Death at the Gates Essay Example

the devastating loss of her only child shortly after birth, and a constant stream of friends seeking money. In response to each situation, Duke's attorneys were called upon to manage legal matters and protect her interests.

Doris Duke spared no expense when it came to protecting her pride, dignity, and wealth. Duke always emerged victorious, establishing a pattern of using power, wealth, and influence to handle anyone who challenged her. She understood that money could enable her to acquire whatever or whomever she desired and dispose of them just as easily. This would soon become the fate of Eduardo Tirella, a motion picture set designer and interior decorator whose talent alone could turn the mundane into something beautiful.

In October 1960, Tirella entered Duke's life through a mutual friend, as seen in financial records (Doris Duke Paper, 1798-2003). Duke envisioned Tirella using his talents to transform her various estates. The entrance of Tirella into Duke's luxurious life took place at Rough Point, located in the affluent town of Newport, Rhode Island. Sadly, six years later, Rough Point became the site of Tirella's tragic death. Often referred to as a white elephant, Rough Point was known for its cold, drafty, and dark atmosphere. The walls were adorned with large dark tapestries, foreboding oversized paintings, and opulent gilded furniture.

The empty corridors echoed with the sound of noise, while the windows rattled as the trees outside brushed against them. This haunting atmosphere was made even more chilling by the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Duke enlisted Tirella's expertise and financial support for the redesign of Rough Point. Without hesitation, he accepted the job and saw an opportunity

to tap into Duke's deep pockets to finance his creative endeavors. Tirella successfully transformed all 105 rooms at Rough Point (Doris Duke Papers, 1922-1997) (Thomas & Duke, 1995).

Doris Duke was so impressed with the work of a particular person that she expanded his responsibilities to include her other properties. Over time, their relationship transformed into one of close friendship and companionship. In their roles as companions, they embarked on trips around the world, searching for priceless treasures to add to Duke's already overflowing collection of valuable artwork, sculptures, silverware, tapestries, and Asian art. The strength of their bond is evident in the individual's payment and travel records found in the Doris Duke Paper from 1922-1998.

Doris Duke's frequent travels had a negative impact on his finances. She didn't carry cash, so he often had to cover the expenses during their trips. In a letter dated January 11, 1962, Tirella, who was in Paris at the time, asked Duke's attorney Pete Cooley for money instead of directly asking Duke for a loan. A sum of $600 was transferred (source: Doris Duke Papers, 1922-1998). While it is unclear if this was a sneaky move, there is evidence that his salary was reduced soon after. In February 1963, Duke sought the assistance of her attorney Pete Cooley to handle a payment dispute initiated by Tirella.

Tirella is requesting a raise because he feels he is not being paid the wage of an architect. Doris Duke previously gave him money willingly, but now she wants her lawyers to handle it. Pete Cooley, who previously wired money to Tirella without question, is now refusing his request. In a letter dated

February 28, 1963, Cooley diminishes Tirella's talent by stating that an experienced architect should handle the job. This reply letter from Cooley causes a rift in Tirella's friendship with Duke and her associates. The friendship continues to deteriorate over the next few years.

While Duke was enjoying her weekly spendable income of around $1 million, Tirella was experiencing financial difficulties. Despite his request for more money being denied and his income being primarily used for Duke, Tirella was becoming frustrated. This frustration was exacerbated by Duke's shouting and issuing commands at Tirella, which was witnessed by the staff and a new display of aggression from Duke. Tirella could no longer meet her demands and grew tired of Duke's mood swings. Additionally, Tirella worried that Duke's career in motion picture design was being negatively affected. Tirella desired a change, which came through a phone call (Thomas ; Duke, 1995).

In June 1966, Martin Ransohoff, the producer, offered Tirella a set design job on the film "Don't Make Waves," which he accepted. We have evidence of this in his last pay record dated June 2, 1966 as recorded in the Doris Duke Papers (1922-1998). Feeling intimidated by Duke, Tirella used the excuse of needing dental work from his trusted Los Angeles dentist. Despite Duke's pleas for him to stay, Tirella opted for Los Angeles. Once in Los Angeles, he started receiving pleading calls from Duke, who was willing to give him anything he wanted if he returned.

