Jean de Saint Cyr

Jean Harold (Harald) Edward de Saint Cyr (April 9, 1875 – November 3, 1966) was the alias of John (Jack) Henry Edward Thompson of Waco, Texas. He was a fortune-hunting playboy who married three older wealthy widows. The first two died while still married to him, each leaving him a sizeable inheritance. His third wife divorced him after less than a year of marriage. The Eugene J. de Sabla, Jr., Teahouse and Tea Garden that is currently on the National Register of Historic Places for San Mateo County, California was part of his estate.

Jean de Saint Cyr fishing at Palm Beach, Florida in 1916

Background

He was born John (Jack) Henry Edward Thompson on April 9, 1875 in Waco, Texas. Little is known about his early life in Texas. He was living in New York by 1907. Having unsuccessfully tried his luck in a variety of jobs, including musical stage productions, he began promoting himself as a theatrical agent by the name of Jean Harold Edward de Saint Cyr. With various spellings, he used the name Saint Cyr throughout the rest of his life.[1]

Caroline Redfield

Caroline Peck Redfield was born October 3, 1840, and was 34 years older than Saint Cyr. Trenton, New Jersey resident Bob Swem (aka Robert von Schwemm) met Phoenix National Bank president Henry A. Redfield and his wife Caroline through mutual acquaintance Alfred Moore Livingstone. After her husband's February 1907 death, Caroline began relying on Swem as a social escort.[2][1] He moved into the Redfield house and made himself indispensable as her escort, secretary and accountant. He came to assume he would inherit her estate.[3]

It is believed that Swem and Mrs. Redfield first met Saint Cyr when he worked as a hotel clerk at Alexandria Bay, New York. He presented himself as affiliated with the entertainment field, and was apparently overt that Saint Cyr was a stage name. Although his attire was that of someone down on his luck, he charmed her enough to get his foot in the door, and eventually became a permanent resident in her home. From that point forward, Saint Cyr lived the life of what was then called a "kept man", a gigolo financially supported by a wealthy woman in exchange for his relationship in her life. She bought him expensive clothing, a new car, and hired a French chauffeur and a Japanese valet for him. He began to treat the household staff as though they worked for him, and by 1908 replaced Swem in her affections.[3] Lavishing her wealth upon both Saint Cyr and Swem severely drained her inheritance and necessitated the sale of the Redfield mansion on March 31, 1909.[1]

They moved to Yonkers, where she and Saint Cyr secretly wed on June 9, 1909. The bride was 68 years old, and the groom was 34 years old. Her last will was made June 18, 1912, amended by a codicil on October 2, 1913. Omitting Swem entirely, the bulk of her $1,000,000 estate was left to Saint Cyr. Her son Henry S. Redfield was bequeathed $150,000 and some valuable jewels. After her January 2, 1915 death of pneumonia, her will was contested by her son.[1][4]

Annie Armstrong Stewart Smith

Annie Armstrong Stewart Smith was born May 2, 1864, and was 11 years older than Saint Cyr. Prior to meeting him, she had lived a life of the socially elite, those whose existence revolved around traveling from one party to another, one resort to another. Her first marriage was to affluent lawyer William Rhinelander Stewart Sr. Their daughter Anita became Princess Miguel of Braganza, Duchess of Viseu. The marriage also produced a son, William Rhinelander Stewart Jr. After divorcing her first husband, she married James Henry "Silent" Smith in 1907, considered one of the world's wealthiest men. He died on their honeymoon.[5]

According to a friend of the Redfields, Colonel Alfred Montgomery Shook, Saint Cyr was distraught after the death of his wife Caroline. However, Major E. Gray Pendleton, who introduced him to Annie Smith a month later, said Saint Cyr was eager to resume the party lifestyle. Shortly after their April 25, 1915 marriage, Pendleton confronted them about reports that Saint Cyr's life prior to the Redfield marriage was that of an average working man employed in a variety of temporary professions. His new wife's response was, "I don't care what they call him, as long as they don't call me an old woman."[6]

Saint Cyr had begun to affect a French accent, claiming to have been born near Paris. While he and his new wife were in Palm Beach, Florida in 1916, investigative journalists outed him as Jack Thompson of Texas. Happening concurrently with the exposé of his real identity, was an ongoing court battle contesting the will of Caroline Redfield. The couple denied he was Jack Thompson, but they eventually left Palm Beach amid the brewing scandal.[7] A year later, journalists took note that he had replaced the fake French accent with a British accent.[8]

