Part 4: The Case of the Cursed Socialite
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It was a bright, clear winter afternoon in 1901 at their residence in Washington, D.C., located at 1710 New Hampshire Avenue. Irene, despite attending many formal events, felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. Her mother, the wealthy widow of John William Moore, Elizabeth Stauffer Moore, was introducing Irene to society with a lavish tea party. Dressed in a gown of heliotrope crepe de chine, her mother greeted guests in the music room. Irene, wearing a white crepe de chine gown and holding pink roses, waited expectantly in her dressing room before a full-length mirror for her signal. She took a final moment to gaze at her reflection. As she did so, she observed how the dress not only elegantly emphasized her youthful figure but also maintained a respectable degree of decorum.
Hearing her cue, Irene drifted downstairs, moving gracefully through the elegantly decorated rooms. She inhaled the sweet fragrance of the blooms, could hear the music of the orchestra, and the animated chatter of the crowd, when suddenly the voices began to intensify. In her household, loud voices were forbidden, especially after dark. Even her young grandson knew the rule: "No loud talking inside at any time." Her daughter relayed the staff's whispers; they believed she was overbearing and preferred her husband. Despite what he had led everyone to believe, Glenview Mansion was hers and hers alone, a precious gift from William, who tragically collapsed and died in the rose garden where, mere days before, they had joyously commemorated their fifth wedding anniversary with a party.
As the noise intensified, the sharp, rhythmic tap of a woman running in heels became unmistakable. She would issue instructions the following day for a mandatory review of the house rules for all staff: "Beds must be made, rooms tidied, and doors opened by ten o'clock each morning," and "Madam must be immediately informed of any breakage. Repeated breakages will incur a cost determined by Madam." Meal times are to be clearly displayed, along with the designated hours for opening and closing the curtains, and a strict reminder that "No loud talking is permitted in the house at any time, and all noise must cease precisely at 11:00 P.M."
Awoken abruptly by a deafening crash, she was immediately pulled from the depths of slumber as the door flew open. Betsy rushed in, the baby in her arms, quickly locking the door. Outside, her husband's incoherent shouting echoed. Her grandson, now sobbing, scrambled from Betsy's arms and onto her bed, shaking. Confusion clouded Irene's mind; the evening medication was taking effect, making it hard to understand. Those cursed strokes had robbed her of so much. Seeing her daughter in such a panic, she felt utterly helpless, confined within a body that had become unresponsive.
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Sixty-six-year-old Dr. James Alexander Lyons was arrested and jailed following an accusation from his 21-year-old daughter, Betsy Moore Lyon Kelley, that he chased her and their chauffeur with a butcher knife. He was charged with assault and was subsequently released on a $500 bond. Mrs. Kelley stated that her father's anger stemmed from the chauffeur not picking him up from work at the appointed time. Mrs. Kelley claimed that the chauffeur was present and waited 30 minutes before leaving. She alleged that he first pursued the chauffeur with a knife and then threatened her when she tried to intervene, prompting her to seek safety by locking herself and others in her mother's room.
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The courtroom buzzed with anticipation for Dr. James Alexander Lyon's cross-examination. His testimony the previous day had painted a picture of an incredibly lavish lifestyle, a world of wealth almost beyond imagination for those crowding the room.
Amidst meticulously manicured lawns, elaborate gardens, and graceful terraces stands Glenview, an impressive 35-room colonial mansion. The doctor provided a thorough account of managing not only the main residence but also two tenant houses, stables, prized show horses, Guernsey cattle, and tranquil lakes where wild geese ascended into the sky each morning and evening at precisely 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Following his attorney's advice, Dr. Lyon regaled the jury of twelve with party anecdotes. Dr. Lyon proudly stated, "I made all arrangements, including the purchase of champagne. We never lacked for friends." Then, with a hint of wryness, he added, "Maybe that’s why so many came."
It may have seemed to the packed courtroom that he had journeyed back through time, as he recounted the 1930 celebration for Admiral Percy W. Foote, Dr. Lyon's dearest friend. It was through Admiral Foote that he and Irene's paths crossed. Long before his admiral rank, Lieutenant Foote had stood as a groomsman at Irene's wedding to Captain Hubert Llewellyn Wigmore.
Naval Academy graduate Rear Admiral Percy W. Foote had a distinguished career, serving on the U.S.S. Baltimore and commanding the U.S.S. President Lincoln. His leadership saved over 670 lives when the ship was torpedoed in 1918, earning him the Silver Star and Distinguished Service Medal. He later served as aide to Secretary Daniels, commanded the U.S.S. Arkansas, and was chief of staff of the Fourth Naval District before retiring in 1936.
