The Phantom of Fifth Avenue: The Mysterious Life and Scandalous Death of Heiress Huguette Clark

by Meryl Gordon

  Documents: Family letters and telegrams: Huguette Clark, William Andrews Clark, Anna Clark, Charles Clark; Katherine Morris, William Andrews Clark Jr.; courtesy of Estate of Huguette M. Clark. William Andrews Clark’s letters to W. S. Bickford, Montana Historical Society. William Andrews Clark’s will, Montana Historical Society; Silver-Bow Archives.

  Books:

  Marshall Bond Jr., Adventures with Peons, Princes, and Tycoons, Star Rover House, 1974.

  William Daniel Mangam, The Clarks: An American Phenomenon, Silver Bow Press. 1941.

  David F. Myrick, Montecito and Santa Barbara, Volume II, The Days of the Great Estates, Montecito Publishing, 1991.

  Writer’s Notes: Huguette’s essay “Happy Moments,” dated December 16, no year, was stored with her high school report cards at Christie’s warehouse. Huguette Clark’s lessons with Tadé Styka began in the 1920s, but the precise year is uncertain. He mentions seeing her paintings in January 1925; she does not call him “chere maitre” in her letters until 1929.

  CHAPTER NINE: Society Girl

  Interviews: Kati Despretz Cruz, Gordon Lyle Jr., Tina Lyle Harrower, Christie Merrill, Christopher Sattler.

  Articles: “William A. Clark Gives Easter Monday Dance for Debutante Granddaughter,” New York Tribune, March 29, 1921; “Sketches Interior of Clark Mansion,” New York Times, January 24, 1926; “New York Society,” Washington Post, October 8, 1926; “Debutantes Feted at Two Luncheons,” New York Times, November 23, 1926; Sunday photo section, New York Times, December 5, 1926; “Frank V. Storrs, Advertising Man,” New York Times, March 9, 1939; “Clark Home Sold Under $3,000,000,” New York Times, February 2, 1927; “Why Not?” New York Times, February 5, 1927; “View Clark Home, Due to Be Wrecked,” New York Times, February 23, 1927; “Clark Mansion Open to Public,” New York Times, March 20, 1927; “William MacDonald Gower,” Nassau Herald, courtesy of Princeton University library; “De-Mun Cuyler Wedding Festivities Set New Records for Gayety,” Omaha World-Herald, May 15, 1927; “Dinners Given at Ritz,” New York Times, May 25, 1927; “Clark-Gower,” New York Times, December 14, 1927; “To Wed Heiress of Clark Riches,” New York Sun, December 14, 1927; “Princeton Graduate to Wed Heiress,” Trenton Times, December 15, 1927; “Many Betrothals of Wide Interest,” New York Times, December 25, 1927; “Jungle Dance for Debs,” December 30, 1927; “Give Revue for a Charity,” New York Times, January 23, 1927; “Lewis L. Clarkes Are Hosts at Dance,” New York Times, January 27, 1928; “Notes of Social Activities,” New York Times, February 15, 1928; “The Clark Collection,” Washington Post, March 11, 1928; “Engaged Couple Honored,” New York Times, April 11, 1928; “Wedding of William Gower to Miss Clark Occurs Today,” undated clip, Santa Barbara Historical Society, August 17, 1938; “Miss Huguette Clark Weds William Gower,” New York Times, August 18, 1928; “A $30-a-Week Husband for a $50,000,000 Heiress,” Salt Lake City Tribune, September 16, 1928; “She Shocked the 400 by Marrying for Love and $30 per Week,” Danville Bee, October 4, 1928; “New York Society Couple to Pass Through Salt Lake,” Salt Lake Tribune, October 28, 1928; “Tadé Styka Praises American Art Trend,” New York Times, December 28, 1928; “U.S. Has Loveliest Women, Says Famed Polish Artist,” Lancaster Daily Gazette, January 19, 1929; “Many Entertained by J. S. Laidlaws,” New York Times, February 10, 1929; “Mrs. de Brabant Is Hostess,” New York Times, May 10, 1929; Cholly Knickerbocker, “Gowers Near Divorce Court,” New York American, May 14, 1929; Eleanor Jewett, “Styka’s Paintings Entrance Critic Who Then Reveals Why,” Chicago Daily Tribune, January 25, 1930; “Mrs. Gower Goes to Reno,” New York Times, April 15, 1930; “Clark’s Daughter Coming to Reno for 3 Months,” Reno Evening Gazette, April 16, 1930; “Reno Agog over Clark Kin’s Move,” Los Angeles Times, April 17, 1930; “Why America’s $50,000,000 Heiress Cast Off Her $30-a-Week Prince Charming and Ritzed Reno by Renting an Entire Hotel Floor and Moving in with an Array of Servants,” Hamilton Evening Journal, June 28, 1930; “W. A. Clark’s Daughter Gets a Reno Divorce,” New York Times, August 12, 1930; “Fund for Neediest Nearing 1929 Total,” New York Times, December 26, 1930; “Mrs. Huguette Clark,” Associated Press, September 6, 1931.

