Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-24
FIGHTING FOa A FOR TUNE.
Catching = millionaire Of the
Northwest and Fighting for
His Immense ESTATE.

The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette
hasa three-column account Of the
career Of Mrs. Alice Paige, wife Of
Simon B. Paige, the millionaire lum
herman Of the Northwest. who vas
found dead with bullet wound in his
head. On March IL, 1882, in Daven.
port, Iowa, hotel, .. G. Paige, a
brother Of the dead man, became con-
WINGED that the new wife Of his brother
(they had been married but two
months) was an adventures, and EN-.
ployed Detective Grsnnon, Of this
city,to ascertain her history. The dc.
tective says the case has been difficult
one, and has resulted in the following
information: Years ago a woman
named Libby was left widow 10
Davenport, with two girls, Laura and
Mary. The two girls peddled pop in
the streets, and the woman with whom
this story has to deal was known as
Pop Mary" The father had pat
ented cure all called Raven Oil"
and the widow advertised for somo
one to sell it. VIM, b. Fagar, Of In
dianapolis, responded. and aiterward
married Mary. They soon separated,
and the girls and their mother came
to Cincinnati TO live.
The girls obtained employment al
the Grand 0perahouse as ballet
dancers, where they appeared as the
Pierpont Sisters, Mary changing hel
name to Alice. While thus employed
Alice read Of the burning OF the Beck.
with House, in Oshkosh, Wis, anC
how Simon Paige, q man Of greal
wealth, offered 5000 to any one wht
would save his wife. Mrs. Paige'l
body was rescued after ner death, anG
Paige refused to pay the reward. Allie,
wrote a gushing letter TO him, saying
she was an old friend Of his dead wife
and nothing would give her so mucl
pleasure as to become the governes
Of her children. Paige wrote bacl
thanking her for her sympathy. bu
saying he had no children. Nothinl
daunted, Alice wrote again, recalling
incidents in the life Of Mrs. Paigr
which she had taken from the papers
Paige became interested in her, ant
wrote that he should like to meet 8,
dear a friend Of his late wife.
In the meantime the family movet
to Brooklyn and a meeting was ar
ranged there. In anticipation Of Nh
Paige's visit, furniture and carpet
we're bought on a credit and we're Of
terward repleYiued. Alice representel
herself as widow. Paige fell int
the trap and they became engaged. Fl
wanted to be married at once, but tn
ballet girl put him of. In the mean
time she quietly obtained a divorc
from Fagar in Cincinnati.
January 8, 1882, "Pop Mary" th
street peddler, Alice Pierrepont," tn
ballet dancer. and Mrs. Fagar, III
charming widow, became the wife Of
millionaire.
When Paige was found dead in BIZ
room in the Davenport Hotel it We
given out that he had committed sui
eide, but there were those who hay
always had a different theory about i
His wife did not attend the funera
but applied to be appointed admiRiI
trstrix Of his estate. His death led
several failures, which are said |
have aggregated 100000. 1t wi
be claimed that there were informal
ties in the Cincinnati divorce, whicl
taken in connection with the woman
character and career, will make it eal
to secure q declaration that her MA
riage with Paige was void. 1t is sal
that the Paige estate is worth sever
millions.