The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-01
BESSIE POOLE Is RICH
But She Has Been Leading a Pretty
Tough Life.
TESTING A MOTHERS LOVE
One OF the Unfortunate Women of
the Town Receives a Letter
Which May Change the
Tide OF Her Life.

BUTTE, Jan. 31.-Bessie Poole, q woman
of the town, whose right name is Lulu
Branscom, has just experienced a streak
of luck such as does not often fall to
women of her class. The ease and grace
with which fallen women spin fancilul
yarns about their wealthy and exalted
parentage is one of their strongest char
acteristics and there are very few of them
who will acknowledge birth in the lower
walks of life. The girl in question, how
ever, never told any of these improbabi e
ghost stories, which was in Itself a pretty
strong indication that sho had a history.
The gay and festive Bessie arrived in
Butte little over a year ago and was
rather a high flyer for time. Sue was of
a decidedly dIssipated disposition, how :
ever, and it was not long until she took
up permanent residence among the
painted frights in Galena street. A
month or so ago young grocery clerk,
who Is generally looked upon as a very
modest and strictly proper young man,
became enamored of the girl and she has
since then been living with hun in an
East Broadway lodging house.
few days ago the mayor received a
letter from the mother of the girl at Ar
gentine, Kan, asking him TO look the girl
-
Inc father, who appears to be very
wealthy man, dIslnhrrIted his daughter
once, but under the influence of his wife
he had been prevailed upon to revoke this
action and he had also agreed not to make
his will until tho girl had positive y
refused TO return home. ASIDE from tie
provisions for her IN his will it was stated
in the letter that her father had set aside
$4,000 IN cash to 70 to her upon her re-
turning home and showing tangible eve
dence of reform. The mothers love for
her wayward daughter was still strong
and she urged tho mayor in touching
words TO try to prevail upon her to for
sake the wide and crooked road AMI re-
turn home where forgiveness and $4,000
awaited her.
the letter stated that the girl had been
betrayed when very young and had then
gradu lilly gone from bad to worse. 1t was
apparent from the mothers letter that
the girl was well connected and it has
since been learned that she is a relative
of Judge Branscom, a prominent Illinois
jurist.
The letter was turned over to Detective
Murphy and he soon succeeded In locat-
ing the girl. She broke down completely
when her mothers letter was shown her
and between her sobs she promised to re-
turn home and lead n new life. She tele-
graphed home Immediately and an
answer was quickly received telling her to
come home at once and sending her
money to pay her expenses.
The girl was sick when the good news
reached her, but she will leave for home
as soon as she RECEIVERS. She is about %
years old and while her face shows the re-
suit of dissipation il still bears evidence
of refinement and she is very bright and
finely educated. She admits that it will
be difficult at first to settle down and live
n respectable life, but she is determined
to reform and she believes that she can
go home and sin no more.