Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-12

have replied that over thirty years ago, GER
tain residents Of Newport extended neither
good citizenship nor good manners.
I can't imagine any valid reason for Mrs
Coogans curious conduct" snorted the rich
spinster Miss Maudie, daughter OF a former
Republican Governor of Rhode Island.
But Miss Maude either conveniently for
gets the legend Of the Democratic Coogans.
Or she is the only resident Of the resort who
has not heard the story.
Like a haunted house in search Of a ghost
Whitehall leers into Catherine Street through
yard that is a jungle of vines, shrubs
and trees run riot and untrimmed in three
decades. Years ago the city-not Mrs. Coogan
boarded up the windows and doors on the
lower floor in an effort to keep tramps out
But if the exterior is shabby beyond be-
lief the inside is little more than rubble
Bricks and tile are gone from once-g grand
freplaces. Floors have been ripped up. Hand
carved paneling has been destroyed.
Not many persons could afford so costly
revenge as Mrs. Coogan's But this furtive
woman, who is even a legend at the Biltmore
hotel where she has lived for years has the
money 10 see that Newport shall pay and pay
for what it inflicted on her and her family
For Mrs Coogan is an immensely rich
woman, owning widespread ndinportant
parcels Of New York real estate The Polo
From her great, great grandmother,
Harriet Coogan inherited two parcels of land,
originally family farms, now worth millions
Part of that property overlooking the
Harlem River was once furthered by the late
Mr.. Coogan as a real estate DEVELOPMENT
called "Coogan's Bluff" From that and
other valuable property Mrs Coogan col
lects an income that makes it easy for her
to pay Newport taxes of 81 600 year.
leads wraith-like existence at the Biltmore.
Even the young wife of her grandson,
Robert Coogan, has never seen her.
she rarely sees anyone" young Mrs
Coogan explained But, she continued, the
story of Mrs. Coogan's Inflated Newport
venture is well-known to her family
More brave souls among the hotel en-
ployes call Mrs. Coogan and Miss Jessie the
'phantoms of the Biltmore" For More than
twenty years their routine has been curious
20 say the least AT . p. M. every day. waiter
leaves a table outside their door, II is loaded
with a combination breakfast.lunch When he
leaves. the table is silently pulled into the
suite and the door closed Once after that
meal they used TO slip down rear elevator.
leave the hotel by rear exit and be gone until
any time between midnight and 2 a. m
Presumably they went 10 West 26th St, to
an old office building owned by Mrs. Coogan
whore she once transacted business. But il
has been ages since she was last seen there.
For years, the Bltmore hotel has obeved
Mrs Coogan's injunction 20 slip all mail under
the door Apparently the hotel might as well
etirff It sf1U never answers the letters.
Consequently, the recent letter OF the
Mayor Of Newport has gone unanswered In IT,
Mayor Herbert McCauey wrote Mrs Coogan
that the residents of Newport wished 60 buy
Whitehall, demolsh the tattcrdcmalion build
ing and transform the property into a park
The park ne added, would be named FOR the
Coogan family
Doubtless. this final irony was not lost on
Mrs. Coogan After thirty years a memorial in
exchange for a mistake mistake on New
ports part in Understanding ITS adversary
park i'm exchange for The elemental polite
ness denied her thirty-one years ago.