While Admiral Percy served on the seas, Dr. Lyon directed Camp Hospital No. 4 located on the front lines in France until January 1918, when he then served at Evacuation Hospital No. 19. Later, he became the battalion surgeon for the 104th Infantry. Post-war, he worked in hospitals across multiple states and at the Army Dispensary in Washington. Following his 1923 marriage, he served with the Army Medical Department in London and Vienna.
It had been the Secretary of War who encouraged him to enter the renowned Medical College of the University of Vienna. Mrs. Lyon accompanied him, enjoying the music and the picturesque nature of the Austrian capital. However, the Lyons found Vienna much changed. It had diminished in size and significance. The lively crowds were gone, and a general air of sadness was often present. His wife was an experienced world traveler, having traversed the globe by the time she was twenty-five, and resented the significant changes ushered in by World War I.
A sudden silence snapped Dr. Lyon back to the Montgomery County courtroom. He had dropped his hearing aid. Without it, he would not be able to continue giving testimony. Given time to repair it, Dr. Lyon was excused as the judge called for the next witness.
An hour passed, and Dr. Lyon returned to the stand. Asked about his relationship with his adopted daughter, Betsy, he appeared pleased with the question. Before answering, his gaze met hers. Seated in the front row, Betsy looked tense, as if steeling herself for his words.
She needn’t worry, Dr. Lyon’s testimony painted a picture of an especially close relationship, due in great part to the times they were left on their own, as his wife, in those days, a passionate solo traveler who followed "the spirit's" call, was frequently away. What he didn’t share with the captive audience was how much he believed his wife's near-constant yearning for other places had influenced Betsy. They were in their mid-40s when Betsy was born, and while he was certain his wife loved their daughter in her own funny way, her maternal side was lacking, and putting a child first never entered her mind.
Setting that thought aside, he recounted their shared passion for horses and reminisced about a moment at the 1930 National Capital Horse Show. There, in their box, he observed young Betsy, just four years old, a beret sat atop her pigtails, and her small legs, clad in stockings, were only barely seen beneath her coat. She stood next to her mother, who radiated elegance in a coordinating gray tweed riding frock featuring a deep cape and a matching beret. It was in that moment he saw Betsy was more than her mother's image; even then, she embodied her mother's steadfast confidence and resilience. To illustrate his point, he recounted an incident from the summer before Betsy left home. She had suffered a serious riding accident, resulting in a half-body cast. Despite the injury, she maintained her cheerful demeanor. He remembered her quipping, "Well, a cast isn't exactly a fashion statement, but thankfully, it's temporary."
When questioned under cross-examination, he was asked to provide his understanding of the events that led to the legal proceedings in the Montgomery County, Maryland courthouse. Addressing the jury directly, he asserted his integrity and transparency in managing his wife's affairs following her 1947 illness. He further claimed that the Washington Loan & Trust Co., where he was listed as a director as recently as 1949, orchestrated a scheme to remove him from his wife's estate. This plot, he asserted, was based on false accusations of financial mismanagement.
In January and July of 1947, in the months following the birth of their grandson, Irene Elizabeth Moore Lyon suffered two cerebral attacks, leaving her paralyzed on her left side. As a result, her disposition was “totally altered”, Dr. Lyon contended. The once formidable and well-connected Washingtonian no longer left her home, spending her days confined to bed, requiring round-the-clock care from two professional nurses.
Shortly after, the Trust Company reported to his wife that he had mismanaged her affairs. He held his tongue regarding his belief that his daughter also worked to portray him to her mother as "dangerous" and of unsound mind. The 'incident' in December of 1948 was simply a matter of too many drinks. While Betsy ultimately withdrew her charges, overcoming her resentment proved challenging. She remained deeply upset that he had frightened her young son and distressed her mother. Even though Betsy resided at Glenview with her husband and child, they mostly kept to themselves.
It had been the Secretary of War who encouraged him to enter the renowned Medical College of the University of Vienna. Mrs. Lyon accompanied him, enjoying the music and the picturesque nature of the Austrian capital. However, the Lyons found Vienna much changed. It had diminished in size and significance. The lively crowds were gone, and a general air of sadness was often present. His wife was an experienced world traveler, having traversed the globe by the time she was twenty-five, and resented the significant changes ushered in by World War I.
A sudden silence snapped Dr. Lyon back to the Montgomery County courtroom. He had dropped his hearing aid. Without it, he would not be able to continue giving testimony. Given time to repair it, Dr. Lyon was excused as the judge called for the next witness.
An hour passed, and Dr. Lyon returned to the stand. Asked about his relationship with his adopted daughter, Betsy, he appeared pleased with the question. Before answering, his gaze met hers. Seated in the front row, Betsy looked tense, as if steeling herself for his words.
