New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-14
BIG COAL DEALER DEAD
FAMILY VAS ESTR4NGED.
Nurse Only One zcith L. ID. De Witt
When He Has Stricken.

Thomas D. De Witt hfty-six years old. a coal
merchant and automobile man. with Offices at No
2s Cortlandt street died in Flower Hospital early
yesterday morning. He taken Ill on Thursday
in the apartment Of Miss Ollie Lowe said TO be a
theatrical performer. No. Ill West 1Oith street
and removed in private ambulance to the
hospital.
De Witt had been a sick since he left
Roosevelt Hospital. almost year ago. where
he had been treated for a fractured ankle, the
result of fall two years ago After leaving the
hospital he looked after by Miss Lowe. who
had known him for several years.
Miss Lowe arrived at the apartment hotel In
West l04th on Monday morning and engaged
several rooms OF suite Later in the day Mr.
DE Witt driven up the hotel in an
automobile with said 10 be trained
nurse He was using crutches and had TO be
helped up TO Miss loves apartments. on the sec
ond floor. 1t was said he had fallen again on
Monday morning. when leaving his office, fractur-
ing his ankle for the second time.
DR.. Frank f. Smith, of No. l59 West 4sth street.
was called. and recommended his removal TO a
hospital. which the woman and De Witt vetoed
The physician made three more visits TO the apart
ment. on Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday
Finally his insistence prevailed. and the patient
was taken away.
STAYED BY HIM TO THE END.
Miss Lowe. who appeared greatly wrought up
over the seriousness OF De Wits condition.
nounced she going accompany the sick
man 10 the hospital. and she followed him there in
a cab As soon as the patient placed In a pri-
vate ward. she went TO his bedside and remained
there throughout the night and was with him
when he died yesterday morning When seen last
night Miss Lowe said that >De Witt had been
estranged from his family for a year and a half.
and the De Witt home. at No. l23 West 18th street.
had been closed. The wife and children removed TO
New Rochelle. she asserted. and refused TO have
anything more do with him
After seeing De Witt safely IN Flower Hospital.
the woman telephoaed 10 members OF his family
she declared. but received reply After
his death she got into communication with De
Wits relatives but they replied that they had no
further Ties with the husband and father and
would make no arrangements for hts funeral.
Cording To her story
Miss Lowe says she then appealed To Dr. Smith
and he telephoned to Michael r Burns, OF No 27o
henry street. Brooklyn. president Of the Burns
hfothers Coal Company. of No. % Church street.
ana obtained a promise from him that he would
pear all the expenses Of the funeral The arrange
hehts Tor the funeral services left entirely
IN the hands Of Miss Lowe. she declared
MISS Lowe then went 10 undertaker's shop at
no 1857 broadway. where she made arrangements
To have Dewitts body cremated. In accordance
with his wish expressed on his deathbed she said
The body taken there later in the afternoon
CONTINUING. Miss Lowe declared that Thomas De-
Wit the youngest son Of the dead man. had called
al her apartment yesterday afternoon and told her
that he and HIS brothers and mother would have
advised her as hts fathers closest friend 10 make
what Arrangements she thought best
BODY WILL BE CREMATED
the funeral parlors. the body would be taken to
North Bergen. y. J. - be cremated. and the ashes
would then be brought back 20 this city IN an urn.
10 await further disposal
According 10 the woman she had known Dewitt
for about four years. and had met him while she
was playing IN a theatrical company. lie had al
ways been kind 20 her and had treated her with
great liberality- During this recital there were
traces OF tears In the young woman's eyes and
when she was asked II she expected 20 be mentioned
IN Dewitts will she became emphatic IN declaring
she had such thought nor had such a thing
ever been mentioned between them
Thomas ID. Dewitt was a member OF the Metro
politan Museum OF Art. the Holland Society the
New York Athletic and other clubs Besides these
Mr. Dewitt leader In the West Side PRO
tective League and other civic organizations and
about twelve years ago achieved much publicity
in the newspapers because Of his crusade against
bicycle riders. lie also the hacker OF a the
atrical enterprise some years ago.
In addition 10 his large interests a coal
chant. Mr., lie witt. with hts son Thomas D. jr.
ran the De Witt Automobile Company NJ No 2s0
West s0th street. The sons. George r and T H.
De Witt jr.. were seen In their home at No 81
lockwood avenue. New Rochelle yesterday The
latter said his father had been In poor health for
several years and was eccentric at times
Since the family enlargement over two years
ago the elder DE witt had been living alone In
rooms over The West S0th street garage. The wife
ana children had been trying TO get him 70 divide
his estate but he had refused
Father was not millionaire. but was In COM
Portable circumstances" said Thomas D. De Wit
jr Il Of the opinion that father died OF natural
causes ] don't believe Miss Lowe IS actress
bur trained nurse. Father must have met her
through illness. and he has been ailing almost con-
stanty."
The De Wits are not well known I'm New Ro-
chelle and the family has been living quiet
suburban Nfe IN the lockwood avenue cottage
which is valued $4,000