The San Francisco call., 1910-03-20
! PROMINENT BANKER
CALLED BY DEATH
Receiver of California Safe De-
pOsit and Trust Company
Succumbs TO Paralysis
Financier Dies In Home for the
Aged, Erected Through His
Great Charity

Under the roof his charity had erect
ed and surrounded by members of the
religious order Of Little Sisters of the
Poor, beneficiaries of his bounty. Ed
ward J. le Breton died yesterday noon
from paralysis. lie Breton was a prom
inent banker and at the time of his
death was receiver of the California
safe deposit and trust company. Yes
terday morning at o'clock he left his
home. 2099 Pierce street. and went to
the Home for the Aged. conducted bv
the Little Sisters of the Poor at Lake
street and Fourth avenue. to attend
mass in commemoration of the feast of
81. Joseph.
STRICKEN WITH APoPLEXY
When about TO leave the home for his
CflCe, 322 Montgomery street, LIE Breton
. omplained of a numbness in his hand,
which had bothered him intermittently
for considerable length of time He
was induced to lie down. While re-
c'iniug he was seized with a stroke of
apopleNy, which burst a blood vessel in
his head. He was stricken with paraly-
sis and died at 1920 p. m.
He had received the sacrament of
communion during the mass and was
snointed and received the last sacra-
menJ of the Catholic church. the rite of
extreme JUNCTION, from the hands of
Rev. Father Murphy just before his
death.
Mother Alexis. the first assistant gem
eral Of the order OF the Little Sisters of
the Poor. who arrived in San Francisco
from France yesterday morning, was at
The home before lie Breton died The
benefacter of the order had gone to the
nome TO see Mother Alexis as well as to
attend the celebration of the mass.
PHYSICIANS SUMMONED
DR.. A J. Zoebel was called immedi-
ately upon LIE Breton's first complaint
Of indisposition and Doctors John Call
wey and NJ J. FottrelI were summoned
shortly after, but their combined ef-
forts could not save the stricken man.
lie Breton's chief private interest had
been concentrated in the Home for the
Aged. which he had erected in Lake
street in honor OF his father and
mother He had given the property to
the Little Sisters Of the Poor. and
large number Of destitute aged men
and women were quartered there with
out cost. lie Breton had also given a
similar home in Los Angeles, spending
500 000 on. the two charitable institu-
tions
BORN NEAR SACRAMENTO
Edward J. le Breton was born in
Sacramento county, September II. 1852.
He was educated in the old City col
lege, san Francisco. and later in Paris,
France, and Dresden. Germany. Re
turning TO San Francisco in the 70s. he
became interested in the National gold
bank and trust company. He later
transferred his interests to Lazard
Freres, banking institution which to-
day is known as the Anglo and Lon
don-PaTis bank, and Of which insti-
rution the dead man was a director.
Tpon leaving Lazard Freres he became
PRESIDENT of the French savings bank,
selling out his interest and retiring
from active business life in 1904. He
remained in retirement until he was
appointed receiver of the defunct Cal
ifornia safe deposit and trust COM
pany by Judge Coffey in January, 1908.
He has been at work since that time
in an endeavor to straighten out the
accounts Of that institution.
OPPOSED REORGANIZATION
For the last few months he has been
eager to pay a dividend of 10 per cent
70 the dep0sitors and has opposed the
plan of reorganization.
L.e Breton who was a bachelor, is
survived by brother, Albert ].
le Breton. an attorney, now retired,
who is devoting his time to the Good
Friday movement; two nephews, ]. V.
and Edward Layeaga, and a niece, Mrs.
Andrew Welsh.
Among those most deeply feeling the
bereavement is Joseph Aurrecoechea,
the ; year old ward of LIE Breton, who
has made his home with his guardian
for the last year.
No definite funeral arrangements
have as yet been made. but it is be-
lieved that the services will take place
Tuesday from the home Of the Little
Sisters Of the Poor.