Authors: Bill Dedman

Empty Mansions (62 page)

BOOK: Empty Mansions

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Chapter 9: Le Beau Château

1
EVENTUALLY OWNING FIFTY-TWO ACRES:
New Canaan property records show Huguette completing the purchase in August 1951, then adding land to expand the property to fifty-two acres from the original forty-two. In 1952, she had the roof raised and added a wing that measures twenty-three feet by twenty-five feet. It has a large public room on the first floor, a bedroom above with a cathedral ceiling, and an artist’s loft.

2
D
AVID
A
IKEN
R
EED:
Senator Reed’s construction of the house and its features were described in detail in newspaper articles, including “Senator Reed Builds Home in New Canaan,”
The New York Times
, August 7, 1938.

3
“
KEEPING
A
MERICAN STOCK UP
”
:
George M. Stephenson,
A History of American Immigration: 1820–1924
(New York: Russel and Russel, 1964).

4
SHE SPENT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS:
1997 estimates and work orders, HMC papers.

5
THE FINEST VIOLIN IN THE WORLD
: The history of La Pucelle is described by David Fulton in an unpublished manuscript of a memoir.

6
T
HE ASKING PRICE:
Documents on Huguette’s purchase of La Pucelle, HMC papers.

7
S
HE EXPANDED HER COLLECTION:
Documents on Huguette’s purchases of art and of Apartment 12W, HMC papers.

8
“D
ID
Y
OU
E
VER
R
EPLACE
S
NOOPY?
”: Huguette Clark to Bill Gower, August 1946, cable, HMC papers.

9
“E
VERYTHING WAS SKETCHY
”
:
Janet Perry interview with Dedman, May 31, 2012.

10
A
NTIBES:
Gower’s home in Antibes was painted by artist Felix Kelly,
La Sarrazine, Antibes
, 1968, sold at Christie’s, London, November 6, 1998, listing at
http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/LotDetailsPrintable.aspx?intObjectID=1365867
.

11
H
E DIED OF CONSUMPTION:
The cemetery files of the Town of North Elba, near Lake Placid, New York, give information about Gower’s death and burial.

12
A MOSSY HEADSTONE:
Bill Gower’s whereabouts have tormented researchers for years. He was hard to find because he used two middle names. His full name was William MacDonald Levenson Gower. When he married Huguette, he was known in the papers as William MacDonald Gower, then
in the Social Register as William M. L. Gower. Finally, in his professional life, he switched to William L. Gower.

13
D
ELIA
H
EALEY:
Delia Healey’s grandchildren Chris Santorsola and Patrick Brady described her work for Huguette in interviews with Dedman, beginning March 2010.

14
O
UT IN
Y
ONKERS
: Ann Fabrizio described her father, Robert Samuels, and his work for Huguette in interviews with Dedman, beginning March 2010. His work is documented in letters and receipts in HMC papers.

15
ONLY ONE PART-TIME MAID
: The dwindling of Huguette’s staff is shown in expenditure reports, HMC papers.

16
“I
T WAS SPOOKY
”
:
Hadassah Peri described what Huguette told her of this incident with the delivery boy in her testimony, August 13, 2012, Depositions.

Chapter 10: Doctors Hospital

1
M
ADAME
P
IERRE CALLED:
Suzanne Pierre’s role in contacting Dr. Singman is told in his affidavit, filed in Surrogate’s Court, May 24, 2012.

2
“H
ER DOLLS,”
M
ADAME
P
IERRE SAID:
Suzanne Pierre interview with Dedman, March 13, 2010.

3
“I
WOULD ASK HER TO GO OUT
”
:
Ibid.

4
“S
HE THOUGHT THEY WERE JUST
”
:
Ibid.

5
D
OCTORS
H
OSPITAL WAS NOT THE PLACE:
The reputation of the hospital as catering to the elite is described, for example, in “These Days, You Have to Be Ill to Get into Doctors Hospital,”
The New York Times
, December 27, 1970.

6
“
LIKE A HOMELESS PERSON
”
:
HMC medical records.

7
“
MANAGING POORLY AT HOME
”
:
The social worker’s assessment is in HMC medical records.

8
“T
HIS SHE HAS STEADFASTLY
”
:
HMC medical records.

9
“I
HAD STRONGLY URGED
”
:
Dr. Henry Singman, HMC medical records.

10
“
PERFECTLY HAPPY, CONTENT
”
:
Dr. Henry Singman, testimony, August 16 and 20, 2012, Depositions.

11
H
UGUETTE FIRED HER:
The later night nurse, Geraldine Lehane Coffey, described this incident in her testimony: “Huguette told her, I do not want Angela to work for me any more because I don’t feel comfortable, she wants me to go home. Because they wanted Mrs. Clark to go home, but she didn’t feel ready to go home.” Coffey testified July 9 and September 4, 2012, Depositions.

