The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-12-20
M'KENzlE SECRET (.
UKSoLvED RIDDLE.
Political Boss Of North Dakota
Had Family in
East.
CONCEALED HOME 30 YEARS

GUNGEAlEU HUME jU IEAkS
Wife and Three Children Lived Thirty
Years at Yonkers, N. Y, and Most
Intimate Friends Of the North Da-
kota Politician Knew Nothing About
lt--contest over MilIion.DolIar Es-
tate to Be Settled Out Of Court,
Many and many a wealthy man has
concealed for years from public knowl-
edge the existence OF Il home main
TIMED by himself, presided over by a
beautiful woman, blessed with happy
children. The celebrated cases of the
sort are TOO well known to newspaper
readers to need recalling, writes Betty
Ross in the New York World.
Alexander Mckenzie, erstwhlle Re.
publican boss OF North Dakota, had a
secret somewhat Of this kind and kept
1t n secret for thirty years. But Me-
Kenzies secret was different from the
others. What he concealed was not a
mesallance, n mistress, a common
law marriage or Il union in any way
Illegal. II consisted OF marriage, n
home and family which were, so far
MS the record shows. In every way
legal--a legitimate "love nest so to
speak, regarding which he manifested
the greatest tenderness and pride--eX-
cept IN North Dakota.
The stage was all set for full
public revelation Of McKenzie's secret,
but 1t seems likely now that the cur
tain will not rise after all and that
there will be no further disclosures
nor any explanations.
A suit 10 break McKenzie's will
which dlsposes OF his Si000,000 estate
was scheduled for trial in st. panl,
MINI. II was expected his reasons for
conceallng for thirty years from his
closest associates In the Northwest
that he had wife and three children
living nj No. III Palisades avenue,
yonkers, y. Y, would be made known.
Settle Out Of Court.
But the mystery probably will re
main us deep as ever. According To
Alexander Mckenzie, Jr.. OF No 81 ST.
Andrews place, lonkers, one OF the
principal contestants OF The will. the
ease Will probably he settled out OF
court.
The principal beneficiarleS OF the
will were McKenzie's children by his
first wife, Mrs. Anna G. Mckenzie
Mcdonald and Mrs. Mary y. Mckel-
zic.Foster wife u the assistant man
ager Of the Canadian Pacific railroad,
both OF Montreal. TO them he left the
bulk Of the estate. The contestants
are Miss jeanette Mckenzie. twenty
nine; Alexander Mckenzie, Jr., TWEEN
ty-eight. and Thomas o. Mckenzie,
twenty all of yonkers. or.
spring OF McKenzie's second marriage.
Them he cut of with $4,000 each.
Mckenzie died last June. His will
filed in ST. Paul. by its requests 10 his
second wife. who died Il month before
he did, and her children. was the first
authentic record of the existence of his
family In the East. Although us a
prominent politician Mckenzie had
many friends, many OF whom thought
they were deep In his confidence. no
! lntimatiUn OF his second marriage and
his family reached them until after
McKenzles death.
The first knowledge OF the fact was
received the day after his funeral
when Judge Flannery. an intimate
friend for many years. looked over
NcKenzles personal belongings. lie
found telegram and letters tucked
way In the inside pocket OF the coat
that Mckenzie wore when he went Ia
the hospital where he died. Judge
Flannery was dumbfounded at the con
tents OF the telegram. which read:
Mother died today can you come;
SANDY, Tom and jeanette
Letters Found After Death.
According 10 Judge Fanncry, when
this telegram was received at Mcken
zie's Office the "boss" was in Callfor.
mia for the benefit OF his health. The
telegram was kept by his secretary
for him and was handed to him when
he returned, nearly u month after the
telegram had come. Two letters had
come after the telegram.
Mckenzie, ii Is told, read the mis-
sives without comment. Then lie
placed them carefully in the inside
pocket of his coat and left the office
When Judge Flannery approached hin
the next morning, he found him sitting
deJcciedly In n chair In the lobby ot
his club looking out of the window
Tie next day he died In the hospital
Reading his letters the next day
Judge Flsnnery found the addresses
ot McKenzle's children of WHOSE
existence even, McKenzie's daughters
by his first marriage had never heen
aware. The letters explained the sit
uatlon, saying in part;
Dear Father:
"you have always told us that II
anything happened 10 mother, We
should place her body in vault and
await Instructions from you. We
have done SO and are waiting to hear
from you We cannot understand
why you have failed to get in touch
with us. Jeanette"
Then the Judge Immediately wired