New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-07
OWEN KILDARE IS DEAD
End Came on Saturday at Insane
Asylum, as Result of Paresis.
FEATURES OF A VAE:.550 LIFE
Learned to Read at Thirty, and
Made Novel and Play OF
His Life.

Owen Kildare author Of My Mamie
Rose and The Regeneration" from his
book. which was based on his own HE.
died on Saturday night from paresis az the
Manhattan State Hospital on Wards ISL
and, where he had been patient for more
than two years. The end came suddenly.
The patient was seized with a CONFUSION,
a frequent cause Of death In paresis Kill
dare had been out for tramp over the ISL
and. He ate his supper and again went out
for a short walk He died about 1870
O'Clock.
Kildare was committed 10 Bellevue for
examination In Nov ember 1895, at the re-
quest of his wife, who before her mar
riage was known on the stage az Leita
Russell. Mrs. Kildare said her husband had
made threats against her life and had said
he would commit suicide. He insisted that
his trouble was due to nervousness and
that he needed rest. In proof OF the hard
work he had INDUCED in Kildare told
Magistrate Walsh, in the West Side court,
that he had written the play The Regen-
Grafton" In nineteen days Just "a the
magistrate was about 10 commit him Mrs.
Kildare fell in a swoon on the bridge. she
tainted twice after that in the magistrates
private Office Kildare complained that
commitment would injure his reputation.
Otherwise he didn't seem much worried.
The next day Mrs. Kildare said that her
husbands illness was due 70 the failure or
The Regeneration" which was produced
early in 1908 at Walacks Theatre. She
said that Arnold DAILY had made changes
and furious ar times, so that IL was all
she could DO 10 prevent him from attacking
DAILY.
owen Kildare was rallied by his friends
the "Bowery Kipling." He told the story
OF his life in MY Mamie Rose" He vas
born here in 1864. In 1871 he was news
boy in Park Row. and a member OF the
gang OF which big Tim Sullivan was
leader Later he became priZehghter'
professional athlete. soldier OF fortune
ilibuster and a manager OF sporting and
theatrical ventures. He was dock laoorer
In the interim.
Kildare pulled himself up from the slurns
by hard work. He had forsaken the prize
ring. got together enough money from his
various ventures TO keep him alive, and.
stirred by itinerant evangelsts and preach
ers, determined 10 try 10 help those still
nired in what he had come 10 look upon
as the degradation Of life In the Bovery.
He was a rough, practical reformer.
schooled in the life from which he sought
to redeem the men about him, and he had
good deal Of success.
He did some newspaper work in 1900,
when he was turning to reform work, but
a blow that was later supposed 70 have
unbalanced him nearly drove him back to
the depths from which he had risen. He
lad received the first impetus TO intel
lectual effort from Marie Rose Deering. an
East Side school teacher She taught
him to read when he was thirty years old,
when he went TO an evening school on the
East Side taught him some Of the fine
things Of life and was responsible for all
the writing that he did afterward. He
became engaged TO her. and was full or
ambition and hope. busy in his chosen
work But week before they were to be
married she died. and kildare, grief
crazed. was laid low by brain fever.
He arose, still weak and ILL., with all the
money he had saved swept away by the
weeks OF Illness and convalescence. Moth
ing went right for him, and ne drifted into
the old life OF odd Jobs and discourage
ment Then ne saw a chance 20 recover.
magazine offered prize for love
story. he wrote one and won the prize.
Quickly he won his way into the maya
zines He found a quick market for his
literary wares, rehabilitated himself finan-
cially and mentally, and was soon on the
road to success. In writing his prize story
he went for aid TO Miss Leita Russell Bo-
gartus, who as Leita Russell was con-
tributing fiction TO various magazines, and
some time later they we're quietly married.
Kildare. full OF a restless spirit went 10
Venezuela IN 1901 and joined the unsuc-
cessful revolutionary forces then trying
a. depose General Castro. fe was a gen.
eral in the revolutionary army. was made
prisoner by the government forces, and
was about TO be shot when he escaped.
Then he came back to New York and took
to writing fiction In earnest, becoming
finally an associate editor OF 'Pearson's
Magazine"
He organized and became head OF the
Kildare Publishing Company. was a trustee
Of the National Newsboys Association and
4 director of the Social Betterment Move
ment He was a member OF the Reformed
Church and was independent in politics.
Kildare's wife got a divorce from him
recently and was married 10 Lieutenant
Commander Charles A. Adams L. s n,
retired. Commander Adams was on the
battleship Oregon in 1900. He was al one
time assigned 10 the Brooklyn navy yard.
They are now living at the Raleigh apart
ments. No. West 92d street.
Despite the divorce Mrs. Adams visited
her former husband regularly at Ward
Island, and. although she had long feared
for her life before she appealed TO the
courts for protection against him she and
Commander Adams continued 10 care for
Kildare. He leaves four-year-old daush-
Tor uho lives with her mother.