  Documents: Huguette Clark’s letters to Tadé Styka, courtesy of Wanda Styka and Estate of Huguette M. Clark; William Gower letter to Anna Clark and receipts from Cartier and Van Cleef and Arpels, courtesy of Estate of Huguette M. Clark. Social Register, 1904–2011, New York Public Library, Bryant Park location. Corcoran Gallery catalogue, exhibit of paintings of Huguette Clark, April 1930.

  CHAPTER TEN: Alone Again

  Articles: “Duke Denies Plan to Wed,” New York Times, January 28, 1931; “Clark Sues to Void $10,000,000 Trusts,” New York Times, July 29, 1931; “Polish Artist Finds Gotham More ‘Wicked’ Than Paree,” Associated Press, November 30, 1931; “Toulmin-Gower,” New York Times, June 4, 1932; “Beauty Will Tell Story of Gross Cruelty,” San Francisco Chronicle, September 25, 1907; “Hart M’Kee Only Wanted Wife’s Money,” San Francisco Chronicle, May 5, 1908; “Bitter Words for Husband,” Atlanta Constitution, April 9, 1908; “Charges of Wife Denied by M’Kee,” Chicago Daily Tribune, April 16, 1908; “Double Divorce in M’Kee Case,” Atlanta Constitution, May 8, 1908; “The Clark Millions,” Boston Herald, June 6, 1932; “Mrs. Constance Toulmin Bride of W. M. Gower,” New York Sun, June 4, 1932; “Mrs. Toulmin Weds,” New York Times, June 5, 1932; “W. A. Clark 3d Is Killed in Airplane Crash,” New York Times, May 16, 1932; “Old Names Missing in New Opera List,” New York Times, November 14, 1932; “Charles W. Clark, Head of Verde Copper, Dies,” Washington Post, April 9, 1933; “C. W. Clark Dead; A Copper Magnate,” New York Times, April 9, 1933; “By the Bye in Wall Street,” Wall Street Journal, May 3, 1933; Edward Alden Jewell, “Art of Tadé Styka,” New York Times, February 9, 1934; “Dinner Dance Held by Maytown Club,” New York Times, May 8, 1934.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN: Facts, Fiction, and Betrayal

  Interviews: Gordon Lyle Jr., Karine McCall, Jan Perry, Wanda Styka.

