Empty Mansions (63 page)
Authors: Bill Dedman
94
“F
OR TWENTY YEARS
”
:
Ibid.
95
W
ITH THE MONEY HIS WIFE WAS MAKING:
Daniel Peri, testimony, September 24, 2012, Depositions.
96
“
FAILED TO UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES
”
:
Public administrator’s petition.
97
“P
LEASE BELIEVE ME
”
:
Dr. Jules Pierre to Huguette Clark, March 8, 1992, letter, HMC papers.
98
THE FULL
$10
MILLION:
The gift to Suzanne Pierre is described in HMC papers and in Suzanne J. Pierre v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, U.S. Tax Court, 2010, which Madame Pierre won. See
http://www.ustaxcourt.gov/InOpHistoric/pierre.TCM.WPD.pdf
. As though it were an everyday occurrence, documents say, “Petitioner had been a widow for many years when she received a $10 million cash gift from a wealthy friend in 2000.”
99
T
ALKING ABOUT
H
UGUETTE:
Pierre interview.
100
“S
HE TOLD ME TO HOLD IT
”
:
Hadassah Peri deposition.
101
“
IT JUST SNOWBALLED
”
:
Sattler described the opening of the safe and the distribution of the jewelry in his deposition. The gifts are detailed in public administrator’s petition.
102
“A
ND
M
ADAME SAID, SOMEDAY
”
:
Hadassah Peri deposition.
103
AT LEAST
$31,906,074.81: This total for gifts to the Peris is from public administrator’s petition.
104
“I
CANNOT RECALL ANY PAPER
”
:
Hadassah Peri deposition.
105
“N
EVER COME TO MY MIND
”
:
Ibid.
106
“Y
OU WILL HAVE TO
”
:
The October 26, 2001, letters from Bock and Kamsler are cited in public administrator’s petition.
107
“A
S YOU WELL KNOW
”
:
Bock to HMC, letter, October 31, 2272, HMC papers. This letter was also an exhibit to his deposition.
108
S
HE GAVE
D
ON
W
ALLACE
$130,000: The total value of dolls that Wallace received from Huguette is listed in the accounting of his estate in Surrogate’s Court. A copy of the file is available online at
http://msnbcmedia.msnxom/i/msnbc/Sections/NEWS/wallace_probate.pdf
.
109
W
ALLACE’S SECRETARY WROTE
: Series of letters from Gloria Parker to Huguette Clark, 1992, HMC papers.
110
“S
O THERE
I
WAS
”
:
Wallace Bock, prepared text of remarks, Efrat, Israel, July 29, 2008.
111
“T
HE SECURITY SYSTEM FOR
E
FRAT
”
:
Photograph.
112
“S
HE SAID SHE BOUGHT
”
:
Sattler deposition.
113
H
UGUETTE WAS JUST TWO MILES
: Her condolence note to James Hurley for the loss of his son-in-law, Chandler R. “Chad” Keller, is in HMC papers. See Keller’s biography at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial,
http://pentagonmemorial.org/explore/biographies/chandler-r-keller
.
114
DEADLY ANTHRAX:
Huguette’s fears of an anthrax attack were described by Bock in his deposition.
115
S
HE CALLED HER GODDAUGHTER:
Styka deposition.
116
“I
HAVE IN HAND
”
:
The transaction for La Pucelle was described by violin dealer Charles Beare in an interview with Dedman, February 27, 2012. The buyer, David Fulton, also told the story in interviews and emails with Dedman, and in an unpublished manuscript of a memoir.
117
AGREED TO BUY
L
A
P
UCELLE:
Fulton didn’t realize at the time of the purchase that he had a connection to the Clarks. Fulton’s father had been a manager at W.A.’s United Verde copper mine in Arizona.
118
AN EXTRAORDINARY INSTRUMENT:
There is a popular misconception that a fine violin has to be played regularly to be kept in fine condition. The less stress on the instrument, the better. There’s a good reason that Huguette would have preferred her less expensive Strad. As David Fulton, who purchased La Pucelle, explained in an interview with Dedman, “La Pucelle, as it was set up when it came to me, is perfectly fine for most pros to play but, for an amateur, even a skilled amateur, it would probably be set up a little differently. The fact that Huguette preferred her early Strad is somewhat indicative. Early Strads are lighter in tone and generally easier to play, more approachable for an amateur. I doubt Huguette was a particularly strong player, though doubtless she was fairly competent. My conclusion from all this is that La Pucelle was essentially untouched while Huguette owned it, in a time capsule really. I’d guess she didn’t particularly enjoy playing it. That is confirmed by the condition, setup, strings, and the accessories that were in the case when the violin came to me. This was a stroke of great good fortune for the violin.… People who buy big, important instruments are often dismayed to discover that they can be very demanding to play.… I think Huguette must have had trouble taming it.”