Tirella returned in October 1966, not for work, but to gather his belongings. Doris Duke was determined not to lose him again, so she made desperate attempts to persuade him to stay. Despite

being bombarded with offers and promises, Tirella remained determined to go back to Hollywood. Sadly, his dreams were abruptly shattered on October 7, 1966 (Thomas & Duke, 1955).

On Friday, October 7, 1966, Tirella agreed to drive Doris Duke to a meeting. They entered a rented car at around 4 p.m., which seemed unusual considering the estate had many luxurious cars. This raises the question of why Doris Duke chose a rental car, implying that she had planned the upcoming event in order to avoid damaging her luxury cars. This notion is reinforced by the Avis Rental Car Agreement found in the Doris Duke Papers from 1922-1998.

While Tirella was driving, they encountered massive iron gates that stood 20 feet tall and weighed over a ton each. After Tirella got out to open the gate, Duke took over as the driver. However, when Tirella returned to the driver's seat, the car suddenly surged forward and trapped them between the car and the gate. Despite this mishap, the car continued to accelerate and caused the gates to crash onto the street below. Tirella remained stuck between the car and fallen gates while being forcefully pressed against unforgiving surfaces of metal, machinery, and pavement. Unaffected by these events, the car persisted until it collided with a large tree on the other side of the street, leaving behind a trail of human and mechanical wreckage (Thomas ; Duke, 1995, p. ).

3345). The ambulance arrived, but not for Tirella, rather to transport the heiress to the hospital where she was placed in isolated care. Throughout the night, groundskeepers diligently erased the blood and skid marks from the road, while landscapers restored

the damaged shrubbery and patches of lawn, eliminating any traces of evidence. The gates were taken off, repaired, and rehung; as for the rental car, it was inspected once before vanishing without a trace (Thomas ; Duke, 1955). Duke's lawyers were aware of the potential charges including manslaughter or even murder. They worked tirelessly behind the scenes to avoid such accusations, and it seems that they were successful in making deals (Doris Duke Papers, 1922-1998).

The investigation into Tirellas's death was very short, and it is puzzling that all records of the investigation have vanished. The Newport Police Chief, Joseph A. Radice, and Detective Capt., Paul J., were in charge of the investigation.

It is strange that in this case, there was no investigation or routine questioning about Duke's demeanor on the day of his death. Furthermore, the prime suspect was not questioned until two days later. The only surviving records, which are newspaper accounts and police reports, have all mysteriously disappeared.

The accuracy of the newspaper accounts is confirmed by Police Chief Joseph A. Radice, who is quoted as he speaks about the accounts. This morning, Chief Radice stated that Lieut. Frank H.

Walsh interviewed Miss Duke at her Bellevue Avenue residence, Rough Point, accompanied by Detective George Watts. Miss Duke's lawyer, Wesley N. Fach from New York City, was also present during the questioning (Newport Daily News, 1966, p. 1).

According to Chief Radice, earlier today, Miss Duke informed the police that she had been seated on the passenger's side of a recent model station wagon driven by Tirella, while they were leaving the estate. As they approached the gates, Miss Duke mentioned that

Tirella stepped out of the vehicle to open them, allowing her to shift over to the driver's side in order to exit onto Bellevue Avenue. She stated that they had performed this maneuver countless times in the past. Miss Duke further recounted to the police that the car suddenly surged forward, and after that, she couldn't recall anything else (Newport Daily News, 1966, p. 1). Dr.

According to Philip C. McAllister, a state medical examiner, Tirella's cause of death was immediate brain injuries. Chief Radice stated that he was waiting for the complete medical examiner's report and that the investigation was still ongoing (Newport Daily News, 1966, p. 1). However, Chief Radix's assertion that they were getting along contradicts previous allegations of their recent altercation, which could have been discovered through staff interrogation.

Despite the involvement of a death, questioning of Doris Duke lasted only about 20 minutes. Two inspectors from the Registry of Motor Vehicles confirmed that the car was functioning properly, leading Radice to close the case as an accident (Lodi News-Sentinel, 1966). Surprisingly, Doris Duke quickly wrote a check for $25,000.00 to the commissioner in charge of restoring the Cliff Walk. It is ironic that she had previously fought against this very commission during the late fifties to late sixties, in an effort to keep people away from her estate. The Cliff Walk had been her weakness, but just eight days after Eduardo's death, Doris Duke became its biggest supporter and benefactor.

