Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-08
EDWIN DENNY DIES
OF HEART ATTACK
WHILE HE SLEEPS
"Seagoing" Secretary of
Navy Virtually Compelled
to Resign Post.
Ex-MARINE AND SAILOR
SAW WAR TIME SERVICE
Death Comes as Distinct Shock to
Friends of Michigan Banker
and Industrialist.
By the Associated Press.


By the Associated Press.
DETROIT, February 8.-Edwin DENLY,
former Secretary of the Navy and long
prominent in Detroit banking, automo-
bile and philanthropic affairs, died in
his sleep this morning at his home in
the Whittier Apartments here. Death
was due to heart attack. He was SO
years old.
DENLY, one of the central figures in
the furore caused by the Teapot Dome
scandal, became restless in his sleep at
5 am. and this awakened Mrs. DENLY.
He seemingly fell asleep again, but
when Mrs. Denly awoke shortly after 8
am. she found her husband dead.
Accepted Blame for Leases.
Although virtually compelled to resign
from the cabinet as result OF the Tea
Dot Dome affair, DENLY did not attempt
to place any of the responsibility that
was charged to him upon the shoulders
OF any one else. Blamed mainly for
agreeing to the leasing of the Naval Oil
Reserves. DENLY insisted his action had
been for the best interests OF the
country.
DENLY arose as usual shortly before 8
o'clock this morning but complained OF
feeling ILL., A physician was summoned,
but before he could arrive the former
Navy Secretary was dead.
With him at the time Of his death
were his wife and daughter Marion. A
son, Edwin, jr is absent at school.
Funeral services will be held at
Christ Episcopal Church Monday at II
am.
Resigned During Oil Scandal.
After riding me crest of a wave Of
accomplishments that carried him to
the cabinet of President Harding, Edwin
DENLY was drowned politically in the
flood of oil scandal that boiled from the
naval oil leases at Teapot Dome.
One of the most popular men ever to
sit as a member Of an American Presi-
dents cabinet, DENLY virtually was COM
PEELED to resign the Secretaryship OF the
Navy in 1874 as part of the cabinet
cleanup demanded when the country
became aroused over the leases, which
led to the indictment for conspiracy of
Albert B. PAN, former Secretary OF the
Interior, and the oil men, Edward Do
heny and Harry r Sinclair.
Unfortunate acquiescence rather than
deliberate participation was the most
for which DENLY was blamed. He al
WAYS insisted thai his part in the leaS-
ing of the naval oil reserves was proper
and for the best interests OF the coun-
try
said in apublic address after he had re-
signed from the cabinet, II would have
been false to my trust and culpanly neg
ligel.t in the performance OF my duties; "
Detroit, Denby'.s home town, long VIII
remember Denbyis return from Wash
ington after he had quilted the cabinet
with the gossip and condemnation OF
Nation sounding in his ears. He was
feted as a hero, day of celebration be-
ing clinaaKed by a great public banquet
at which representative citizens sat and
by their presence and by their words be-
spoke complete confidence in him.
Esteemed BY TownspeOpIe.
Tears glistened in the DENLY eyes as
he heard eulogist!c words spoken that
night. He all but broke down when
three members of the Marine CorpS-tne
branch Of the service in which he en-
listed as a private and rose to major
ity-walked up 20 him unannounced, Sa.
luted, spoke few words OF regard ano
confidence, turned on their heels and
marched out of the banquet hall.
Whatever the Nation may have
thought. DENLY rever lost the esteem
and faith of his townspeople. He hac
been out of the cabinet only a fev
months when ne was chosen chairman
of a $5,0OO,O building program cam.
paign of the Y. NJ. G. A. He resumed
his banking. industrial and legal con
q.
candidate for the United States Senate
Denby's service to his country wa:
full and varied. It ran the gamul
from COB in the Navy and dew
dog" in the Marine Corps to head o.
the Navy Department. His career, be-
gun in his home State OF Indiana
carried him to China, through the
University of Michigan Law School, u
fame as Wolverine foot ball star, to TN
decks of the u. S. S. Yosemite dur
ing the Spanish American War, tn'
Michigan Legislature, to the Nationa
House of Representatives, to importan
positions in DetroitS MOTOR nousIr.
and to the cabinet.
Denby was born in Evansville. Ind
February IS, 1870, the son OF Charlie
and Martha Fitch DENLY. His fathe
for many years was United State
Minister to China.
Young DENLY left the Evansville Hlgl
School in 1885 before graduating 10 ac
company his father to the Far EaS'
There he remained nine years, Serv
ing from 1887 to 1894 with the Chimes
Imperial Maritime Customs Service
This service was the foundation for
knowledge of the Far East that re
suited In his being regarded in late
years as an authority on that sectio
of the globe.
Gained Fame on Gridiron.
Entering the University OF Michiga
at the age of "a, DENLY was graduate
in 1896 with bachelor of law degre'
His great physique aided him in estaE
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