  Articles: “Asks $123,000 ‘Gifts’ as Social Adviser,” New York Times, January 20, 1929; “Artist’s Wife Ends De Brabant Suit,” New York Times, January 27, 1929; “Society Tongues Cease Wagging as Suit Fizzles,” Los Angeles Times, January 27, 1929; “Clark Rites in Abeyance,” Los Angeles Times, June 10, 1934; “William Andrews Clark, Second Son of Noted Montana Pioneer, Called by Death near Missoula,” Associated Press, June 14, 1934; “W. A. Clark Junior,” Los Angeles Times, June 15, 1934; “30 Others to Get Share of Huge Estate,” Associated Press, June 20, 1934; “Clark’s Heir Comes of Age, Gets $367,891,” Associated Press, March 11, no year, Montana Historical Society; “Clark’s Big Estate Now Distributed,” Associated Press, August 20, no year, Montana Historical Society; “Film Star’s Portrait Disrupts Art Show,” New York Times, June 23, 1934; “Marion Davies’ Portrait Stirs Row in Venice,” Chicago Daily Tribune, June 23, 1934; “Styka’s Davies,” Time, July 2, 1934; “Clark Will Discloses Further Large Gifts,” Los Angeles Times, July 23, 1934; “American Girl to Pose for Murals at Vatican,” Chicago Daily Tribune, November 11, 1934; “Clark Estate Share Is Paid,” Trenton Times, November 8, 1935; “Night Club Notes,” New York Times, November 16, 1935; “Cabaret Men Cleared,” New York Times, February 29, 1936; “Rich Texas Widow Must Pay $30,000 to Wife in Love Theft,” Dallas Morning News, November 21, 1936; “Styka Brothers Joint Exhibitors,” New York Times, November 21, 1936; “Marquis Is Winner of Heiress Widow,” Associated Press, December 25, 1936; “Wealthy Widow Picks Marquis over Prince,” Los Angeles Times, February 25, 1936; “Miss Toulmin Will Make Debut in London,” New York Sun, February 6, 1937; “A Novel of an Age of Innocence: Myron Brinig’s The Sisters,” New York Times, February 7, 1937; “One of the Better Brooks,” Atlanta Constitution, March 14, 1937; “Says First-Floor Homes Give Women Slim Ankles,” New York Times, April 3, 1937; “William B. Gower, Leader in Copper,” New York Times, August 31, 1937; “Tadé Styka Shows Portraits at Tea,” New York Post, October 30, 1937; “Lady Decies Honored at a Luncheon Here,”
New York Times, February 28, 1938; “La Chapelle Rites Solemnized,” Los Angeles Times, May 30, 1938; “New Films: ‘The Sisters,’ ” Daily Boston Globe, November 18, 1938; “Bette Davis Is Star Errol Flynn in Lead Dates back to 1904 Hit Stage Show,” Washington Post, November 19, 1938; Walter Winchell column, Charleston Daily Mail, November 22, 1938; Walter Winchell column, Brownsville Herald, May 31, 1939; “Joins Mother,” Los Angeles Times, September 6, 1939; Cholly Knickerbocker column, Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 16, 1940; “Angelenos Gather,” Los Angeles Times, August 11, 1941; “Party at Opening of Cotillion Room,” New York Times, November 1, 1941; “Dress Makes the Woman, Painter Says,” Washington Post, May 16, 1942; Cholly Knickerbocker column, May 12, 1943; “Famous Cases and Criminals: Velvalee Dickinson, the Doll Woman,” FBI, http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/velvalee-dickinson-doll-woman; “Bare Knuckles on Bare Bodies,” Atlanta Constitution, June 15 1902; “Submarine Shells Southland Oil Field,” Los Angeles Times, February 24, 1942; “Refinery Fired On,” New York Times, February 24, 1942; “Winchell on Broadway,” June 25, 1946; “New Friends Offer Paganini Quartet,” New York Times, November 4, 1946; “Robert Maas, Led Paganini Quartet, 47,” New York Times, July 9, 1948; “Tadé Styka, Artist, Dies,” New York Times, September 12, 1954; Barbara Hoelscher Doran, “Huguette Clark: 1906–2011,” Santa Barbara Independent, June 9, 2011.

  Documents: Affidavit of George Pale, August 27, 1935; letters from William A. Clark Jr. to George Pale, Montana Historical Society. Tadé Styka and Doris Styka appointment calendars, notes, and letters, courtesy of Wanda Styka. Huguette Clark letters, with thanks to the Estate of Huguette Clark for access to review, and permission to extensively quote from, her letters. Henri de Villermont letters to Huguette Clark, courtesy the Estate of Huguette Clark.

  Books:

  Myron Brinig, The Sisters, Grosset & Dunlap, 1937.

  George H. Douglas, “Major Bowes,” in American National Biography, Volume 3, Oxford University Press, 1999.

  William Daniel Mangam, The Clarks: An American Phenomenon, Silver Bow Press, 1941.

  CHAPTER TWELVE: The Lady Vanishes

  Interviews: Jane Bannerman, Kathleen Bride, Isabelle Cazeaux, Jacques Despretz, Kati Despretz Cruz, Ann Fabrizio, Anna Fels, Helen Garrett (by e-mail), Geraldine (McCall) Gottesman, Bernard Grandjany, Tina Harrower, Margaret Hoag, Sherry Stockwell Howard, Irving Kamsler, Linda Kasakyan, Joy Knapp, Gordon Lyle Jr., Caterina Marsh, Karine McCall, Jan Perry, Christopher Sattler, Neal Sattler, Wanda Styka, Sarah La Chapelle Thompson, Lucy (Lyle) Tower, Florence Young.