275 “I
T REALLY HAS AN AMAZING PURITY
”
:
Violinist James Ehnes provided this description of La Pucelle through his publicist in August 2010.
1
“
WAS QUITE WEALTHY
”
:
Dr. Henry Singman, testimony, August 16 and 20, 2012, Depositions, and public administrator’s petition.
2
“M
ADAME, AS YOU KNOW
”
:
Singman deposition.
3
D
R
. N
EWMAN SENT
H
UGUETTE:
Dr. Robert Newman, testimony, August 9, 2012, Depositions.
4
T
HE MOTHER WROTE TO
H
UGUETTE:
The visits by Dr. Newman’s mother and the two women’s time watching skating are described in HMC papers.
5
“I
KID YOU NOT!
”
:
Public administrator’s petition.
6
“D
EAR
M
RS
. H
UGUETTE
”
:
Newman to HMC, letter, January 1994, HMC papers.
7
“
EVEN IF SHE CHANGES
”
:
Public administrator’s petition.
8
“
ONE
S
MURF TO MAKE AMENDS
”
:
Ibid.
9
“
SHE HAS NO ‘CONCEPT’
”: Ibid.
10
HE MADE NO PAYMENTS
: The public administrator’s petition gives details on the Rudick loan documents, which turned into a gift.
11
D
R
. R
UDICK DENIED THIS ACCOUNT:
Dr. Jack Rudick, testimony, September 19, 2012, Depositions.
12
WAIVED
H
ADASSAH’S FEES:
Singman deposition.
13
“I
THINK HER GIFTS
”
:
Newman deposition.
14
“W
ITHOUT KNOCKING HER PAST GIFTS
”
:
Ibid.
15
“
THE GREAT JOY AND SPIRITUAL SATISFACTION
”
:
Public administrator’s petition.
16
“
THEY MIGHT PUSH THE QUESTION
”
:
Ibid.
17
H
UGUETTE WAS HIDDEN AWAY:
The former employees were interviewed by Dedman in July 2012.
18
T
HE
J
OINT
C
OMMISSION:
The routine practice of the Joint Commission was described by spokeswoman Elizabeth Zhani in an email to Dedman, July 26, 2012.
19
“I
F WE WERE FORCED
”
:
Public administrator’s petition.
20
ENCOUNTERED FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES:
Moody’s Investor Service, “Moody’s Downgrades Bonds for Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City,” press release, 1995,
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Moody’s+Downgrades+Bonds+for+Beth+Israel+Medical+Center+in+New+York…-a017424498
, and “N.Y.’s Beth Israel Medical Center Takes Rating Hit from Moody’s,”
The Bond Buyer
, June 16, 2000.
21
SHE GAVE A PAINTING:
Details of the sale of the Manet painting are in HMC papers. Letters show that Beth Israel showed the painting at a benefit on November 5, 2000, and it failed to sell on November 8.
22
“
TERRIBLY CONFUSED POLITICAL SITUATION
”
:
Huguette’s advice to delay the second attempt to sell the Manet is described in an affidavit by Marvin Wexler, attorney for Beth Israel Medical Center, in reply to the public administrator’s petition.
23
“
AN UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED CASH PAYMENT
”
:
Newman to HMC, letter, HMC papers. The letter is also in the public administrator’s petition.
24
“
FREEING YOU FROM
”
:
Ibid.
25
T
HERE WERE MORE CONS:
The proposed charitable gift annuity was evaluated for the authors by wealth management specialist Gavin Morrissey of Commonwealth Financial Network.
26
“A
CONTRIBUTION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
”
:
Dr. Newman described this meeting in notes to the Beth Israel development staff, described in the public administrator’s petition. It’s also discussed in his deposition and in Morton Hyman’s testimony, October 10 and 11, 2012, Depositions.
27
“E
XPRESSING CONCERN
”
:
HMC medical records.
28
“S
HE DON’T WANT CHANGES
”
:
Hadassah Peri, testimony, August 13, 14, 15, and 17, 2012, Depositions.
29
HOSPITAL POLICY ON CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:
The Beth Israel policy was an exhibit to the Hyman deposition. It says, in part, “Gifts of money (including gift certificates) are never acceptable.”
30
“T
HE INDISPUTABLE REALITY
”
:
Hospital attorney Marvin Wexler made this comment in an affidavit filed in opposition to the public administrator’s petition, January 15, 2013.
