Evening journal., 1921-07-21
irwin LEAD
Double life
Veteran Ball Player Had
Families in New York
and Boston
MARRIED FIRST
WIFE IN 1883

NEW YORK July 21.-The sui
eide Of Arthur Irwin, veteren base
ball player and manager, has re-
vealed an amazing story Of double
life extending over a period OF more
than twenty-five years
The former Yankee" scout had a
wife and married son in New York.
to whom he was a devoted husband
and father. and a wife, son, two
daughters and nine grandchildren in
Boston, to whom he was equally de-
voted. Not even his closest friends
knew until yesterday OF his dual ex-
tstence.
Ten days ago his physician told
him the disease from which he was
suffering was incurable and that he
had only few days TO live. He told
his New York wife he had to go to
Boston to SAY goodbye TO his
friends" and he was last seen alive
when he retired to his stateroom on
the steamship Calvin Austin, of the
Metropolitan Line, last Friday night
Mrs. Irwin and her son, F. Harold
Irwin. iirst heard of the Boston fam
lily from reporter. They were in the
widows apartment at Sos West
1924 street
Il cannot believe it," Mrs. Irwin
said. Since we were married twen-
ty-seven years ago, in Philadelphia,
Arthur has been a model husband.
He has seldom been away from home
for more than a day or two at a
time. and then only when he was
scouting for ball players"
The Boston widow was seen today
Rt her daughters cottage near Bos-
:on- She said:
I never suspected my husband,
even when years ago members OF my
family tried to tell me there was
something wrong In his life-thai
there probably was another woman
Now l cannot longer refuse TO doubt
IL / do not blame my husband hall
30 much as l blame the other wo-
man."
She Is Irwin's first wife. The,
we're married in 1888 and their son
Arthur Herbert Irwin. is thirty
seven years old. Alice and Edni
Irwin, both OF whom are marie,
and have children complete tn
Boston family
Il feel confident and happy in tn
belief that although there was thi
other woman in New York." Mrs
Irwin continued, "he was on his wa,
to me when he died-that he wanted
to die In my arms"
The New York widow, however
felt equally confident her husband
had intended to return to New Yorl
10 die after attending TO his Bostoi
business His last words at tn
steamship pier. Harold Irwin said
were instructions TO tell his mothe
to come to New York from Hartford
Conn, and meet him Sunday In tn
New York apartment.
He gave me his watch" the so
said. Father knew he could onl
live for a day or two. so before h
left he divided everything he owne
between my mother and me and h
only took ss5 with him on the boat.
He always suffered most q
night" Mrs. Irwin said. Il am sur
he must have had an attack an
jumped off the ship while out Of h
head with pain"
dispatch from Boston said this
the theory held by his friends wa
that Irwin feared exposure OF n
double life and killed himself /
avoid disgrace. Some Of them believ
however. he was carrying a iarr
sum OF money and might have bee
robbed and thrown overheard. Tn
explanation is discredited by n
statement Of his son in New York
Twins last baseball place W;
manager OF the Hartford Club OF II
Eastern League. He became i'll la
May and was in the Hartford Ho
pital for three weeks. His New YoI
wife and son were with him through
out his illness and. according to n
account. she has lived with him col
tinuously for the last few years
Irwin had two brothers. One
John Irwin, manager of the Ne
Weymouth Hotel. Nantasket Beac
Mass. and the other, Richard Irwi
is connected with a brokerage fir
in New York.
CRISFTELD LOSES TIGHT TIL
CRISFTELD Nd July 21-POc