Part 9/11:
Moore’s Sudden Departure and Changing Fortunes
Tragically, James Moore’s luminous life was cut short in July 1916 when he unexpectedly died at Loramoor at age 64. His death marked the end of an era; notably, his funeral was attended by an unusual figure—his loyal chauffeur William Betty, who had been a close confidant and heroically helped Moore settle debts when he faced financial difficulties years earlier. Moore left Betty a substantial $10,000 (equivalent to approximately $300,000 today), an act of gratitude that made headlines as Betty was dubbed “the richest chauffeur in the world.”