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St Louis Republic
29 May 1903
REVEALED HIS IDENTITY ON HIS DEATHBED
Doctor Francis Tumblety, 82, Died at St John's Hospital, Leaving $100,000.
ASSUMED NAME OF TOWNSEND.
Physician Chose to Die Away From Relatives - Legacies to Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Ireland.
Leaving an estate estimated to exceed $100,000, Doctor Francis Tumblety, 82 years old, died at St John's Hospital yesterday afternoon without a relative or intimate friend at his bedside.
Legacies of $10,000 each to Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Ireland for charitable purposes were among his bequests.
Coming to St Louis under an assumed name, Doctor Tumblety, as he expressed it to the attendants of the hospital, "selected St John's as a convenient place to die."
For some time he had been suffering from valvular disease of the heart, and after a stay at Hot Springs, Ark., he decided to come to St Louis and prepare for the end.
having amassed a large fortune as an advertising physician, forty or fifty years ago, when that life of medical practice was rare, Doctor Tumblety has in later years travelled about the world. He was unmarried, and as he aged he developed a reticence about himself and his affairs that almost amounted to a mania.
Introducing himself as "Mr. Townsend," he engaged a room at St John's Hospital on April 26. Gradually the malady from which he was suffering developed to a serious stage and calling for a lawyer, Doctor Tumblety made known his identity.
Even within the shadow of death he exacted from the lawyer, and the Catholic priest whom he called to administer to his spiritual welfare, a promise of secrecy. Of his past life he would not speak except in a general way and it was only through his will that his wealth was made known to those who cared for him.
Although he realized that the end was near, Doctor Tumblety insisted upon going about whenever his condition would allow. Monday last he requested to be dressed, saying that he wished to take a walk. An attendant was assigned to assist him, but the doctor wished to be left alone.
After walking about the street for some time he returned to the hospital and sat on the steps of the building. While sitting there he went to sleep and fell forward on his face, breaking his nose and sustaining a shock from which he never recovered.
LAWYER WAS SURPRISED.
Much to the surprise of the lawyer who was called, Doctor Tumblety dictated a will bequeathing $65,000, and then hesitated concerning the remainder of his estate, which he intimated amounted to more than the amount disposed of in the will.
It appeared to be his intention a few hours before his death to leave the estate unaccounted for in his original will to the Catholic Church, but this purpose was not fulfilled.
During his illness he insisted that none of his friends and relatives should be informed of his condition, saying that he wanted to die in peace.
He was known to all the attendants about the hospital as "Mr. Townsend."
The bulk of his estate is believed to be in cash on deposit with the banking firm of Henry Clews & Co., of New York.
In his will he leaves $10,000 to Mrs. Thos. Brady, a niece, of Liverpool, England; to Mrs. Jane Hayes, a niece, he also leaves $10,000; the sum of $5,000 each is left to Mrs. Barrett and Miss Jane Moore, nieces, of Rochester, N.Y., while a legacy of $5,000 is bequeathed to a former coachman, Mark A. Blackburn. In addition to these items are the bequests to Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Ireland for charitable purposes.
Doctor Tumblety was a pioneer in the field of travelling physicians. He recognized the value of advertising and his success was phenomenal. He is remembered by old citizens of St Louis as a frequent visitor to the city forty or fifty years ago, and it is said that it was his plan to make himself conspicuous by wearing long hair and diamonds.
He claimed to be a native of Ireland, and he is said to have had experience in the Franco German War and the Civil War.
His body was taken in charge by the undertaking establishment of Cullinane Bros., No. 2433 Dickson Street. The relatives were advised of the death, and arrangements for the funeral are to be made today.
29 May 1903
REVEALED HIS IDENTITY ON HIS DEATHBED
Doctor Francis Tumblety, 82, Died at St John's Hospital, Leaving $100,000.
ASSUMED NAME OF TOWNSEND.
Physician Chose to Die Away From Relatives - Legacies to Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Ireland.
Leaving an estate estimated to exceed $100,000, Doctor Francis Tumblety, 82 years old, died at St John's Hospital yesterday afternoon without a relative or intimate friend at his bedside.
Legacies of $10,000 each to Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Ireland for charitable purposes were among his bequests.
Coming to St Louis under an assumed name, Doctor Tumblety, as he expressed it to the attendants of the hospital, "selected St John's as a convenient place to die."
For some time he had been suffering from valvular disease of the heart, and after a stay at Hot Springs, Ark., he decided to come to St Louis and prepare for the end.
having amassed a large fortune as an advertising physician, forty or fifty years ago, when that life of medical practice was rare, Doctor Tumblety has in later years travelled about the world. He was unmarried, and as he aged he developed a reticence about himself and his affairs that almost amounted to a mania.
Introducing himself as "Mr. Townsend," he engaged a room at St John's Hospital on April 26. Gradually the malady from which he was suffering developed to a serious stage and calling for a lawyer, Doctor Tumblety made known his identity.
Even within the shadow of death he exacted from the lawyer, and the Catholic priest whom he called to administer to his spiritual welfare, a promise of secrecy. Of his past life he would not speak except in a general way and it was only through his will that his wealth was made known to those who cared for him.
Although he realized that the end was near, Doctor Tumblety insisted upon going about whenever his condition would allow. Monday last he requested to be dressed, saying that he wished to take a walk. An attendant was assigned to assist him, but the doctor wished to be left alone.
After walking about the street for some time he returned to the hospital and sat on the steps of the building. While sitting there he went to sleep and fell forward on his face, breaking his nose and sustaining a shock from which he never recovered.
LAWYER WAS SURPRISED.
Much to the surprise of the lawyer who was called, Doctor Tumblety dictated a will bequeathing $65,000, and then hesitated concerning the remainder of his estate, which he intimated amounted to more than the amount disposed of in the will.
It appeared to be his intention a few hours before his death to leave the estate unaccounted for in his original will to the Catholic Church, but this purpose was not fulfilled.
During his illness he insisted that none of his friends and relatives should be informed of his condition, saying that he wanted to die in peace.
He was known to all the attendants about the hospital as "Mr. Townsend."
The bulk of his estate is believed to be in cash on deposit with the banking firm of Henry Clews & Co., of New York.
In his will he leaves $10,000 to Mrs. Thos. Brady, a niece, of Liverpool, England; to Mrs. Jane Hayes, a niece, he also leaves $10,000; the sum of $5,000 each is left to Mrs. Barrett and Miss Jane Moore, nieces, of Rochester, N.Y., while a legacy of $5,000 is bequeathed to a former coachman, Mark A. Blackburn. In addition to these items are the bequests to Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Ireland for charitable purposes.
Doctor Tumblety was a pioneer in the field of travelling physicians. He recognized the value of advertising and his success was phenomenal. He is remembered by old citizens of St Louis as a frequent visitor to the city forty or fifty years ago, and it is said that it was his plan to make himself conspicuous by wearing long hair and diamonds.
He claimed to be a native of Ireland, and he is said to have had experience in the Franco German War and the Civil War.
His body was taken in charge by the undertaking establishment of Cullinane Bros., No. 2433 Dickson Street. The relatives were advised of the death, and arrangements for the funeral are to be made today.
Sink the Bismark
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