted for Quarter Of Century,
Meeting Depends on Speed
of Steamer

u
come reconciled with her brother to
whom she has not spoken for twenty
Ave wears, Mrs. Katherine Tingley, head
of the Universal Brotherhood, an or
aanization of theos sophists, has cut
short her tour of evangelization in for
eirn countries and will hasten to New
York.
Her brother, who 1t was said by his
physician yesterday could not live more
than few days, is James Wescott, one
of the wealthiest, as he is one of the
most widely known, professional gamb-
lers in this country. A cablegram was
sent yesterday to Mrs. Tingley, who be-
lieves her brother at last will accept
the consolation of her religion.
Wescott lies i'll in his house, 70 West
Forty-fifth street. He is suffering from
pneumonia. This disease fastened IL
self upon him in Saratoga a few weeks
ago, when he was there as the head OF
the Manhattan club, gambling organ
izatiop.
That he and Mrs. Iingley are brother
and sister is a. secret Wescott has kept
since one day in the early eighties,
when he saw her for the last tlme
Previous to this meeting Wescott who
is the son of a shipbuilder In Newbury-
port, Mass, had been on affectionate
terms with the girl who was then Kate
w eSCOLL, anu VIII yteblo oAtSi WAA -
founded at Point Iona, Cal, an instt-
tuition to which many persons, includ-
Ing Lyman J. Gage, formerly secretary
of the treasury, and A. G. Spalding.
manufacturer of sporting goods, have
journeyed to receive the teachings OF
the woman who is called the Purple
Mother of the Brotherhood.
His Aged Wife III
One of the most pathetic circumstances
in connection with the Illness of Mr.
Wescott is that his wife, who is "a years
DID, has not been permitted to learn that
his condition Is critical. Mrs. Wescott,
who for two years has been an invalid
and unable to leave her room, is now at
1853 West Fortyfourtn street, only few
blocks from the house in which Mr.. Wes-
colt is lying, attended by two men who
have been associated with him for years
In his gambling operations, and by two
negro servants.
Fearing the disclosure of the true con-
dition of her husband S health would have
a serious effect upon Mrs. Wescott,
Charles H. Danforth and e. w. Brof1eld,
Mr.. Wescotts associates, several times
each day during the last week have re-
ported that her husbands condition was
improving. But last Friday they and Mr..
Wescott's physician realized that their
friend was to die soon. They telegraphed
to Newburyport. A boyhood friend of
Mr.. Wescott hurried to New York Mr..
wescott was propped up in bed.
81 know l am going to die" he said,
land l am going to make my will. -Four
days ago the physician tod me couldn'
live four more days. l have lived through
these days, but 1 am afraid l can't hold
out much longer"
He then made his will, in which he gave
his entire estate, which is valued at a lit
tie less than s500,000 to his wife. NO
mention of his sister was made in the
will.
When Mrs. Tingley was In New York
some weeks ago on her way to England,
where she is to establish several theo-
sophical academies, she neither called
upon her brother nor sent any message to
him. He was equally reluctant at that
time to attempt to resume friendly reia-
tons.
Mr.. Wescott's Career
Mr. Wescott left his native Newbury-
mort before the civil war. He went TO
Washington, d. c., where, before he was
20 years old, he became the manager
of a hotel. He took up professional
Gambling a few years later. He was as
sociated with the Jones gamblers, who
in those days were supreme in Washing-
ton. Making money In washington,
Young Wescott came to New YORK. Here
he became an employe and then part
Nor of Charles Ransom, who was the
chief gambler in this city at that tlme
Leaving New York in the eighties,
Mr. Wescott went to Boston, where, In
building owned by John Stetson, a
theatrical manager, he and David
blanchard who was the Richard Can
field of that city at that time. conduct
cd a gambling establishment. He re-
turned to New York in 1894. In West
Eortv-fourth street he set up an estab-
Iisbment. against which the district at
torney and the police moved several
times. -.
With faro and roulette-he never, by
the way. permitted cards to be played
in any of his establishments-his sister
had gone into spirituali3m. A few
months ago she appeared in Newbury-
mort. accompanied by several women,
with whom she was on her way to Eng
land. While there she lived at hotei
which is owned and managed by the
clhsest friend her brother has in the
village of his birth. 1t was this friend
who came to New York last week and
was present when Mr.. Wescott made his
will During the week that she spent
in Newburyport Mrs. Tingley did not
mention her brothers name to any OF
the old acquaintances she met.
Several of Mr.. Wescott's distant rela-
tivos live in Massachusetts,, and some
~ these have been helped both by him
and by his sister, Mrs. Tingley. Yet
for more than twenty-five years no COM
munication has passed between brother
and sister, and now 1t seems as II Wes-
cott will die before the sister mas time
TO reach his bedside.