The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-11-02
BOSTON'S CELEBRATED CASE.

The Fight Over Mrs. Armstrong;. Wealth
Develops Some Interesting Facts show
in. How Dangerous 1t Is for an Elderly
Dame to Get the Mash.
BosToN, Special Correspondence, Oct. TO-
A most curious, and VIVA. will prove a cello
brared case, is now absorbing tho entire atten-
ton OF Bostonians in high and low circles.
The facts which have already been brought to
the surface read stranger tAan fiction, and,
were they not sworn to. would scarcely gain
credence. The names which figure most prom
inentIy in the case are Abigail Armstrong and
Warren X. Blodgett. The former, for many
years, was the poor lone widdar" of Gov.
Armstrong, ami is now sleeping peacefully in
the grave ; the latter is agrav- haired, middle
asedgenileman who *aseonce an impecnnioua
pro:is SION dealer, but who loved the .'widder,n
more FOR her money than for herself, ana who
is now tgh'ing in court for about a million left
by her, opposef' by some twenty-eight heirs,
who allege that shc was not in her right mind
when she. gave .her. property 10 hin, and. that
he had an undue influence over her during her
life. "A case similar to this has hardly been
known in this country. 1t has been in court
two weeks already, and it may be a month be-
fore it is concluded. Away back in the year
1912 Abigail met Samuel Armstrong. fell in
love with him. and then became his wife.
Samuel was . printer and publisher, and soon
got rich-the greater part of his wealth. it was
said, being made .uTon a book entitled Fanny
Hill, which, had there been an Anthony Com
stock al that time, would undoubtedly have
been suppressed. He retired in 1928 upon
100000, and interested himself in politics..
He served four Year, in the board of Aldermen
WAS lieutenant governor OF the State from
1888 to 1885, aud was acting gov
ernor after the election of Gov. John
Davis TO the United S ates senate, March
4, 1883 The year following he was
elected mayor OF Boston, and during
his administration the court house in whiels
the present case is now being tried was COM
| pleted, and afehce built around the common
At that time the Armstrong; lived in an ele-
CANT mansion upon BGacdn street, net far from
the State house. It was q large Establishment
and rdagiihcently fitted up, there being quito
a re,intIe of servants. male and female. They
entertained in a prncely fashion. and the most
noted people in the land were their guests.
They kept; hersessand carriages, and i'll fact
lived insthehsight sof style, Mrs. Armstrong
was quite good=lookins, dressed always in, the.
latest fashion, and WAS the acknowledged
leader of Boston society. She was extremely
well educated, was a good conversationalist
witty ind entertaining. They '.did" Europe
several times, and were in fact the bluest Of
blue blood. IL, 1850. Mr.. Armstrong, died
leaving considerable property, and this, added
to a large amount of money willed her by her
father made" Mrs. Armstrong the owner OF
about halt . million. It was Mr. Arms,rong's
desire. that his ~reliesAhould maintain tho style
after his death that she had becnsaccustomed.
to before it; and. in obedience to this wish ~
her deceased Husband, Mrs. Armstrong did 20
for five years. At the end of that time she
made the Acquaintance Of Warren X Bod
gett, who was q smart, Intelligent aud good
looking man, and immediately got ''mashed"
upon him, although he was married ara had q
family. G{T mtlltN
THE sHREwD yERMoNTER.
Blodgett was q Green smouutain youth, who,
when he was of age. borrowed $25, and
can,e to Boston to seek bis ~fortuuei He
L ma MAJ nd IN q nm n -liitla ,,nnn. nnl