There was an indication of a separation at some point in the marriage, but not a divorce. Upon Anne de Saint Cyr's March 3, 1925 death, they were living on an estate in San Mateo, California, that she had purchased in June 1919. It included the Eugene J. de Sabla, Jr., Teahouse and Tea Garden that is currently on the National Register of Historic Places for the county. The NRHP form states, "In 1922, upon dissolution of the second marriage, Anne sold it back to her husband."[9] Her 1925 obituary lists Saint Cyr as her husband, sitting by her bedside with the rest of the family at the time of death.[10] Her estate was valued at $40,000,000. Saint Cyr received one-third of the estate, and was also named as an executor of the will, and trustee over two of the estate's funds.[11]

As a wealthy widower, he continued the lifestyle to which he had become accustomed, among the rich and famous of his era. He hosted the 1926 wedding of actress Constance Talmadge and her second husband Alastair MacIntosh on the estate.[12] In 1926, Jean de Saint Cyr sold the mansion and grounds to a real estate developer.[13] The Eugene J. de Sabla, Jr. Teahouse and Tea Garden was not included in the sale.[14] The 1928 party he hosted at the Menlo Polo Club was described as, "one of the most elaborate and unique parties given on the peninsula".[15]

Helen Strong Carter

Born March 11, 1866, Helen Strong Carter was nine years older than Saint Cyr. She was the widow of Hawaii governor George R. Carter, who died in 1933. A wealthy heiress through her father Eastman Kodak president and co-founder Henry A. Strong, and his first wife Helen Phoebe Griffin, she was known for her philanthropic generosities. She helped establish, and sat on the board of directors, of the dental hygiene program at the University of Hawaii, and the Honolulu Dental Infirmary. The Strong-Carter Dental Clinic was established to train young women for careers as dental hygienists.[16] In 1922, Helen and her sister Gertrude made a $1,000,000 donation towards the building fund for the Strong Memorial Hospital at the University of Rochester in New York.[17]

In what the news reports called a "surprise ceremony", Saint Cyr and Carter were wed in New Orleans on April 26, 1939, attended only by her son, one of her daughters and her son-in-law.[18] A month after the wedding, Saint Cyr sold the teahouse and grounds to her for $400,000.[9] It was a short-lived marriage. The couple spent September–October 1939 entertaining at her Honolulu estate.[19] By December, she had taken up residence in Reno, Nevada to file for divorce. At the same time her attorneys claimed his "whereabouts unknown", the Los Angeles Times reported he was in Hollywood hosting a dinner party at the Earl Carroll Theatre for American socialite Louise Cromwell Brooks, wife of actor Lionel Atwill.[20] The divorce was finalized February 17, 1940, and she resumed using the name Helen Strong Carter.[21] Afterwards, she sold the Japanese teahouse and garden to developer David D. Bohannon.[9]

Later years and death

By 1959, Saint Cyr was afflicted with Parkinson's disease, and was unable to care for himself. His foster son H. R. Friss was named as his conservator. Attempts to contact relatives in California and Texas received no response.[22]

When he died November 3, 1966, the will that was probated had been executed in 1949. At the time of death, the estate was valued at $500,000. Probate proceedings listed a brother and five sisters. He was buried next to his second wife in San Mateo.[23]

