San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-06

The strange tale OF two brothers
who had lived almost within speaking
distance of one another for 30 years,
yet had been unaware of their rela-
tionship; a third brother who had re-
manned in Ireland to care for the
aged, bed-ridden mother while his two
younger brothers sought fame and for
tune in America, and sister who
came TO the New World to become q
nun but amassed a comfortable for
tune in serving as q housemaid; a
tale (which rivals the most amazing
fiction, was revealed Saturday in the
distribution of the property of Helen
Doyle Gulwest, native Of County Ire
land, who died in San Antonio on
April 1, 1922. Final settlement of
the girls affairs resulted in her three
brothers, Edward, John and James be-
ing given the property which had been
left by the sister.
The property was disposed Of by
Judge Augustus J. McCloskey in the
county probate court after the estate
had been in the courts jurisdiction
| since the death of the girl. Now,
poverty-stricken brother in Ireland
will have enough America gold TO keep
the wolf from his door and two
brothers, reunited in New York will
have money for few added luxuries.
The tale is unfolded in DISPOSITIONS and
official documents filed with The clerk
of the county probate court, GarviD
Logan. Helen Gulwest, the Irish girl
whS had saved more than $4,000 by
labofing as a bousemaid, sleeps in one
of San Antonio's cemeteries uncon-
scious of the JOY she has brought to
at least three people.
Sought Fortune in America.
The story as evolved from a maze
Of legal documents is this. Helen.
James, Edward and John Doyle were
born in County Carlow, Ireland, OF
humble parents a half century ago.
Helen, when young, decided to emf
crate to America and become a nun.
She left Ireland on October 10, 1899
and in company with Sister NJ. Bene-
dict Fenelon came to San Antonio, en-
| tering a convent here.
| Two of the brothers, John and Ed.
ward also came to America, but set
tied in New York and New Jersey.
James remained in ireland, taking
i CdEc VI TIC dbtu u
family of nine children.
| Helen, after remaining in the con-
vent but few weeks, decided to try
her fortunes in the business world and
secured a job as housemaid. She was
Woodworking, thrifty and conscientious
and from the first succeeded. The two
brothers who had come to America
also made comfortable livings, one as
a railroad man and the other as a
tube cleaner for subway company in
New York.
| Helen wrote home frequently but
John and Edward in the hustle of city
life wrote only internationally. Grad
ually the family ties were severed and
finally broken altogether. Helen, how
ever, had sent photograph home
John was living in Jersey City and
Edward in New York City-a few miles
apart.
Advertisement Led to Reunion.
In April of 1922 Helen became i'll
She was working as maid at loca
hotel. Just before she died at hos
pital she whispered to an attending
nurse a name. The nurse thought sh'
caught it and addressed a letter to 9
place in Ireland. 1t came back, un
claimed.
MeanN lille Mrs. Z. Kent, of Sar
Antonio, friend Of the dead girl, wa,
appointed administrative of her es
tate. An inventory filed by Mrs. Ken
showed that she had L.oney in severa
banks and house which brought in {
revenue of $40 a month. The tota
/: value of her real and personal proper
ty, as shown by the inventory il
$629S.51, a fortune for a poor CIR
, brought up to the customs of Ire
land.
Mrs. Kent employed San Antonio
: attorney, Charles NJ. Dickson to as
, sist her in the management of the es
L tate and also 10 ascertain if the deat
girl had any relatives. An advertise
: ment was inserted in a New Yorl
i newspaper. John Doyle read it. H
!, communicated with Mr.. Dickson an,
became satisfied that Helen was hi
!; sister. Then Edward was found an,
it was ascertained that he was an
I; other brother. Through a series o
= letters Edward and John met. afts
= separation Of 80 years. They thel
: got in touch with James, who wa
still in Ireland.
Girl Probably Undernourished.
IS The welcome news that he had tw,
brothers in America caused James {,
appeal forthwith for assistance, as
y sorting that he was having difficult,
t. IN ekeing out livelihood in Irelan,
where food prices were way out o