12
“
WAS SO CONTENT
”
:
Dr. John L. E. Wolff, testimony, September 13, 2012, Depositions.

13
H
UGUETTE WAS HARDLY EVER SICK:
HMC medical records.

14
“
EXTREMELY FRIGHTENED
”
:
Ibid.

15
“Y
OU HAVE TO CONVINCE HER
”
:
Hadassah Peri, testimony, August 13, 14, 15, and 17, 2012, Depositions.

16
G
ICELA
T
EJADA
O
LOROSO:
Peri’s birth name, date of birth, and place of birth are given on a name change petition, Civil Court of the City of New York, October 24, 2011, in which she changed her name legally to Hadassah Peri, the name she had been using for years.

17
S
HE PASSED HER
N
EW
Y
ORK EXAMS:
Peri described her work and family history in her deposition. Her status as a registered nurse is confirmed in New York State records.

18
“I
GIVE MY LIFE TO
M
ADAME
”
:
Hadassah Peri deposition.

19
“S
HE LIKE A SIMPLE ROOM
”
:
Ibid.

20
LOOK OUT ON THE
F
OURTH OF
J
ULY:
Coffey deposition.

21
“T
HE WOMAN WAS AN ECCENTRIC
”
:
Singman deposition.

22
T
HE DAILY ROUTINE BEGAN:
The typical day is described in the depositions of several nurses, as well as in the daily nurses’ notes in HMC medical records.

23
“
WALK IN
C
ENTRAL
P
ARK
”
:
Chris Sattler, testimony, August 23 and September 6, 2012, Depositions.

24
“M
RS
. C
LARK LIKED TO SPEAK
F
RENCH
”
:
Kati Despretz Cruz, testimony, September 6, 2012, Depositions.

25
“S
HE WOULD WATCH THE STOCK
”
:
Primrose Mohiuddin, testimony, September 17, 2012, Depositions.

26
“W
HEN
P
RESIDENT
C
LINTON
”
:
Sattler deposition.

27
“S
HE WAS A WIZ
”
:
Singman deposition.

28
“
HER DEAR FATHER
”
:
Hadassah Peri deposition.

29
H
UGUETTE’S EYESIGHT HAD DECLINED:
Her physical condition and response to her hearing loss are described in depositions and HMC medical records.

30
“S
HE WAS REMARKABLY CLEAR
”
:
Karen Gottlieb, testimony, July 10, 2012, Depositions.

31
“T
HAT’S ONE DAY
”
:
Hadassah Peri deposition.

32
“
A BEAUTIFUL LADY
”
:
Ibid.

33
“H
ADASSAH WAS VERY GOOD
”
:
Singman deposition.

34
“M
ADAME
, I
LOVE YOU
”
:
The tape of this conversation, captured on the answering machine at the Peri home, was played during Hadassah Peri’s deposition. Based on when the machine was purchased, Peri estimated it occurred around 2007.

35
H
UGUETTE APPROACHED A
F
RENCH FURNITURE COMPANY:
HMC papers.

36
C
HRIS FIRST VISITED
: Sattler described his work history and his routine in his deposition.

37
F
IND ALL THE LADIES-IN-WAITING:
Sattler kept a time log of his daily activities for Huguette, entered as an exhibit to his deposition.

38
“I
WASN’T AN EXPERT
”
:
Sattler deposition.

39
“C
HRIS,” SHE WOULD SAY:
Ibid.

40
“T
HEN,”
C
HRIS RECALLED:
Ibid.

41
AT A PRICE OF
$50,000: Correspondence from G. T. Marsh and Company is in HMC papers and exhibits to Caterina Marsh, testimony, July 2, 2012, Depositions.

42
“I
NEVER SAW HER UNHAPPY
”
:
Sattler deposition.

43
“S
HE LIKED TO HAVE
”
:
Ibid.

44
“
BECAUSE SHE LIKED
”
:
Ibid.

45
“B
ELIEVE ME
”
:
Ibid.

46
“
LIKE A DAY AT THE RACETRACK
”
:
Sattler deposition.

47
“S
HE LOVED THE AUCTIONS
”
:
Ibid.

48
C
HRIS SAID HE COUNTED:
Ibid.

49
“M
RS
. C
LARK DIDN’T LIKE IT
”
:
Ibid.

50
“
WAS NEVER ABLE TO FIGURE
”
:
Ibid.

51
“S
HE WAS,”
C
HRIS SAID:
Ibid.

52
STUDYING DANCE IN THE
1920s: Ninta Sandré is listed in
The New Yorker
, April 14, 1928, as presenting a dance recital with Michio Ito at the Princess Theatre, and her debut at a Broadway theater was reviewed in “Ninta Sandre Offers Program of Dances,”
The New York Times
, May 3, 1931.

53
O
NE EVENING IN
J
ANUARY
1987: Ninta’s later years were described by Lyn Strasheim, who worked for Dr. Myron Wright, in an interview with Dedman, July 5, 2012.