She needn’t worry, Dr. Lyon’s testimony painted a picture of an especially close relationship, due in great part to the times they were left on their own, as his wife, in those days, a passionate solo traveler who followed "the spirit's" call, was frequently away. What he didn’t share with the captive audience was how much he believed his wife's near-constant yearning for other places had influenced Betsy. They were in their mid-40s when Betsy was born, and while he was certain his wife loved their daughter in her own funny way, her maternal side was lacking, and putting a child first never entered her mind.
Setting that thought aside, he recounted their shared passion for horses and reminisced about a moment at the 1930 National Capital Horse Show. There, in their box, he observed young Betsy, just four years old, a beret sat atop her pigtails, and her small legs, clad in stockings, were only barely seen beneath her coat. She stood next to her mother, who radiated elegance in a coordinating gray tweed riding frock featuring a deep cape and a matching beret. It was in that moment he saw Betsy was more than her mother's image; even then, she embodied her mother's steadfast confidence and resilience. To illustrate his point, he recounted an incident from the summer before Betsy left home. She had suffered a serious riding accident, resulting in a half-body cast. Despite the injury, she maintained her cheerful demeanor. He remembered her quipping, "Well, a cast isn't exactly a fashion statement, but thankfully, it's temporary."
When questioned under cross-examination, he was asked to provide his understanding of the events that led to the legal proceedings in the Montgomery County, Maryland courthouse. Addressing the jury directly, he asserted his integrity and transparency in managing his wife's affairs following her 1947 illness. He further claimed that the Washington Loan & Trust Co., where he was listed as a director as recently as 1949, orchestrated a scheme to remove him from his wife's estate. This plot, he asserted, was based on false accusations of financial mismanagement.
In January and July of 1947, in the months following the birth of their grandson, Irene Elizabeth Moore Lyon suffered two cerebral attacks, leaving her paralyzed on her left side. As a result, her disposition was “totally altered”, Dr. Lyon contended. The once formidable and well-connected Washingtonian no longer left her home, spending her days confined to bed, requiring round-the-clock care from two professional nurses.
Shortly after, the Trust Company reported to his wife that he had mismanaged her affairs. He held his tongue regarding his belief that his daughter also worked to portray him to her mother as "dangerous" and of unsound mind. The 'incident' in December of 1948 was simply a matter of too many drinks. While Betsy ultimately withdrew her charges, overcoming her resentment proved challenging. She remained deeply upset that he had frightened her young son and distressed her mother. Even though Betsy resided at Glenview with her husband and child, they mostly kept to themselves.
Recently, legal counsel strongly advised them to resolve their disputes, come to an understanding, and collaborate. Heeding their advice, Dr. Lyon and his 25-year-old daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Moore Lyon Kelley, consolidated their separate lawsuits, asking a jury to invalidate the Will of Mrs. Irene Elizabeth Moore Lyon, their wife and mother.
In 1950, on September 23rd, Mrs. Lyon passed away at the age of 68 at her beloved Glenview. She left a $400,000 trust established to provide her daughter with a lifetime income, while Dr. Lyon was excluded from the Will. Upon Mrs. Lyon's death, her $750,000 estate was designated to pass to Theodore Alfred Deutsch, her 6-year-old grandson from Betsy’s first marriage.
According to Dr. Lyon and his daughter, Mrs. Lyon's series of strokes diminished her mental abilities to the point where she lacked the legal competence to execute her Will on June 8, 1949. Furthermore, they accused representatives from the Washington Loan & Trust Co., who had taken over management of her finances through a trust agreement in January 1949, of unduly influencing her to sign the Will.
Frederick M. Bradley, the general counsel for Washington Loan and Trust Co. and Mrs. Lyon's chosen executor-trustee, countered that Dr. Lyon was left out of his wife's Will due to her disapproval of his lavish spending. Bradley explained that Mrs. Lyon worried his spending would deplete her estate. In response, Dr. Lyon testified that the significant expenses in question were related to his wife’s medical care.
Several medical experts, including the well-regarded Washington physician Dr. George B. Trible, provided testimony stating that Irene Elizabeth Moore Lyon had been legally incapable of making agreements for three years leading up to her death.
On January 23, 1952, a year after a verdict favorable to Dr. Lyon and Mrs. Kelley, which the Trust Company had appealed, the Montgomery County Orphans' Court issued a ruling upholding a Will dated May 5, 1926. This Will specified that half of Mrs. Lyon's estate would go to her husband, while the other half would be held in trust for their daughter, Mrs. Kelley, until she turned 28. Furthermore, the Court appointed Dr. Lyon as the estate's administrator, instructing the Washington Loan & Trust Co. to transfer all Lyon assets to him.
In 1950, on September 23rd, Mrs. Lyon passed away at the age of 68 at her beloved Glenview. She left a $400,000 trust established to provide her daughter with a lifetime income, while Dr. Lyon was excluded from the Will. Upon Mrs. Lyon's death, her $750,000 estate was designated to pass to Theodore Alfred Deutsch, her 6-year-old grandson from Betsy’s first marriage.
