Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-26
NELSON BEARDsLEf's MILLIONS.
Mrs. Armstrong Claims to he His Law
full Widow.

From the New York sun.
Ever since the death of Nelson Beardsley
in Auburn. n. Y, January last. leaving six
daughters and s1.OOOOO sensational de-
Nelopments have been expected by every
body coenizant of his years of open init
macy with Mrs. Armstrong There was
sensation yesterday when II became known
that the woran's lawyers had served sum-
mons and complaint, alleging that the
woman in the case is the lawful widow of
the deceased millionaire, and that her latest
born was his legitimate child. The whis-
pered tales of the alleged widows claim
were to the effect that it was a common
law marriage and compact entered into by
the couple.
The fact that there lived a man who had
been her husband by right of a regular
marriage ceremony was regarded by some
as bar to the woman's claim. But others
explained that Mr.. Armstrong had not lived
with his wife for years, and the statutory
time having elapsed wherein the wife had
reasonable doubts Of his being alive, she
was free TO marry again. At all events
Mr.. Beardsley died without publicly ac-
knowledging a marriage-common- or
otherwfse-with the woman, and without
making the slightest mention Of her in his
WILL She Immediately donned widows
weeds, and by frequent visits to the grave
of Beardsley she attracted much attention.
The Proceedings begun.
The first move in the case was made yes
terday, when Coburn & Hunter. as Mrs. Arm
strong's attorneys, commenced proceedings
to establish her claim to a dover right of
Mr.. Beardseys millions. In one clause Of
the complaint is the following statement:
The above named plaintiff respectfully
shows that the said plaintiff was lawfully
married to Nelson Beardsley in his lifetime
and lived and cohabited with him until the
n y-hi oh MIA
about the 18th day of January, 1894; that
one child, Nelson d. Beardsley, survives as
the issue of such marriage.
The suit is brought by the plaintiff nomi-
naly TO acquire her rights to the house at
Franklin street, where she has lived for
several years and which belongs to the
Beardsley estate. The issue involved in the
suit is unimportaut, except as settling the
question of marriage If successful in this
proceeding the plaintiffs right of dover
will be established, which is the life use of
one-third of all the real estate.
Action has also been commenced against
the executors of the Beardsley estate to re-
cover on two promissory notes, aggregat-
ing S2S.OoO, and interest from the time they
were given. One of the notes-for si0,0oO-
is now in the plaintiffs possession, but the
other. so it is alleged. was placed in pri-
waite safe in the Cayuga County National
Bank vault, and is now missing. the notes
were made payable to Laura A. Armstrong,
who was then known under and went by
that name. One reads as follows:
AUBURN. n. V, July 10, 1891.
$4,000. One day after date, for value re-
ceived, l promise to pay Laura A. Arm
strong, or order $4,000, with interest from
date. If unpaid by me to be a charge
against and paid out of my estate when
ever this note shall be presented.
NELSON BEARDSLEY.
Some NaIuab bile Papers.
On June -. 1892, another note was given.
SO the complaint reads, -for $4,000, to be
paid on demand at the Cayuga County Ma
tional Bank" This Hpte,s is missing
Other valuable papers, which, it is
claimed, were depositedslin 1the private
safe and which are now missing, will be
the basis for another suit to be commenced
in few days. 1t viii be brought by
Laura a. Beardsley. as trustee Of Nelson
ID. Beardsley," the infant, child to recover
$4,000. This is the alleged value of Sc
curites which the widow asserts had been
given to her prior to Mr.. Beardsleys death
to be kept in trust for the child. The Sc
curities, she says, were taken possession of
by Mr.. Beardsley, who had deposited them
in the private safe, where they had been
seen short time before his demise. They
are not to be found now. The plaintiff
however. is prepared to prove their exist
ence, SO she AYERS.
H.