The Washington times., 1913-06-21
MYSTERY IN DEATH
OF HENRY FLAGLER
Relative of Florida Millionaire
Refused Admission to House
Where His End Came.

~ YORK. June 21-Amasa
Plummer Flasler. head of the Western
branch of the Flagler family and near
est blood relative of the late Henry NJ
Flagler. except for Harry Hardness
Flagler. a son, has given out a state
nelt of the strange circumstances sur
rounding his last visit to the Florida
empire-builder and concerning the con-
struction of a part of the will.
The 500, ,0o0. 900 estate of Henry NJ.
Flagler. was devised principally to the
widow, who was Mary l.. keenan,. She
received s6o.0oo.0oo. The son received
S, 100000 and the rest was divided
among relatives of Mrs. Flagler. busi-
ness associates of the dead financier.
and charities.
]. B. PARROT. president Of the Flagler
railroad: william r. keenan,, brother
of the widow. and w. H. Besrdsley,
were named trustees of the estate.
In his Interview Mr.. Flagler said:
Got Shock of His Life.
When / went 20 Palm Beach i'm
mediately before Henry's death. re-
ceired the shock of my life
Instead of finding him. sick old
man, in the luxurious home he had
built. surrounded by the beautiful things
which he loved and where he would
naturally prefer to spend his last mo-
ments. / found him hustled away to
an old. bleak, uncomfortable house away
out by the beach.
Instead of finding him surrounded
los IN
loved and respected him during life-
time, / found a Gordon of detectives
drawn around the lonely house, forbid
ding entrance TO every one.
Instead Of finding the surgeons and
specialists which Mr.. Flaglers wealth
could easily command, found In en-
tire charge of the sick room and TO
the exclusion of every one else, MRS.
Flagier's cousin, a village physician
named keenan,.
Treated As Outsider.
Instead of the welcome that might
naturally be expected under the cir
cumstances, / found that was treated
as an outsider. An old friend and
cousin, nearest relative except the son.
was forbidden a talk with the dying
man.
house. stopped by the detectives, and
forbidden to leave a card or approach
the dwelling by J, B. Parrott, one OF
the biggest beneficiaries under the will.
I was denied every opportunity to get
near him, to thank him once before he
died for what he had done for me.
Eight years ago, when l was just
beginning to make good in business;
develop into property worth millions
up in Minnesota. Then the Govern
ment made II forest reserve and
attracted the attention of Canadian
competitors. who put in protests
hrough the British ambassador IN IN
necessary to set the wheels Of Cow
ernment at Washington moving, ana
that I was unable to do.
Meant Make or Break.
"I was desperate. for 1t meant my
fortune or ruin. and finally l asked
Henry to write a note to the taen
Secretary of State, Elihu Root. asking
for consideration He did. ana my
troubles vanished as If by magic. His
influence saved my business career.
so what was more natural than,
when he was so seriously i'll in Feb.
ruary and later. that I should want
10 thank him and tell him now
grateful / was before he should dle!
I hurried across the continent from
California, expecting to fnd him dead.
Spoke In Whispers.
ct announced by arrival by tele-
rram TO Mrs. Flagler. but received
no reply or acknowledgment 1t was
Immediately after my arrival at West
Palm Beach that / discovered the
shocking conditions surrounding my
cousin IN his last Illness
s.Neighbors and old friends told me
cisouietins things. There are strange
things doing. out there they salo 10
for Parrott. after Flagier, rules Florida.
Old business associates Of the dying
man came to me. Brothers Of mine in
the Masonic order said the same thing.
When I thought IT tt,,os over; srd sftsr wesr
endless trouble and refusals from the
operator-which ceased after l noticed
detective looking in at the window
sent the following telegram to Harry
Hardness Fiagier at his nome In Ne"
York:
Your father is calling for you. Your
presence is imperative and necessary.
Your father loves you dearly and longs
10 see your face and speak with YOU
before ne dies. Strange conditions exist.
So come Immediately
Father and Son Estranged.
"Ycu see. Harry had been estranged
from his father for twelve years. and
IT seemed to me that If every other
friend were to be barred from his bed
side, the son should be there. Whether
the message reached him or not ! don't
know. At any rate, he came immedi
ateiy. but in the meantime his father
died. There were none with him but
his third wife, her cousin and Parrot.
who received 800 900 from the estate and
an Arrangement whereby he is to man
age the East Coast system as long as
he likes.
II received information before the
funeral that I was not to receive a
card of admission. didn't ask for one.
With thousands Of others paid my
humble respects TO Henry N. Flagler
outside the church. and then went
q way.
That is the story of how one of the
greatest men America ASs ever known
died.