New-York tribune., 1922-04-03
Woman Calls
Dead Wealthy
Recluse Fiance
Miss Hopes Takes Charge of
Body Of Braddin Hamil-
ton After Her Letter to
Him l. Found in Effects
Beneficiary by His Will
100000 Left by ''Man of
Mystery" Classmatc of
Son of Late King Edward

4 woman was brought yesterday into
the strange career OF Braddin Hamil-
ton, the wealthy "man Of mystery" of
Riverhcad. l.. l., who upon his death
there last Friday is said to have" left
fortune of 100000
She is Miss Marie Hopes, of Holts-
Vile, L. l., who told representative
OF The Tribune that she had been en-
gagged to marry Hamilton. Miss Hopes
IS sister of John Hopes, a general
storekeeper and postmaster Of Holts-
Vile, with whom she lives Through
her brother she said she met Hamilton
several years ago and that they were
betrothed last summer, but no date for
The wedding had been set.
She Takes Charge of Body
Her name was mentioned IN connec-
ton with Hamiltons life through the
iindipg Of a letter which she wrote to
MIN day before his death. In the alb
sence of relatives, none of whom has
vet been found. Miss Hopes took
charge of the body yesterday. and will
have iii buried at o'clock to-day in
the Holtsvillc cemetery.
Additional light was shed upon the
life Of the wealthy recluse, whose
Silent and retiring habits and the haze
that shrouded his past gained for him
ne appellation the man of mystery
He is known to have been a former
social light. an Episcopal clergyman, q
graduate of Cambridge, where he was
A classmate OF Prince Albert Victor,
one OF the sons of the late King
edward VII, and during the latter part
or his life lawyer and real estate
operator. he had a residence at New
port, and for time lived at the Hotel
Biltmorc.
At the time of his death he had a
modest apartment in the Beaver House
Al Riverhead, and shared two rooms
with William Landgraph at t61 East
Sixtieth Street. which he occupied
when he came to Manhattan Land
Sraph. silver platter, says Hamilton
bad shared the apartment with him
Tor two years aud that there arc many
deeds. securities and other documents
which he is holding for the authorities
or next of kin.
VIII Three Years Old Found
a search of HamiItons rooms in the
DeaEer House by j. Francis McGee,
resident manager of the United States
IRE company of Brooklyn, who was an
,lttlmate TREND, uncovered a will which
hamilton made tlree wears npo in
which he named David c. Watts =
1ofner resident of Calverton. I, / as
executor: Watts has not vet hoen
round. McGee recalled having been -
witness TO IT, will. Hamilton Is bel
leved to h, left large tracts of real
estate on Long Island. 1t was learnod
mat the will bequeaths a sum of mone,.
20 MISS Hopes, the residue cojng ~
Whlle some facts bearing on Ha,,u
tons past were generally known no.
9,ooy' 1t appears, ever learned wbv be
deserted his people and friends Of tho
soclai world and retired to a sccludnd
s1'stence IN the Long Island town. 10
- SAID to have been about sixty vears
oio, and stories arc to ID of his havins
Vorn wigs and rouged his cheeks 10
S07tcn the lines of his age.
Named in Canadian Biopranbv
Canadian Men and Women ~ tha
ime' under date Of 1912 contains the
ilton: l'Am-
s. Son Of Justice James H.. born In
Gtrattord, Ont, November 20 1sG1
re was educated at Helmutb ana
huron colleges, London, Ont; Trinity