The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-30

Bessie Talbott's Extraordinary History-En-
titled to 100000 in Her Own Right.

titled to 100000 in Her Own Right.
Danyille (Ind.) Special
Our people have been surprised to learn, in the
last twenty-four hours that pretty little Bessie
daioott Is an heiress in her own right to $780,.
OOo, and thata considerably larger amount of
money depends upon her existence Near eleven
years ago man by the name Of Kitsmilier. who
resides in or near Canton, O. courted and mar
rried a woman in that city whose name as re-
fuses to give. Both parties and their families.
we are informed. were members of wealthy fam
lilies, and were highly honored and respected by
all who knew them. 1t happened that within
six months after the marriage girl baby was
born to MIR. and Mrs. Kitsmilier. The humila-
ton and shame that would necessarily follow
should this fact become known, was more
than they could endure, and in order ia
keep the entire matter a secret. they came ca
Indianapolis, where the child was born DIR.
Taggart of that CITY. being the attending ply
stefan. After the mother had fully recovered,
the babe was disposed of, the father and mother
returned to their home in Canton, o., and
one, not even the mothers own relatives, ever
knew that Mrs Ktsmiler was the mother OF q
child from that day until some two weeks ago.
About this time, Mr.. and Mrs. Lou Talbot, OF
tn is place. concluded to adopt babe, and made
application to the Orphans Home for child.
They were soon notified that suitable babe was
to be had. and thereupon they proceeded TO the
city for the purpose of procuring the child
which they found in the tender care of q
good old colored lady. This was in De-
cemUer. ten years ago, anu since tnat time
Bessie has been nurtured by these good people,
and has grown to be beautiful and bewitching
girl, and is pronounced such by everybody
whose good fortune it is to see her. Soon after
Bessie came to Danville Miss Talbot rec eived
letters from her mother, and since that time
correspondence has been kept up, the mother de-
claring all the time that she would take Bessie
home but for her husband, who could not hear
to such proposition as persons in his social po-
sition in life could not bear the scandal that
would follow.
The mother has been to see Bessie three times,
and was always treated in the most hospitable
manner by the Talbotts, and, although Bessie
received her kisses and caresses, her identity as
mother was never known to Bessie. The mother
died about two weeks ago. without telling her
lfe-secret. After her death photographs OF
a beautiful little girl were found
by her friends, as well as many
letters telling of the pictures, and
when an explanation was demanded of the hus-
band he told all, and this was the first that the
parents of the dead mother knew of ner story.
On Tuesday night last the father of Bessie. his
father and the father and sister, names I'M
known arrived here and were very secretive in
their actions, so much so that they refused to
register at the hotel In appearance they pos
sessed every indication of wealth. Mr.. Talbot
stoutly refuses to hear of any arrangement
whereby ne is to lose his little girl. of whom he
is over fond.
1t leaked out that Bessie is entitled in her own
right to a cool 800 000 and that much more de-
pended upon her existence. The father all these
years knew of her whereabouts, but never con-
tributed to her support. Bessie knows only Mr..
and Mrs. Talbot her father and mother, and
clngs to them, and will not consent to separa-
ton. Mr.. Talbot has been offered $40 900 to re-
linquish all right to Bessie but all this money,
although poor man, he refuses, and asks to be
allowed to keep his little girl.