The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-18
CHAPTER I-BETTY BIGLEY.

Daniel B!gley, in the early hftIes. lived
or q small farm al Eastwood. Province
9: Ontario. He was poor and had a large
family, eight children in all, and the fifth
was daughter, born in ls57, and chris
tened Elizabeth. known to the other men,
bers of the family as Betty"
Betty" Bigley was never d particularly
beautiful girl. and from early years suf-
fered slightly from deafness She also
spoke with a lisp. She was very bright.
At school she was easily a leader in her
classes. but she was not popular
Betty Bisley was always peculiar"
her schoolmates declared She had a
positive mania for fine clothing, finer than
her father could give her, and for jeweIry
She was not Ike other girls.
Once she went to a barber silop and had
her long hair cropped short and actually
oonned boy : clothing. She was always
schemng. they SAID. TO obtain something
for nothing.
She carried cards which read Miss Big-
ley, heiress TO N5,gy9." Even then her
power over men was manifest. She OBJ
Ia "a. ned credit from local merchants in
Woodstock, about eight miles from her
home, and one day she obtained $3.50 on
note alleged to have been signed by n
wealthy farmer near Brantford. When
another note. puIport!ns to have been
signed by Richard Kip of Woodstock
When this note came due there was no
money to pay it. and the girl. in Noven-
ber. lSI9. was arrested for forgery. The
case attracted much attention. She was
defended hy Sergeant F.nkle now a
Crown Judge The defense was insanity
and In the trial many witnesses testified
as 10 her oddneSs and cccentTfcity. She
was acquitted and never thereafter lived
permanently in Woodstock.
EARLY REFORM FAILED.
One OF Daniel Bigley's daughters mar
rted Air. Campbell and moved 70 CIere-
land. o., in the seventies. A week after
the trial at Ontario. Betty" Bigley sp-
peared at the Campbell home Mrs. Camp
bell declared that she would attempt to
reform her sister. The girl at once set
out to learn dress cutting. living quietly
in the Campbell home.
She soon became proficient and opened
a school for herself in the Argyle block.
on q prominent thoroughfare. 1t was
thought she had put aside all her inordi-
nate desire for finery and Jewels.
But this was a wrong belief Instead her
appetite increased. With the school for the
basis. she began campaign on the
rnoney-lenders oi the city. Jewels, gowns
ana dresses soon became norS.
When her personal credit ran out she
coolly took her sisters name and began
to get more money by giving chattel mort
cages on the Campbell household goods.
Mr.. Campbell was well to do and she was
enabled to run large accounts at the dry
goods stores.
In Cleveland. in 1880. was Doctor ". s.
springsteen, and in some way 'Betty
Bigey met him. Then she was an heiress
to q large estate In ireland. visiting rela-
tiveS in Cleveland and Doctor Springsteen
patd court to her. The- we're married In
1888. and on the wedding night the BRIDE
groom had the disasreeable experience of
seeing regiment OF installrnent men de-
sccnd upon the place and take away not
only the trousssau of the bride and much
Of her furniture. but even valuable we'd
ding presents that she was supposed 10
have received from wealthy friends In Ire
land.
and the physician left her. Within Gay
the Campbell cf,attel mortgages became
known and the sisters parted.
Mrs Springsteen brought suit FOR se2a-
ration against her husband and lost II.
He subsequently obtained a divorce from
her. 1-,s ,,
after that and travelled about the coun-
trv. Her power OF fascination had. II Is
said, Increased. For more than year
she was heard about all over the country,
now tl. heiress OF an estate abroad. now
the wife OF a prominent citizen, now lust
LYDIA ClinEan. living a life that hrousht
her into the acquain;anceship OF many
one incident has been mentioned about
f'-;e tfrre Mrs Maize BaCley sp-
r.s,-e.7 At F-fa. Pa and became III. She
obtained credit, money and other neces-
.t. suaI plea and theE departed.
She vas located In Cleve.erd and bills
reached her there. Back came letter
sicned Miss Cl'ngan.
'Peor Maize IS dead. A large concourse
followed her to the grave l thought you
had heard She was a splendid girl, but.
I,rfo-.l1ratelv HFak-mindei."