54
$329,000
A
M
ONTH:
The authors compiled Huguette’s expenditures for these months from regular reports made to her by attorney Donald Wallace, HMC papers.

55
“M
RS
. C
LARK WANTED EVERYTHING
”
:
Strasheim interview with Dedman, July 5, 2012.

56
“
LOOKED LIKE A BAG WOMAN
”
:
Ibid.

57
A
LAWYER SHOWED UP:
Gwendolyn Jenkins described Don Wallace’s visit in an interview with Dedman, May 29, 2012.

58
“E
VERY YEAR SINCE
”
:
Don Wallace to HMC, letter, September 30, 1994, HMC papers.

59
CAREFUL WITH HER CHECKING:
Copies of Huguette’s bank books, HMC papers.

60
OVERDRAFTS HAD STARTED:
A Don Wallace letter to Huguette Clark, in February 1985, warned about overdrafts and asked her to warn him whenever she wrote a check over $5,000, HMC papers.

61
M
OST OF HER INCOME:
Huguette’s tax returns, HMC papers.

62
H
UGUETTE’S BALANCE IN THAT ACCOUNT:
Repeated letters from Summit
Bank and Huguette’s advisers urging her to move the money into an interest-bearing account are in HMC papers.

63
H
UGUETTE RECEIVED A PLEA:
Letters from the Paul Clark Home are in HMC papers.

64
A
S A MEMORIAL:
The Paul Clark Home gave the authors copies of documents on its early days, and the authors toured the home.

65
H
UGUETTE RECEIVED SIMILAR LETTERS:
HMC papers.

66
H
UGUETTE WAS A BIDDER:
Letters informing Huguette about this auction and many others in which she won the bid are in HMC papers.

67
TWO ANTIQUE
F
RENCH DOLLS
: These two dolls are in the Sotheby’s catalog
Important Dolls, Teddy Bears, Toys and Automata, London, Tuesday 18th May 1993
(London: Sotheby’s, 1993), lots 219 and 244.

68
“S
HE REALLY IS ADORABLE
”
:
Huguette Clark to Doris Styka, December 29, 1944, exhibit to Styka deposition.

69
“
IT HAS BEEN SO VERY LONG
”
:
Doris Styka to Huguette Clark, July 23, 1948, Styka deposition exhibit.

70
“A
S WE THINK OF WHAT
”
:
Doris Styka to Huguette Clark, August 19, 1948, Styka deposition exhibit.

71
ART CURATOR AND ARCHIVIST:
Wanda was for many years the archivist at Chesterwood, the Massachusetts country home, studio, and gardens of sculptor Daniel Chester French, best known for
The Minute Man
in Concord, Massachusetts, and the seated Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

72
“M
OTHER AND
I
SEND STREAMS
”
:
Styka deposition exhibit.

73
W
ANDA TRIED TO CALL
H
UGUETTE:
Wanda Styka told this story in her testimony, August 1, 2012, Depositions.

74
“W
ELL, THEN DON’T
”
:
Ibid.

75
“I
F THERE EVER WAS ANYBODY
”
:
Sattler deposition.

76
H
UGUETTE’S GIFTS TO HER NURSE
: The gifts to Hadassah Peri are detailed in the petition of the New York County Public Administrator’s Office to recover gifts made from Huguette’s accounts. An amended petition was filed on November 30, 2012, in Surrogate’s Court of the State of New York County, County of New York, case 1995-1375A. (Referred to hereafter as “public administrator’s petition.”) This petition is available online at
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Sections/NEWS/clark_petition_for_clawback.pdf
. Many of the same documents are included in HMC papers.

77
“
VULNERABLE TO THE INFLUENCE
”
:
Public administrator’s petition.

78
“M
ADAME, YOU HAVE GIVEN US
”
:
Hadassah Peri deposition.

79
“S
OMETIMES
I
WOULD SAY
”
:
Hadassah Peri deposition.

80
H
UGUETTE’S GIFTS FOR THE YEAR
1991: Her gifts are listed on her federal gift tax return for 1991, HMC papers.

81
H
UGUETTE ALSO KEPT BUYING:
Public administrator’s petition.

82
“I
TOLD
M
ADAME
I
HAVE MANY
”
:
Hadassah Peri deposition.

83
“T
O TELL YOU THE TRUTH
”
:
Hadassah Peri deposition.

84
“D
EAREST
M
ADAME
, I
WOULD LIKE
”
:
Abraham Peri to HMC, birthday card, 2001, HMC papers.

85
H
UGUETTE’S GIFTS TO THE
P
ERIS:
Public administrator’s petition.

86
“M
Y GRANDMOTHER FELT
”
:
Cruz deposition.

87
THE BOY WAS SO CUTE:
Cruz described this apartment purchase in her deposition.

88
MORE THAN
$1
MILLION IN GIFTS:
Coffey deposition.