New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14
Diamond Jim Dazzled New
York with His Fortune
in Gems
Prominent in Business
End Comes Suddenly at At
lantic City After Illness
of a Year


figure in the railway supply world
as he was known below Fulton Street,
diamond Jim"-frst nighter, admirer
Of jewels and OF horses that are fast
as he was known above Fulton Street
died yesterday morning in the Shell
burne Hotel, Atlantic City. He was
born in Cedar Street, New York, sixty
two years ago.
Though Mr.. Brady had been in poor
health for months, his end was sudden.
He was on the boardwalk Wednesday
afternoon. At o'clock yesterday morn
ing he called his valet, Charles Ander-
son, to get him drink, and went back
TO sleep. At $3.50 O'Clock Anderson
went to arouse him and found him dead.
Dr. Carl l.. Andrews said heart disease
from which he had long suffered. was
the cause.
In the passing of Mr.. Brady New
York loses one of its more picturesque
characters, a sight as eagerly sought
by the country visitor abroad in the
bright light district after hours as the
Flatiron Building or the Little Church
Around the Corner in day time.
Loved His Jewels
More than six feet tall and broad
of beam. it was his delight to adorn
his person with immense diamonds
rubies, emeralds and other precious
stones. Even his dog was not immune
from jewelled decoration, sporting sun
glasses set in diamond rims when II
accompanied It's master in public.
For years he never missed a Broad
way first night, and if there were more
than one premiere night he showed
himself and some of his jewelry al
each. In the lobster palaces he de
lighted to surround himself with groups
of pretty women of the stage, for whom
he provided elaborate entertainments
As hearty eater he had few, II any
equals in New York. his ordinary break
fast not infrequently consisting OF
enough food TO satisfy the demands oil
an ordinary man for days.
This habit and an Unsuitable long
ing for candy resulted a few years age
in the refusal of his stomach ITO act
normally. He went to Johns Hopkins
University. whore he was treated, and
was soon back on Broadway. To cele-
brate this recovery he gave the uni
a,
THEOLOGICAL Hospital, and arranged to
pay for its maintenance.
About a year ago his health broke
again, and last December he went "a
Atlantic City, where he had since been
at times near death and again seeming
ly on the road 20 complete recovery
in December his heart began TO fail.
Business Career Remarkable
I'm business circles his career was as
remarkable as his fondness for dla-
monds and food. Poorly educated he
started life as messenger boy. In this
way he became acquainted with the
late Charles A. Moore, millionaire man
ufacturer Of railway supplies. Moore
gave him a chance to sell saws, and in
a short time he was one of the most
SuCCeSSIul SalcSUleU III NHe COhUbfl.
. Eventually he headed his own car
company and dominated other supply
houses. Prior to the close supervision
that the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion now extends 70 the purchases OF
railroads he had almost monopoly of
the business of some roads. among them
the New Haven, whose president, Charles
s. Mellen, was his close friend. When
the commission made an effort to find
out what had become of the New Haven
millions, Joseph W. Folk, its counsel
nut Mr.. Brady on the stand and asked
him where he got his fortune OF
s7,O0O,000 or more.
THAT" said Mr.. Brady, ais my bust
ness
lie added that he never kept any
books or records. and the commission
never did find out where he got it.
lie was never married, and leaves a
brother, Daniel, whose simple tastes
compared to those of James earned him
the nickname Of "Brass Dan" and a
sister, Mrs. Mary Matthews, of East
Jafrrey, n. II. To these AM to Johns
Hopkins University, it is believed, the
bulk of his fortune will go.
Mr. Brady's body reached this city
last night on a special train. II was
met at the Pennsylvania station by
some of his closest friends and bust
ness associates and was escorted to his
home, 7 Wet Eighty-sixth Street.
The funeral will take place on Nor
day morning in st. Agnes Roman
Catholic Church, Forty-third Street,
near Lexington Avenue.