Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-06-28
{. ]. BONAPARTE DEAD.
WAS KIN OF NAPOLEON
Baltimore Lawyer and Civil Ser
vice Advocate; Served in
Roosevelt Cabinet.
By Associated Press 70 Every evening.

By Associated Press TO Every Evening.
Baltimore. June 2s.--charies J.
Bonaparte, Attorney General during
the Roosevelt administration. died at
Bell Vista, his country home, near
here, today.
Mr.. Bonaparte had been in poor
health for about year. suffering
from a heart affection, which became
complicated with kidney trouble. re
was 10 years old. His widow. who
has been an invalid FOR many years
survives.
Charles Joseph Bonaparte. known
nationally through his services in the
| Cabinet OF President Roosevelt. FIRST
as Secretary Of the Navy and then as
Attorney General, and known local
iy az the man who. az a reforrner.
cleaned up" Baltimore, was born in
that city June 2. 1851.
Charles Joseph was the grandson
Of Jerome Bonaparfe. the youngest
/ brother Of the great Napoleon, who
when only 10 years old passed through
the United States on his way TO Paris.
While in Baltimore he met BEAUTIFUL
| Eliza beth Patterson. best known as
Betsy Patterson. the daughter Of a
wealthy ship owner. The young
couple fell in love. and after a very
| brief courtship were married with
great ponnp and ceremony.
Young Bonaparte delayed his jour
ney to Paris for two years. but final
/ iy started for the French capital in
/ obedience 70 a preemptory command
/ from Napoleon, command which
was accompanfe by stern order 70
leave that young person" behind.
| The latter part or the message was
! ignored by jerome. but French frig-
ate prevented the young wife from
| landing at Lisbon and later at AM
sterdan. Betsy was forced to seek
/ refuge in England where she gave
birth to a son. Jerome and "Betsy''
never met again after their separation
at Lisbon, although he lived until
1860 and she until 1879.
Through the insistence Of Napoleon
Jerome got a divorce. married Prin-
cess Catherine Of Wurternberg. and
was created King Of westphalia. For
4 fifty years or more Betsy fought
/ for recognition as the wife Of Jerome
/ for the sake OF her son who was also
named Jerome.
When this son. the father Of Charles
i Joseph Bonaparte. reached a mar
riageab BILE age. his mother endeavorec
TO make a royal alliance for him. but
the young man preferred 70 manage
his own love affairs, and married
plain Miss Susan May Williams. Of
Roxbury. Mass.
Charles Joseph Bonaparte received
his early education in private school:
and under the care of private tutors
and entered Harvard in 1869 as a Jun
ior. He was graduated two year:
later, and remained at the university
one year as resident graduate
In 1872 he took UP the study Of
law in the Harvard Law School, nm
ishing the course in 1874. Since his
admission in the same year to tbs
Maryland bar he practiced his pro.
fession principally in the Federal ane
State Courts.
Mr.. Bonaparte was one of th'
| trustees Of the Cathedral Church o.
Baltimore. and warm friend OF tbs
late Cardinal Gibbons. He was pres
ident of the Civil Service Reform As
sociation Of Maryland and the Nation
al Municipal League. Besides thes'
/ Offices he was connected with many
other reform and charity orsaniza'
tions.
He was an overseer Of Harvard
University from 1890 to 1902, ane
aroused much criticism by opposing
the plan 10 confer the degree OF LID
on President Mckinley. In 1875 Mr.
Bonaparte married Ellen ChanninE
Day. of. Newport. r. l.
As a member of the Y. S. Board o
Indian Commissioners from 1902 4
1904 he was selected by Presiden
Roosevelt to investigate Indian frauds
which he did in a fearless manner
and later TO make inquiries into post
al frauds.
As Secretary Of the Navy MIR. Bon.
aparte was an advocate OF large
feet and through his efforts severa
ships were added TO our navy. II
his refron campaigns in Baltimore
he was called ''Charlie. the Crook
Chaser. and several grating officials
i prosecuted by him, were sent Z
=