Evidence suggests that a backroom deal was made on the night of Tirellas's death, which supports the theory. Interestingly, Police Chief Radice retired abruptly and comfortably just months after closing the investigation (Davis,

2009). Doris Duke used her wealth and influence to successfully rid herself of troubles. However, this changed when Eduardo Tirellas's heirs filed a notice of claim against her in October 1967. This claim caused panic within the Duke camp and prompted attorneys to draft letters in an attempt to resolve the situation. Additionally, evidence supportive of murder emerged as these letters were sent out.

One letter, written to Duke's attorney Wesley Fach, requests a copy of the lease agreement that Miss Dukes signed with Avis Rent A Car System, Inc. The sender asks for it to be forwarded by return mail (personal communication, December 5, 1966, p. 1). The fact that Doris Duke had a large staff of over 200 servants to handle her tasks raises questions as to why she personally signed the rental car agreement shortly after Tirellas death.

This supports the theory that Dukes act was premeditated. In another letter, Duke's attorney, Pete Cooley, informs Duke of a recent meeting with the Tirella brothers, their lawyer, and Avis' lawyer. The outcome of the meeting is that Tirellas is requesting $600,000 and a settlement outside of court. The next course of action depends on the response from Avis Insurance Company. Although uncertain, Cooley expects the answer to be negative, possibly with a counteroffer of a lesser sum. Subsequently, further waiting will be necessary to determine the next steps.

Hope and pray a court battle can be avoided (personal communication, January 25, 1967). This also supports the claim of murder, from the earliest age of 12; Doris Duke welcomed the opportunity to do battle in court regardless of expense, now all attempts are made to avoid it.

What is the cause of the underlying fear and panic? On December 12, 1967, after two months of negotiations without settlement, the lawsuit was officially filed. The stakes now rose to $1,250,000 -plus interest and cost (Doris Duke Papers, 1928-1998). Attorneys for Duke proved successful in tying up litigation in the courts, the trial would not get underway until June 1971, five years after Tirellas's death. Lewis Perrotti, assistant to the registrar of motor vehicles, and Chief Field Investigator, Alfred Massarone, inform the jury the brakes and gas pedal were fully functional, thus disputing the claim the car jumped forward on its own.

Doris Duke testified without admitting or denying guilt, claiming she couldn't recall if she pressed the gas pedal or shifted from park to drive. This contradicted her previous statement to the police two days after the accident. Ultimately, the trial determined Duke's guilty in Eduardo Tirella's wrongful death, providing further evidence of her culpability. The Tirella family was both pleased and saddened by the verdict, as they were awarded $96,000. They promptly filed an appeal against the ruling. On May 4, 1973, Doris Duke was once again adjudged guilty, but the Supreme Court of Rhode Island upheld the original award. This ruling is now the sole remaining document, as court records containing testimony from both trials have vanished. Prior to the first trial, Duke donated her fortune to the people of Newport.

Soon after Tirella's death, she was released from murder charges in a widely believed backroom deal. Shortly after her passing, a restoration project benefiting the town was financed by her. The foundation work commenced promptly, but the announcement of The Newport Restoration

Foundation was delayed until 1968 due to planning and building identification. Tirella's funding and dedication to preserving Newport's architectural heritage from the 18th and 19th centuries resulted in an impressive rescue of the city's early architectural legacy (Newport Restoration Foundation, 2009, p. 1).

Doris Duke's last-ditch effort with the help of her attorneys and the announcement of the foundation ultimately resolved Eduardo Tirellas's death. However, even after 46 years, questions still linger about Doris Duke's innocence. Upon reviewing the facts, it is clear that her power, wealth, and influence influenced the investigation into Tirellas's death. The circumstances surrounding the case are perplexing - a mere twenty-minute interview of the main suspect, neglecting the evidence that the vehicle was working fine, failure to interrogate the staff, and ultimately closing a case that resulted in a tragic death.

Doris Duke's vindictiveness was not secreted; entrance and exit into her world were on her terms. In viewing the preponderance of the evidence, Eduardo Tirellas death may have indeed been covered up and dismissed due to the influence, power, and wealth of Doris Duke.

References

1. http://www.learningtogive.org/papers/paper190.html