Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1904-08-23
Bessie fglint0n in Fair Way to Re-
Ceive Fortune Left by Father
in Honduras.
the CASE A VERY PECULIAR ONE
Thomas EglintOn Deserts Wife and
Child, Goes to Prison and Dies
in a Foreign Land.

Bessie Eglinton, Is years of age, the
step-daughter of Il man who has to
work for daily wages in order to sup
port his small family. is the heiress
for whom a search has been made for
several weeks in order that a fortune
which her father left her in Central
America might be turned over to her.
She lives with her step-iather, John
Strong. on Broadway just across the
creek. near the end of the Broadway
foot bridge. The Fergus CountMDem-
ocrat called at the Strong home. which
is a neat little cottage painted white,
Sunday afternoon and was given all OF
the details of the affair, which is now
attracting considerable attention in
this part of the country.
Bessie Eglinton was born in Sydney,
New South Wales, Australia, in 1886.
Her father, Tom llglinton, was acook
out in the great sheep-raising section
of that province. Shortly after the
birth of the baby Eglinton received
word that his father had died and that
his portion Of the paternal fortune.
amounting to several thousand pounds,
was waiting for him in Scotland.
Without more ado he sailed with his
wife and baby tor his native land. Ar
irving there, he secured his patrimony
and proceeded to spend it in the most
lavish manner. He bought fast horses,
hounds, jewels, fine clothing and all
other accoutrements Of thorough
bred sport. Although the fortune
which he had received was consider
able. he soon made way with all of it
and was compelled to seek once more
a position as cook. The new world
Offering better opportunities, he came
to Newfoundland along about 1890
and from there over into the Assini-
boine country. He did not remain
there for any great lengthof time, but
made his way down to Great Falls.
He owned hotel in that country
for while and could have made a
success of the venture had it not been
for his heavy drinking. After having
become involved in numerous petty
scrapes in Great Falls he left the city,
being accompanied by his wife's sis
ter, with whom he had become infat-
uated. The two went to Canada,
where they were married, and from
which place Eglinton was sent to the
penitentiary at Stony Point for a
term of seven years. What the ma
ture of his crime was his people never
discovered. While he was in Canada
his wife in Great Falls received a let
ter from former friend telling of
Eglinton's marriage with his sister
in-law and his subsequent incarcera-
ton at Stony Point. That was the
last Mrs. Eglinton ever heard OF him.
Securing divorce, she was married
in 1893 to J. a. Strong, the wedding
having been solemnized at Steele,
Mont
Mr.. and Mrs. Strong lived in differ
ent cities Of the state until the time
of her death in Virginia City, seven
years ago. He, with his step-daughter
and his own children, lived in White
Sulphur Springs until over two years
ago, when he moved to Kendall and a
few months later to Lewistown, which
has been his home ever since.
The first that Miss Eglinton heard
of her fathers death was from the
Great Falls Tribune of Aug. 3, which
contained /; letter from man in Hon.
duras, c. A.. to Postmaster II. O.
Chowen of Great Falls, asking him for
information which might lead to the
discovery Of the heirs of man named
Engleton, who had been killed in a
railroad wreck near Puerto COrtes
July Is. The letter stated that the
man had IA hotel in Puerto Cortes val
ued at $4,000 and free from all incum-
brances. Also that the estate includ-
ed legacy of several thousand pounds
which brother in Scotland had left
the owner of the hotel. Although the
name was spelled somewhat different
from that of his step-daughter, Mr.
Strong employed an attorney to look
into the matter and, ii it is found
that his daughter is the heiress, tC
take the steps necessary to place hel
in possession of the money. Attorney
Frank f. Smith, who has charge OF
the business. has written othe Amer