The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-25
Decisions STAYED
WITH HIM TO
THE END
Imagined He Was Being
Hunted-Career of the
Englishrnan

Heart trouble Of such a nature as
to affect the flow of blood through his
veins was tho direct cause of the
death of Lord" f. Ii. Thurs.on in the
state asylum for the insane at James
town Monday Of this week, notice of
which has just been received by the
county authorities. About four months
ago Lord" Thurston began to fail,
but it was not until within ten days
Of tho time of his death that he was
taken to his bed. Obstinate to the
very end, Thurston refused to take
while. up to tho time that he was SO
weak that he could not do otherwise.
refused absolutely to go to his bed.
persisting in remaining up at all hours
Of the night and day.
Ever since Jan. IL. 1900, Thurston
has been an inmate Of the asylum.
and during hat entire time his every
want has been provided for by wealthy
relatives I'M England. who maintained
who very frequently made inquiries
Of the hospital officials of his 'condi-
ton.
His Career Metcoric.
Thursday was sent to the asylum
from Grand Forks county following a
meteoric career OF many years, a part
of which were spent in this city.
where he lived in style and entertained
lavtshly. and O part. of which were
spent on a large ranch near Towner.
McIienry county. where he lived the
life of the cowboy.
The scion Of a rich English family.
Thurston had been sent to the United
States when u mere youth. He was
not yet 90 years old when he arrived
in ToWner, in the eighties, and UNDER
took to start life on this continent
from England. His career there wa
sensational. and the man spent a for
tune before he came to Grand Forks
to make his home. and where he con
tinued along the same plan of living.
His remains were buried in Il James
town city cemetery Wednesday after
noon. not being inferred in the asylum
cemetery where so many of the UNI
fortunates committed to the institu-
ton find their last resting place.
Believed Himself Hunted.
During the entire twelve years that
he had been in the asylum Thurston
had given the officials little trouble.
At frequent intervals he would make
report to the officials to the effect that
he was being shot at by some unknown
mysterious persons who sought his
me- anu Ill tHlS espeCI ne IleTelS
continued the delusion with which he
was afflicted before his commitment to
the asylum. evidenced on n occasion
in this city when he almost turned a
boarding house upside down under the
belief that some one was irving to
kill him. On that occasion Thurston
had armed himself with a revolver,
and for a short time he had every
thing his own way so far as space was
concerned.
Then Thurston would become i'm
bued with the thought that he was
the possessor of asst tracts of land.
and another favorite pastime was to
imagine himself the owner of all the
railroads in the country.
Thurston Was Obstinate.
But Thurston was obstinate at all
times. He refused to let the asylum
physicians care for him in any man.
ner. rejecting medicine n meeting
their advances, when seeking to re-
lieve him even in his last hours. with
r%efusals to countenance n treatment.
j. S. Sinclair (the Earl of CATH
ness) of Jerome, Ariz.. was Lord
Thurston's legal guardian, and it was
through him that the money for his
care in the asylum was provided. Mr..
Sinclair was formerly a resident of
Lakota, Nelson county.
During a portion Of the time that
Lord" Thurston resided in Grand
Forks, Alexander Mather was his
guardian.
squandered $4,000 Fast.
When Lord" Thurston arrived in
North Dakota he Immediately pur-
chased a large piece of ranching prop
erty about ten miles from Towner.
McHenry county. 1t has since been
known as the Stevens ranch and the
Hankey ranch. being owned by broth
ers Of Geo. Hakey of Grand Forks.
About 1889 Thurston inherited $780,
900 from an aunt in England, but the
money went fast. Much of this cash.
however, he used in the Improvement
of his property.
A heavy drinker at all times. he
lost the fortune rapidly. and when he
came to Grand Forks in the nineties
he had only a small part Of that money
squandered. but he had enough money
to purchase the residence at 1eO Sc
ward avenue. now occupied by w. J.
Edwards. the architect.
Called Homo Meibcrry Lodge.
This residence he designated Mel
berry Lodge" and the name was
placed at the front of the house. and
was still there when Mr.. Edwards
bought the house. The property was
~ " lIO
was one of the finest residence proper.
ties in the city at that time.
AS long as Thurston's purse was
filled. he was a lavish entertainer, and
many there were who profted by his
recklessness in entertaining. Later.
when his money had gone. and he was
reduced to the yearly allowance from
England. he lived less pretentiously,
and was finally sent to the asylum
when he began to evidence unmis-
taxable signs of mental deficiency.
Was Well Educated.
Lord" Thurston was well educated,
being a graduate Of the naval academy
of England. He was fine appearing
in his younger days. but aged rapidly
because of the etrrifc pace which he
set. The title Of Lord" was one con-
ferred on him by his cowboy friends
of Towner. and n which remained
with him always.