31
“T
HAT’S A LOT OF MONEY
”
:
Dr. Newman described his conversation with Huguette in an email to a hospital development official, May 12, 2004, which was an exhibit to his deposition.
32
“
NEVER ABANDON HER
”
:
Ibid.
33
“S
HE CAME THROUGH
”
:
Ibid.
34
H
UGUETTE’S LAST DONATION:
Her resistance to further implorations is described by Wexler in his affidavit.
35
“
WOULD HAVE TO DISCONTINUE
”
:
Singman deposition.
36
H
ADASSAH TOLD HER THE SAME:
Hadassah Peri deposition.
37
“W
E TOLD HER
”
:
Ibid.
38
C
HRIS
S
ATTLER HELPED HER:
Sattler described the morning trip with Huguette in his testimony, August 23 and September 6, 2012, Depositions.
39
“S
HE IS TERRIBLY INSECURE
”
:
HMC medical records.
40
“S
HE HAVE TO KNOW YOU FIRST
”
:
Hadassah Peri deposition.
41
R
OOM
10L04
WAS DECORATED:
Observation by Dedman.
42
“S
HE STARTED COMING OUT
”
:
Sattler deposition.
43
T
HERE WAS A LITTLE GATHERING:
Several of the participants described in depositions the birthday party. Nurse Erlinda Ysit described the balloon in her testimony, August 22, 2012, Depositions.
44
A
NNA’S JEWELRY DISAPPEARED:
The jewelry losses are described in a series of letters from the bank and from Huguette’s attorneys in HMC papers.
45
“
HAS BEEN DEVASTATING
”
:
Ibid.
46
WROTE HER A NOTE OF APOLOGY:
Ibid.
47
AN INDEPENDENT PHYSICIAN:
Letter from Don Wallace to Huguette Clark, October 13, 1994, relaying the offer from Citibank. A Wallace letter from February 1995 shows that Dr. Singman signed a statement of competency.
48
SOMEONE STOLE NEARLY:
November 1991 letter from Don Wallace to Huguette Clark, HMC papers.
49
H
UGUETTE’S GENTLE BALLERINA:
The theft of the Degas painting, the FBI investigation, and the settlement agreement are described in letters in HMC papers.
50
“M
RS
. C
LARK’S CONDITION
”
:
Sattler’s call is noted in attorney Bock’s time logs, files of Collier, Halpern, Newberg, Nolletti & Bock, in White Plains, New York.
51
THEY SENT OVER A DRAFT:
HMC papers.
52
“Y
OU HAVE NEVER EXPRESSED
”
:
Wallace to HMC, letter, March 7, 1985, HMC papers.
53
“I
N THE NOT TOO FAR DISTANT
”
:
Ibid.
54
HE HAD NEVER MET HIS CLIENT:
Wallace’s goddaughter, Judith Sloan, described his frustration at never meeting Huguette in an interview with Dedman, August 2010.
55
“O
NCE AGAIN,” HE BEGGED:
Bock to HMC, letter, September 20, 2000, HMC papers.
56
A 2001
LIST:
HMC papers.
57
B
OCK AND
K
AMSLER TOOK A DRAFT:
The men discussed this visit in their testimony: Wally Bock, March 22 and 23 and July 24–26, 2012, Depositions; Irving Kamsler, May 8 and 9 and July 17–19, 2012, Depositions.
58
D
R
. N
EWMAN VISITED:
Newman deposition.
59
O
N
M
ARCH
7,
NOW:
A copy of this first will is available online at
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Sections/NEWS/huguette_clark_earlier_will_from_msnbc.com.pdf
.
60
AUTOMATIC COMMISSIONS:
Under New York law, each executor would receive 5 percent on the first $100,000, 4 percent on the next $200,000, 3 percent on the next $700,000, 2.5 percent on the next $4 million, and 2 percent on the balance. The commission is paid on assets other than real property and tangible personal property. Assuming Huguette had $154,257,899 in assets
subject to a commission, Bock and Kamsler would each have received $3,119,158.
61
B
OCK AND
K
AMSLER EXPLAINED:
Bock and Kamsler depositions.
62
K
AMSLER SENT
H
UGUETTE A LIST:
Kamsler deposition.
63
H
UGUETTE SIGNED THE SECOND ONE:
The second and last will is available online at
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Sections/NEWS/huguette_clark_will_from_msnbc.com.pdf
.
64
SHE REFUSED A HEARING AID:
These details from the period between the two wills are in HMC medical records.
65
HAD A DRINK TO SUCCESS:
Bock’s secretary, Danita Rudisill, was a witness to the will signing. She testified about the trip to the restaurant in her deposition on July 30, 2012. Bock, in his deposition, said he didn’t recall drinking after the will was signed.