  Depositions: Paul Albert, André Baeyens, Carla Hall, Gemma Hall, Karine McCall.

  Articles: “Second Benefit Versailles Ball,” New York Times, October 3, 1954; “Mounts Literary Summit at 20: Polan Banks Kept Age Secret,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1926; “Maria T. Berry, Niece of School’s Founder, Married Here to Prince Alexis Droutzkoy,” New York Times, December 17, 1944; “Mrs. Frank V. Storrs,” New York Times, February 10, 1954; “Dr. William G. Lyle,” New York Times, November 26, 1955; “Mrs. Anna E. Clark, Widow of Copper Multimillionaire,” Newsday, October 12, 1963; “Anna Clark, Patron of Corcoran Gallery,” Washington Post, October 13, 1963; “Mrs. Anna Clark, Senator’s Widow,” New York Times, October 12, 1963; “William Gower Obituary,” New York Times, December 22, 1976; “William Leveson Gower, ’25,” Princeton Alumni Bulletin; “Charles S. Bannerman, Lawyer Who Specialized in Estates,” New York Times, September 29, 1976; “Algernon P. Banks, Novelist, Dies at 77,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, March 4, 1984; Barbara Hoelscher Doran, “Huguette Clark 1906–2011,” Santa Barbara Independent, June 9, 2011.

  Documents: Doris Styka notes, courtesy of Wanda Styka. Huguette Clark letters and telegrams, with thanks to the Estate of Huguette Clark for access to review, and permission to extensively quote from, her letters. Letters and telegrams to Huguette Clark from William Gower, Harry Pepper, Etienne de Villermont, Henri de Villermont, Felix Lorioux, and Donald Wallace, receipts, and notes, courtesy of the Estate of Huguette Clark.

  Books:

  Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell Jr., Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune, Ballantine Books, 2013.

  A. A. Hoehling, Women Who Spied: True Stories of Feminine Espionage, Madison Books, 1967.

  CHAPTERS THIRTEEN THROUGH SIXTEEN

  Interviews: Wallace Bock, Susan Brody, Rabbi Steven Burton, Isabelle Cazeaux, Barbara Cleary, Kati Despretz Cruz, Jacques Despretz, Ian Devine, Cynthia Garcia, Jennifer Gibbins, Paul Greenhalgh, Carla Hall, Kurt Harjung, Irving Kamsler, Judi Kamsler, David Levy, Sheila Lodge, Gordon Lyle Jr., Karine McCall, Marilyn McMahon, Daphne Merkin, Susan Olsen, Marie Pompei, Christopher Sattler, Neal Sattler, Fraser Seitel, Steve Shirley, Roberto Socas, Wanda Styka, Lucy (Lyle) Tower.

  Depositions: André Baeyens, Jean-Loup Brusson, Geraldine Coffey, Ian Devine, Rodney Devine, Carla Hall, Erika Hall, Dr. Morton Hyman, Karine McCall, Paul Newell Jr., Dr. Robert Newman, Abraham Peri, Daniel Peri, David Peri, Geula Peri, Hadassah Peri, Steven Pyram, Dr. Jack Rudick, Danita Rudisill, Lewis Siegel, Dr. Henry Singman, Mildred Velasquez, Christie Ysit, Erlinda Ysit.

