Evening star., 1946-02-04

Germans seized his homes on the
Riviera and the Channel Islands.
In 1941 he published his autobiog-
raphy, ''The Pool of Memory"
Though Mr.. Oppenheim denied
a report that he once broke" the
bank of Monte Carlo, he was proud
OF his repute in London as the man
who made poker legal under English
law.
Made Poker Legal.
Warned by Scotland Yard that
the game was forbidden as a form
of gambling, the author announced
that he would "countenance" it be-
ing played that very evening in the
bridge club of which he was presi-
dent. The club was raided and Mr..
Oppenheim fined 10 pounds. He
promptly appealed and poker was
ruled game of skill, as he had
contended. Thereafter it could be
played without fear of Official mo-
lestation.
Later yachting became the au-
thor's chief diversion, but it never
was allowed to interfere with a
steady literary output of 5000 or
1000 words day, usually dictated.
OF his methods, he explained: "I
create one more or less interesting
personality, try to think of some
dramatic situation in which he or
she might be placed, and use that
as an opening of a nebulous chain
of events. let my characters work
out their own destiny" He never
attempted to work from a synopsis.
BY this process he created such
best-sellers as THE Lighted Way"
Q9l2), THE Great Prince Shan"
(1922). Murder at Monte Carlo"
(1932) and THE Last Train Out"
194D.
Born in London on October %,
1866, Mr.. Oppenheim received only
grammar school education, at Lei
cester where his father had a leather
business. The family originally re-
sided in Germany. from which his
ancestor, Ludwig Won Oppenheim,
was expelled in the 10th century.
NIarries American.
In 1891 Mr.. Oppenheim journeyed
to Boston to marry an American
girl, Miss Elise Hopkins, whom he
had met in England year before
The girls father at that time had
advised him to improve his for
tunes before requesting her hand
Mr.. Oppenheim arrived at the Hop
kins' home before dawn with check
for $1,000 in his pocket. He had
earned it by writing. The family
not being awake, he sat on the door,
step for several hours and then pre-
sented himself.
The Oppenheims had one daugh-
ter, who became Mrs. Geraldine
Nowell-Downs of Brockenhurst,
England.
Flee From Riviera.
| World War II caught the Open
heimers in their French Riviera es-
tate, Domaine de Notre Dame. ~
When the Nazis moved into the
Vichy zone, the author and his wife
fed across France and Spain to
Lisbon, thence to England. OF this
journey, the author reported: II
resorted with enthusiasm to my
almost. empty flask"
In addition to losing two estates
to the NaZis, an entire new cheap
edition of Mr.. Oppenheime's books
was destroyed in the London blitz
Booksellers reported that the war
brought an unprecedented and I'M
meetable demand for his works.
In September, l945, the Open
| heimers set out in a rented yacht
for their Channel Islands estate
lie Vauquiedor," at st. Peter Port,
Guernsey. When the engine broke
down the elderly couple spent II
days in the 24-ton craft.
Family Custom Cited.
Mr.. Oppenheim attributed his
career as a writer to a custom his
father inaugurated at home. Each
year the elder Oppenheim required
lllS C1lllOl Gil W WIlIC d SlOIy W NC
read on Christmas Eve, prize going
to the author of the one voted the
best by the family. Mr.. Oppenheim
at the age of 13 broke his fathers
winning streak.
Among Oppenheim works were {:
1.-THE Mysterious Mr.. Sabin," 1.-THE
Traitors" "a Prince of Sinners, -
"A Maker of History" ''The Secret" "
"The Conspirators, 1.-THE Mischief
Maker" '"The Double Traitor" i" 1.-THE
Great Impersonation," "The Evil
Shepherd" "The Mystery Road"
"Prodigals of Monte Carlo" ''The
Million Pound Deposit" Sinners
Beware "The Gallows of Chance, !"
"The Strange Boarders of Palace
Crescent, "The Spy Paramount" !"
Curious Happenings to the Rookie
Legatees, And Still I Cheat the
Gallows," "The Spymaster," "Sir
Adam Disappeared" 1.-THE Shy Plut-