History of the Brazilian Court Hotel

Marchant had worked at the Everglades Club prior to his job at the Brazilian Court a few weeks before the Kennedy death. He remained employed at the Brazil- ian Court for several weeks after Kennedy ’ s death. Both Dorr and Merchant were arrested in New Eng- land on Tuesday May 15, 1984. They were charged with selling cocaine to Kennedy. The word was that Kennedy, who had a long history of drug and alcohol abuse, had kept asking Dorr for “ a connection ”. More than a year later both Dorr and Marchant were negotiating with prosecutors for a plea bargain. Ne- gotiations fell through in June, 1985 when defense lawyers rejected a plea deal. On December 2, 1985 Dorr entered a “ no contest ” plea to charges that he conspired to sell cocaine to Kennedy. He told the judge that his plea was because he was guilty of the charges. Dorr was sentenced to 18 - months probation and a $200 fine by Judge Rich- ard Burk. The State Attorney dropped the more seri- ous charge of “ sale of cocaine ” in conjunction with the “ no contest ” plea. On December 3 1985 Marchant pleaded “ no contest ” to the charge of conspiring to sell cocaine to Kenne- dy. The more serious charge of “ sale of cocaine ” was dropped. Marchant received the same sentence as Dorr, 18 - months probation and a $200 fine. An extensive article by Wendy Keeler appeared in the Palm Beach Daily News April 27, 1984, touting the history and charm of the Brazilian Court. The article was likely prompted by some reports after the death of Kennedy suggesting that the BC was not exactly a luxury accommodation.

1977. Mrs. Hutton and members of her staff would stay at the hotel until her house had been properly aired and opened for the win- ter. She also used to put up friends who were visiting Palm Beach, he added. The hotel ’ s Spanish - influenced design in- cludes courtyards and loggias and lush tropical landscapes. The rooms are all fur- nished in a colonial homey manner. Stretching three acres from Brazilian to Australian avenues, the Brazilian Court Ho- tel is in the heart of Palm Beach, two blocks from the ocean, and a stroll to Worth Avenue. But as Jim Ponce Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce historian and former manager of the hotel said, part of the Brazilian Court ’ s charm is that, looking at the façade from the street, you would never know about the little jewel within. It ’ s like stepping into another world. “ Seasonal guests and celebrities love it be- cause after sallying forth to the social activ- ities around town, they can return to the Brazilian Court for some quietness and tranquility. ” That is why the hotel has always had a fol- lowing of seasonal inhabitants who stay each year from December to May. More like a guest house or an inn than a hotel, the Brazilian Court ’ s quaint charm has won it the distinction of being Florida ’ s first hotel to be entered into Norman Simpson ’ s high- ly selective register Country Inns and Back Roads. The hotel is also the member of a distinguished consortium of international hotels called the Prestige Hotels. Guests also used to love it when, after sauntering to the bar to order a drink or a sandwich, the bartender or waitress would take the order and begin singing in the same breath, as the orderer stood open mouthed. The hotel made it a policy to hire singing bartenders and waitresses. The dates and history of the hotel ’ s past are vague, but people concur that the building dates from 1926 and was first a series of small apartments. “ There was just a plain old wooden sign on the corner that said “ HOTEL ” with an ar- row, ” said Heffernan. In the early ‘30 s, publisher Vincent Mul- ford was one of the first owners and Elliot (sic) Bishop was his general manger. Under

David Kennedy ’ s last days were spent in the homey, old - world surroundings of a ho- tel whose reputation over the years has made it one of Palm Beach ’ s most celebrat- ed institutions. Beloved by Palm Beachers and such out - of - town celebrities as Olivia de Havilland, Gary Cooper, Dina Merrill and Joan Fon- taine. The Brazilian Court Hotel ’ s success could have been predicted over 50 years ago when its first guest checked in. Mrs. Marjorie Merriweather Post Hutton moved herself and her staff into one wing of the 117 - room hotel for several months. Over the years, said Bright Johnson, who man- aged the Brazilian Court for 40 years until

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