The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-12
An %0CT0R0ON'S WEALTH.
She Gets Most Of the Large Estate OF
3 White Bach
elor.
Richmond's Famous Case Is De-
cided In Favor Of Bette
Lewis.
Thomas Awarded = Quarter Of
y Million.

cause celebre OF Bette Lewis Thomas, the
beautiful octoroon who Is said to DO the
daughter of the late w. A. Thomas, a
wealthy white bachelor, wal decided Inst
week by Judge Leake OF the cbanccry court
in her.fayor. The snit was between her and
the white heirs-at-law, relatives of W. A..
Thomas, over his estate, v~ariously estimated
at $4,000 to $4,000. The decision pro-
duced a genuine sensation, and the case is
one of the most interesting on record in the
Virginia courts. In fact there 10 only one
other suit of like character in the history Of
the state involving as great a sum Of money
as that decided to-day.
w. A.. Thomas was a man OF somewhat
eccentric character. The records in this
case show that he was born and raised in
Pittsylvania county, Va. 1t was there that,
1t Ia alleged, he lived with a colored
whose name is not given. Two children
were born, and Thomas is said to have ac-
knowledged himself az their father and
treated them as his children. These chill
dren were known as Bette and Fannie
Thomas Their mother having married q
man of hor WI color. Thomas took a Tip
to Europe, placing the two girls in tho care
OF Philip Thomas, a relative.
Thomas returned during the war, and
Bette Lewis says it was not until then that
she learned that she was not entirely white.
Soon after his return he took the two girls
to Columbus, Ga, where they lived until
the clo.e of the war, Fannie in tho mean
time having married there. Bette, who
had travelled a good deal and was accom-
plished, married q Massachusetts negro
named Lewis, WHO carries on the drug bus
iness in this city. He is much darker than
his now wealthy octoroon wife, and it is
this union that gave her the name by which
she is known in legal and court circles, of
"Bettie Lewis Thomas"
Soon after the end Of the war Thomas
came to Richmond. He bought a small
farm just outside the city, and Bettie's
mother and her husband and the husband
of Fannie Thomas, deceased, all lived
there with him. Thomas rented a room in
Goddin's hall, in this city, and took most
of his meals at the Exchange hotel, but he had
a room in the farm house, and often spent
the night there. For twenty years Bette
Thomas presided over the farm house and
Thomas treated her in every way rs his
daughter. He allowed her to have compan-
ions and furnished her with a hnrse and
phaeton for her own pleasure. During the
summer Thomas used to visit Saratoga.
taking with him Bette and her companion,
Fannie Coles. The three ate at the same
table, and Bette WAS known there rs
Thomas daughter. The summer before he
died. Thomas thought of visiting Europe
and asked Bette to accompany him, but
she declined to 90.
A short time before he died Thomas sold
his farm and bought a lot and built a house
nearer the city. There he took Bette to
live with him. He frequently told her and
Others that he intended the house for her
and proposed to deed it to her. He was
soon taken sick. however, and never made
his daughter a deed to the property.
Thomas died early in January, 1855, and
left no will. He was sick for some time
previous to his death and Bette nursed { n |
cared for him very tenderly. 1t was while
on his death-bed that Thomas gave Bette
amount of his deposits in the Planters
National bank. She claims that the book
was given to her with the purpose of giving
her the money. She also claims that
while on his death-bed n in his right
mind he gave her several negotiable notes
safety-deposit box rented BY him in
the Planters National bank, and
the key to the tin box in the safety deposit
box, explaining to her that there she would
find his most valuable papers. evidences OF
debt, stocks, securities. ETC., which consti-
to the Iron safe, which contained some
papers and personal property.
Everything that Bette Lewis claimed re-
garding the relationship that existed be-
tween herself and Thomas was substantial
ed by affidavits from some of the most
prominent citizens of Richmond, among
them DR.. Hunter Mcclure, Thomas physi-
clan. These persons deposed that Thomas
was very fond of Bette. had often said
that she was the only person in the world
to whom he was unde any obliga-
tion. and frequently said he intended
to leave her his estate. Thomas had
no relatives nearer than first cousins,
and he never had anything to do
with them. He had a very limited
acquaintance with the citizens of Rich
mond. When he died Bette claimed the
whole estate by gift. The heirs at law, who
are we'll known citizens Of Pittsylvania and
Henry counties, were quick to step forward
and also claim the estate. Then began this
now famous suit, the best legal talent in
Virginia being retained on both sides.
Judge Leake decides that by gift-Dona-
ito Mortis Causa-Bettie Lewis is entitled to
all Thomas estate with the exception of his
bank deposits, amounting to $1S, 900.
Thomas, while on his death bed, gave his
daughter his bank book, and she commended
that he intended that she should have the
money represented in the book, but on this
point Judge Leake decides that the deIiv-
cry of the bank book was not sufficient de-
livery of the bank deposits. Unless this
point is reversed by the court of appeals.
the heirs at law. who are c%ontendinp for the
whole estate, will receive the $1,000 in
bank.