According to Dr. Lyon and his daughter, Mrs. Lyon's series of strokes diminished her mental abilities to the point where she lacked the legal competence to execute her Will on June 8, 1949. Furthermore, they accused representatives from the Washington Loan & Trust Co., who had taken over management of her finances through a trust agreement in January 1949, of unduly influencing her to sign the Will.
Frederick M. Bradley, the general counsel for Washington Loan and Trust Co. and Mrs. Lyon's chosen executor-trustee, countered that Dr. Lyon was left out of his wife's Will due to her disapproval of his lavish spending. Bradley explained that Mrs. Lyon worried his spending would deplete her estate. In response, Dr. Lyon testified that the significant expenses in question were related to his wife’s medical care.
Several medical experts, including the well-regarded Washington physician Dr. George B. Trible, provided testimony stating that Irene Elizabeth Moore Lyon had been legally incapable of making agreements for three years leading up to her death.
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Three months later, on April 20th, 26-year-old Betsy and her son departed Glenview Mansion for the last time. Her destination was Miami. Almost exactly a year later, on April 10, 1953, Harry Kelley initiated divorce proceedings, stating he hadn't seen Betsey since the previous April.
In news accounts of the couple’s divorce, references were made to Kelley’s 1948 arrest after the vicious beating of Rodney F. Wheeler. Kelley alleged Wheeler had raped his wife, but the DA declined to file charges against Wheeler due to insufficient evidence. Coincidentally, also in April of 1952, Wheeler began serving a prison sentence in Maryland for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl.
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| Dr. Lyon was highly decorated for his military service. France awarded him the Croix de Guerre with Gold Star, the Grande Guerre, Verdun, and Chateau Thierry Medals. The United States presented him with the Victory Medal with five clasps, the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart. In 1940, he assumed command of the Washington Chapter of the Military Order of the World War. |
*********** Part Five ***********
Primary Sources:
Evening Star, Tue, Nov 27, 1951 ·Page 2
Knoxville Sentinel, Thu, May 24, 1900 · Page 5
Times Herald, Tue, Jan 8, 1901 · Page 2
The Washington Post, Tue, Jan 8, 1901 · Page 7
Times Herald, Sat, Dec 5, 1908 · Page 6
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sun, Dec 6, 1908 · Page 24
News Journal, Sat, Jan 2, 1909 · Page 3
Fort Wayne Daily News, Wed, Jan 24, 1912 · Page 8
Evening Star, Sun, Jul 20, 1924 · Page 35
The Washington Herald, Sun, Sep 7, 1924 · Page 33
Times Herald, Thu, Aug 20, 1925 · Page 4
Evening Star, Sun, Jan 5, 1930 · Page 39
The Washington Daily News, Thu, May 15, 1930 · Page 21
Evening Star, Sun, Dec 2, 1934 · Page 49
Montgomery County Sentinel, Thu, May 30, 1935 · Page 12
Montgomery County Sentinel, Thu, Jun 17, 1937 · Page 5
Evening Star, Sun, May 29, 1938 · Page 8
The Washington Herald, Sat, Dec 31, 1938 · Page 15
Montgomery County Sentinel, Thu, Jan 5, 1939 · Page 4
Evening Star, Thu, Jun 13, 1940 · Page 9
Times Herald, Thu, Dec 2, 1948 · Page 3
Times Herald, Fri, Dec 3, 1948 · Page 38
The Washington Daily News, Tue, Jan 4, 1949 · Page 16
Evening Star, Sun, Sep 24, 1950 · Page 6
Evening Star, Thu, Dec 21, 1950 · Page 43
Evening Star, Fri, Dec 29, 1950 · Page 19
Evening Star, Wed, Jan 3, 1951 · Page 2
Evening Star, Wed, May 30, 1951 · Page 2
Evening Star, Tue, Nov 27, 1951 · Page 2
Times Herald, Tue, Nov 27, 1951 · Page 21
Evening Star, Tue, Nov 27, 1951 · Page 2
Times Herald, Wed, Nov 28, 1951 · Page 25
Evening Star, Thu, Nov 29, 1951 · Page 2
Evening Star, Sat, Dec 1, 1951 · Page 13
Evening Star, Tue, Dec 4, 1951 · Page 15
Times Herald, Wed, Dec 5, 1951 · Page 3
Evening Star, Thu, Dec 6, 1951 · Page 39
Times Herald, Thu, Dec 6, 1951 · Page 27
Evening Star, Thu, Dec 6, 1951 · Page 25
Evening Star, Wed, Jan 23, 1952 · Page 21
Evening Star, Sat, Apr 11, 1953 · Page 24
Times Herald, Sat, Apr 11, 1953 · Page 3
Cover art: 1710 New Hampshire Avenue, Washington, D.C.
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