The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-02-05
A FORTUNE IN CASH SCATTERED
ABOUT THE ROUSE.


there stands big, rambling house sur
rounded by many acres of grounds over
looking the Sound Here for many
years lived Mrs. James Kingsbury. She
died week ago yesterday, having been
cut down by grip at the age of 81. She
was buried from the house two days
later.
She had lived a rather solitary life.
She was supposed to be moderately well
| off and to be living upon an annuity left
her by her husband, the late Maj"r
Julius Kingsbury OF the regular army.
Yesterday this quiet little village was
astonished by the announcement that
S60,OOO in cash, and securities to the
amount of $50, 600 more, had been found
hidden in the house which Mrs. Kings
bury occupied.
Upon the death of Major Kingsbury
his widow came to Lyme to live with
her sister, Mrs. Cunningham. She was
popular at first. She exchanged calls
with all the neighbors. In late years,
however, she rarely went out except on
Sunday, when she was to be seen in her
pew in the First Congregational church.
About six years ago Mrs. Cunningham
died. Her husband died few years be-
fore. About this time it was noticed
that Mrs. Kingsbury was getting "cloSe."
She disposed of the horses and carriages.
She also discharged all the help about
the place except one woman servant.
These two lived all alone in the big,
rambling house until Mrs. King >bury's
death. But Mrs. Kingsbuly did not
take her companion into her confidence
by any means. She was just as ignorant
of the wOman's hidden wealth as any,
body else until it was discovered.
A year after the death of Mrs Kings
bury's sister she made a will. She sent
for Judge Griswold and told him she
wanted her property equally divided he
tween her granddaughter, Mrs. Lily
Belknap of Louisville, a daughter of
Gen. Buckner, and her grandson, Henry
w. Kingsbury, a son of Colonel Henry
Kingsbury. But she named no sum and
none was mentioned in the will. The
executors of the incumbent were Judge
Griswold and Louis Cunningham, a
nephew of her dead sister.
When Mrs. Klngsbury was taken with
the grip several weeks ago, she sent
word to her granddaughter, Mrs. Bel
KNAPP. that she would like to see her.
But before Mrs. Belknap could arrive
Mrs. Kingsbury fell upon a stove in her
room and cut her head badly. She bled
profusrly, and NIX almost instantly in a
state of Inconsistencies in which CON
dition she remained for four days, when
she died. Mrs. Belknap. accompanied
by her husblnd, who is merchant in
Louisville, arrived the dly after the ac-
cldemt, and Mrs. Kingsbury never knew
that they were at her bedside.
After the funeral services the body was
trkcn t. Waterbury The Bclknlps
then re urned TO their home. On last
wednesday Judge Gri>wold appeared
before P,obnte Judge Sweeny of Old
L me and hal Mrs. Kincsbury's will
prObated. Then he and Louis Cunning
ham went t. the old homestead to pre-
pare an inventory. The house had been
locked up, AMI not a soul was in charge
Of it. They looked around little, and
then postponed their work for few
days. On Saturday they went there
again to finish it up.
They rummaged around in the drawers
of the bureaus for second or So. and
were thunderStruck to uncover pile of
glittering gold. 1t was piled up in nice
piles on the bottom of the drawers. In
some instances it was all covered with
dust.
They looked in other places about the
house, and found it literally running
over with money. Before they left
the house they had foun | SG0.OOO in
money. OF this sum Sl4,0 was in gold
pieces, ranging in denomination from $40
to $50.
They gathered it up in improvised
bags and trundled it to New London,
where they locked it up in the storage
vaults of bank. The money was found
hidden in the bottoms of old leather
trunks, bureau drawers, and in the nut
trrssrs of the beds. Where or how Mrs.
Kingsbury was able to collect this large
amount her LAWYERS arc unable to ex-
plain They say that they figure that she
bud between 100000 and Sl25,00 ia
money and securities in the house at the
time Of her death, and not a soul in the
whole township even suspected it. 1t is
snrmised that the money was the re- ult
Of lawsuit after twelve years of litiga-
tion. as it has mysterinusly disappeared
from the court calendar. If this is So,
however. Mrs. Kingsbnry' lawyers know
nothing about it, They have finished
their search Of the house, and are ATS
fled that there is no more money there.
Nevertheless there is wltchn N on
guard ~ the house rs an extra prccautiOn.
-NelC York Sun.
H. C4o4o Guitars Il