References

  1. "Amazing Story of "Saint Cyr" Who Married Two Rich Widows". The Twice-A-Week Messenger. February 9, 1916. p. 2. Retrieved April 30, 2018 via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Funeral of Henry A. Redfield Tomorrow". Hartford Courant at Newspapers.com. February 12, 1907. p. 7. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  3. "HOW SAINT CYR WON RICH WIDOW FROM HIS FRIEND". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. February 1, 1916. p. 3. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  4. "Mrs. Jean H. E. Saint Cyr". The Sun at Newspapers.com. January 2, 1915. p. 9, col. 7. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  5. "SILENT SMITH'S DEATH MAY SWING CONTROL OF THE MILWAUKEE ROAD". St. Louis Post-Dispatch at Newspapers.com. March 28, 1907. p. 8. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  6. "How "Saint Cyr Got On" Life as Jack Thompson". St. Louis Post-Dispatch at Newspapers.com. February 2, 1916. p. 4. Retrieved April 30, 2018.; ""Silent" Smith's Widow, Now Mrs. Jean H. St. Cyr, Here". San Francisco Chronicle at Newspapers.com. July 21, 1915. p. 1, col. 6. Retrieved April 30, 2018. ; *"Big Fortunes Are Shuffled By Many Weddings: Mr. and Mrs. Jean De St. Cyr in West; Queer Romance". Oakland Tribune. July 21, 1915. p. 7. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  7. "SAINT CYR CALLS REVELATIONS AS TO HIS LIFE FALSE". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. February 1, 1916. p. 3, col. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2018. ; "St. Cyrs Still Here In Strict Seclusion". The Philadelphia Inquirer. February 6, 1916. p. 26, col. 8. Retrieved April 30, 2018. ; "St. Cyr And Wife Quit Palm Beach:Leave Suddenly Following Allegation That He Was Former Texas Newsboy". San Francisco Chronicle. February 2, 1916. p. 7. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  8. "MR. DE SAINT CYR WAFTS INTO TOWN WITH NEW ACCENT". Chicago Tribute at Newspapers.com. May 1, 1917. p. 17. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  9. "De Sabla, Eugene J., Jr., Teahouse and Tea Garden". NRHP. NPS. p. 16. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  10. "Death Claims Society Woman". Santa Cruz Evening News. March 4, 1925. p. 7, col. 4. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  11. "ST. CYR MILLIONS LEFT TO MATE AND CHILDREN". Chicago Tribune at Newspapers.com. March 11, 1925. p. 14. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  12. "Ordinary Folks Barred From St. Cyr Estate On "Connie's" Wedding Day". The Times at Newspapers.com. February 27, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  13. "SIGNS TELLING OF PLANS NOW APPEARING ON ESTATE LAND". San Mateo Times. April 26, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  14. Joeckel, Jeff; Davis, Shannon; Quaide, Rustin; Campbell-Page, Theresa (1 May 2010). "NRHP De Salba property sold to St. Cyr". National Park Service. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  15. "Jean de Saint Cyr of Host at Apache Party at Polo Club Here". The Times at Newspapers.com. February 4, 1928. p. 11. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  16. "Bulletin – Honolulu Dental Infirmary". School of Dental Hygiene bulletin: 1 v. 1921 via HathiTrust.; "Mrs. Carter, Ex-Governor's Widow Dies". Honolulu Star-Bulletin at Newspapers.com. May 28, 1945. p. 1, col. 4. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  17. "The New England journal of Medicine". 186. 1922: 860. ISSN 0096-6762. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. "MRS. GEORGE R. CARTER SR. WED TO CALIFORNIAN". Honolulu Star-Bulletin at Newspapers.com. April 27, 1939. p. 1, col. 5. Retrieved April 30, 2018.; "MRS. GEORGE R. CARTER IS WED IN SOUTH". Honolulu Star-Bulletin at Newspapers.com. April 27, 1939. p. 2, col. 3. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  19. "De Saint Cyrs Arrive on Lurline for Island Visit". Honolulu Star-Bulletin at Newspapers.com. August 9, 1939. p. 4. col. 7. Retrieved April 30, 2018.; "St. Cyrs Entertain at Alohas". Honolulu Star-Bulletin at Newspapers.com. September 30, 1939. p. 21, col. 1. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  20. "Mrs. de St. Cyr Resident of Reno". The Times-San Mateo at Newspapers.com. December 16, 1939. p. 12, col. 6. Retrieved April 30, 2018.; "Mrs. Lionel Atwill Honored at Dinner". The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com. December 15, 1939. p. 34, col. 4. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  21. "Mrs. Helen Carter Is Given Divorce From De St. Cyr". Honolulu Star-Bulletin at Newspapers.com. February 17, 1940. p. 12, col. 6. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  22. "Conservator Appointed for Ailing Saint Cyr". The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com. April 30, 1959. p. 5. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  23. Villasenor, Rudy (January 11, 1967). "MAYBE NOT FRENCH, BUT HE WAS RICH". The Los Angeles Times. p. 2. Retrieved April 30, 2018.; Villasenor, Rudy (January 11, 1967). "PLAYBOY'S WILL". The Los Angeles Times. p. 3. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
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