Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-01
NEPHEW SEEKS PART
OFUNCLE'S ESTATE
CHARGES HoUSEKEEPER USED
UNDUE INFLUENCE
Nonogenarian Who Committed Suicide
After Selling Old Homestead
Disregarded Wishes of
His Dying Wife

Another chapter is opening in the mys-
terious suicide of John Thomas Dye, the
9O:year old pioneer who on July 13 opened
an artery and slowly bled to death be-
cause of remorse at selling his home, Sit
Sunset boulevard, to the Los Angeles
| Pacific electric officials so that 1t could
be dismantled to allow building of the
subway entrance at that point. He got
SIS, 900 for the homestead.
Relatives are beginning to write for in
formation as to the will, and a nephew
has been calling on the neighbors for evil
dence which they presume will be used in
will contest.
The eccentric old man, who left an
estate worth perhaps $4,000, is supposed
to have left everything to his oldest son,
Charles Dye, who came here from the
east to be with his mother before she
died last year and then remained to
manage his fathers business affairs.
Strange stories are told that Mrs. Dye
before passing away exacted a promise
from an old woman housekeeper that she
would see that this nephew received part
of the estate.
Turns Nephew Away
Neighbors intimate that the mono
genaran widower who committed suicide
not only disregarded his wife's dying
wish but ordered the nephew from the
house shortly afterward.
This man is said to have retained coun-
sci to push proceedings to have the will
set aside because of alleged undue in
f1uence of the oldest son and the house
keeper over the rich old man.
There were many strange circumstances
in the case.
Charles Dye came here from the east
several years ago to be with his mother,
who was then declining rapidly and who
died in May, 1906. The father began aging
rapidly, too, as soon as he lost his wife,
and the son decided to prolong his stay
to be near his aged parent.
Prior to the wifes death an aged woman
was brought here from Colorado to act as
housekeeper for the pair. She held the
confidence of both Mr.. and Mrs. Dye and
was with them both when the sands of
life ebbed out.
This housekeeper has now left
In an interval when she was sick an
other woman acted as housekeeper. She
was seized with a paralytic stroke, how
ever, and died suddenly while serving the
Dyes.
Old Housekeeper Is Confidante
To one or the other of these servant
women the secret of the last will of Mrs.
Dye and of Mr.. Dye was intrusted. One
or the other knows the contents, ana
there are hints that certain provisions will
prove surprise to those who thought
they were in the confidence of the eccen-
trio man who could not bear to see his
house torn down even when $4,000 had
been paid him. When he bought the prop
erty it cost him $4,000.
Mrs Dye, wife of the son who came to
the coast to take care of his father, has
not been in California for thirteen years.
She remains east with her oldest SON,
John Thomas named for his late grandfa-
ther, and a daughter The third and
son, Charles is a messenger and
is connected with a local bicycle service.
He lived in his grandfathers house.
Often Threatened Suicide
Neighbors intimate that the old gentle
man has several times threatened to COM
NIT suicide and has even made attempts
which were frustrated
After q penknife was once taken from
him recently he said death would be an
easy problem. He said he had cancer of
the face two years ago and submitted to
an operation All he had to do now was
to open an artery near the temple and |
death would be easy. Eventually he did
resort to this apparently painless pro-
cedure.
Years ago the elder Dye lived on West
Adams street He accumulated small |
fortune trading in the east and added to
it by realty investments.
Relatives in three states will come for
ward to claim shares in the estate and |
lawyers will doubtless have rich pickings |
If litigation ensues, as is threatened.