  Articles: Joshua Kosman, “Agnes Albert: Pianist, San Francisco Symphony Supporter,” San Francisco Chronicle, June 20, 2002; Paul Tharp, “Renoir Auction Scratches 10-Year Itch,” New York Post, April 3, 2003; Bill Dedman, “The Clarks: An American Story of Wealth, Scandal and Mystery,” msnbc.com, March 2010; Tim Trainor, “Where Is Huguette Clark?” Montana Standard, March 7, 2010; Steve Myers, “MSNBC Uses Slide Show for In-Depth Narrative Story,” Poynter.org, March 9, 2010; Erica Pearson and James Fanelli, “A 42-Room Palace Sits Empty,” New York Daily News, July 31, 2010; Bill Dedman, “Who Is Watching Reclusive Heiress’s Millions?” msnbc.com, August 20, 2010; Doug Auer, Laura Italiano, Dan Mangan, “Princess of Beth Israel,” New York Post, August 27, 2010; Todd Venezia, “New York’s Hermit Heiress and Her Sad Secrets,” New York Post, August 27, 2010; Rebecca Rosenberg, “D.A. Targets 104-Year-Old Heiress’ Gifts to Lawyer,” New York Post, August 29, 2010; Jeanne MacIntosh, Ada Calhoun, Dan Mangan, “Heiress Phantom ‘Family,’ ” New York Post, August 31, 2010; Dan Mangan, “Heiress Kin to the ‘Re$cue,’ ” New York Post, September 4, 2010; “Heiress Wants Kin to Butt Out: Lawyer,” New York Post, September 8, 2010; Jennifer Peltz, “NY Judge: No Guardian for Copper Heiress, 104,” Associated Press, September 9, 2010; Margalit Fox, “Heiress to the High Life,” New York Times, May 25, 2011; Stephen Miller, “Society Girl Who Spent 8 Decades in Seclusion,” Wall Street Journal, May 25, 2011; “The Real Miss Havisham,” Asian News International, May 25, 2011; “Hermit Heiress from an Era of Excess,” West Australian, May 27, 2011; Marilyn McMahon, “Recluse, Yes; Cut Off from the World, No,” Santa Barbara News-Press, July 9, 2011; Marilyn McMahon, “Unraveling a Mystery,” Santa Barbara News-Press, May 29, 2011; Bill Dedman, “The $10 Million Degas Ballerina, Heiress Huguette Clark and the Tax Man,” msnbc.com, March 15, 2012; Alice Thorson, “Painting’s Story Touches Blochs, FBI and the Nelson,” Kansas City Star, March 15, 2012.

  Documents: Beth Israel e-mails, letters, and records; Irving Kamsler and Wallace Bock letters, billing records, drafts of wills; nurses’ notes; Christopher Sattler time sheets; Huguette M. Clark probate case, File 1995/1375, Manhattan Surrogate’s Court; Sotheby’s catalogue, November 1999.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: The Battle for Huguette’s Fortune

  Interviews: Paul Albert, Wallace Bock, Harvey Corn, Celia Gray Cummings, John Dadakis, Ian Devine, Carl Distefano, John Graziano, Gerald Gray, Carla Hall, Irving Kamsler, Jason Lilien, Karine McCall, John Morken, Marie Pompei, Christopher Sattler, Wanda Styka.

  Depositions: Wallace Bock, Ian Devine, Gerald Gray, Irving Kamsler, Dr. Robert Newman, Hadassah Peri, Dr. Jack Rudick, Danita Rudisill, Christopher Sattler, Lewis Siegel.

  Articles: “Family Stiffed out of $400 Million Fortune,” New York Daily News; “Heiress Had Ill Will: Nurse $34 M, Kin 0,” New York Post, June 23, 2011; “All
Dolled Up,” New York Post, November 20, 2011; “The Heiress and the Nurse,” New York Post, November 20, 2011; “Copper Heiress Signed 2 Wills in 2 Months,” Associated Press, November 28, 2011; Bill Dedman, “A $400 Million Twist: Huguette Clark Signed Two Wills, One to Her Family,” msnbc.com, November 28, 2011; Barbara Ross and Tracy Connor, “It’s 400M Battle of the Wills!” New York Daily News, November 28, 2011; Jason Sheftell and Erin Durkin, “Sheik-Down at Clark Apts,” New York Post, May 8, 2012; Elizabeth A. Harris, “Unraveling Some Mystery Surrounding the Homes of a Reclusive Heiress,” New York Times, March 20, 2012; Anemona Hartocollis, “Hospital Caring for an Heiress Pressed Her to Give Lavishly,” New York Times, May 30, 2013; David Montgomery, “Will the Corcoran Get the Monet?” Washington Post, January 31, 2013; Paul Sullivan, “In the Battle over the Estate of a Wealthy Recluse, Some Lessons,” New York Times, June 15, 2013; Anemona Hartocollis, “Two Wills, One Private Heiress,” New York Times, September 15, 2013; Anemona Hartocollis, “Tentative Deal in Battle over the Will of an Heiress,” New York Times, September 20, 2013; Dareh Gregorian, “$100 Million Suit: Hospital Hid Heiress Away,” New York Post, November 24, 2013.