The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-01
KANSAS NEWS.
Strange Story of q Wealthy
LeaVenworth Woman.
Prefers to Live in a Squalid
Cellar to Good Home.
HAS PLENTY OF MONEY
Spent $15, 700 in Eight Years,
How, No One Knows.
Natter to Come in the Courts
for an Investigation.

Leavenworth. Sept. 1.-The Times tells
this sorrowful story:
Living in two squalid rooms in the
cellar of her residence, Fifth and 1sa-
bel streets. one of the rooms the coal
cellar. with bars at the windows and
hardly enough food in them to keep
rat alive forty-eignt hours while up
, stairs in her house, using the fine ma
hogany furniture and with not care
in the world lived the family of George
Saxton-relatives of Mrs. Elizabeth
Stilley found her a few days ago. The
Eooms were filthy. the dishes on which
she ate were not to exceed half dozen
she had her gray hair cropped close to
her head and was wearing an old dress
that was tattered and absolutely filthy.
The sun does not shine through the bar
red windows and never has; yet, to the
best of their knowledge the relatives
think Mrs. Stilley has been living there
since 1898 leading the life of a recluSe,
but at the same time drawing from
Leavenworth bank by checks and has
spent in eight years $4,000
On what? Her relatives are unable
TO ascertain. She wears clothing that
did not cost at the most two dollars;
she is wasted and emaciated showing
that the money has not been spent on
food. She has not been known to have
purchased anything valuable; she is
not known to have even purchased her
own food.
Today in the probate court before
Judge Hawn Mrs Stilley will be taken
and efforts will be made by her rela-
tives to have a guardian appointed for
her. If this is possible the relatives
hope to see her live in peace and COM
fort the remainder of her days.
Judge ]. H. Blanton of Cynthia, Ken
lucky, and Mrs. William Strobridge,
of Cincinnati niece of Mrs. Stilley,
together with Attorney A r. Strotner
of Kansas City. No, are at the present
time in the city making an investiga-
ton into Mrs. Stilley'S affairs and Judge
Blanton states that matters will be
probed to the bottom and an effort
made to ascertain what has been done
with the $4,000 Mrs. Stilley has drawn
from the bank by check alleged to have
been done through George Saxton. This
matter will be gone into in the probate
court today and thoroughly threshed
out Judge BlantOn is a very deter
mined gentleman. He is a Kentuckian
and says he will see that justice is done
Mrs. Stilley in this matter if the case
has to be taken to the highest courts in
the land
Mrs Elizabeth Stflley resides in the
cellar of a large residence at Fifth and
Isabel streets. Her husband, DR..
Stilley. was at one time well known in
this city. He built the residence in the
early sixties of native sandstone. He
died leaving his widow considerable
property. Her uncle, Charles McAficken,
the founder of the University of Gin
ClnndT1. which he endowed with S2,OOO,-
600, left her an annuity of $1,000 a year
payable semi When he died
Mrs Stilley is known to have had in
the First National bank here $4,000 in
cash Since that time she has drawn
her $1,000 a year. but it is said that she
transferred the money to another Leav-
enworth bank and yesterday when her
affairs were inquired into it was found
that she had just 80 cents to her credit |
The bank in which she had her money |
cashed the checks presented by Sax
ton, but protected itself by having him
endorse them.
Planters yesterday by a representative |
of the Times told the following story: |
Il am not a relative of Mrs. Stilley. |
came here with Mrs. Strobridge who |
is Mrs. Stilley'S niece, to aid in an in |
vestigatiOn of the affairs. When Chas |
McMicken. the founder of the Univer- |
sity of Cincinnati, died he left Mrs. |
Stilley an annuity of 81 900 a year. He
was her uncle Her relatives thought /
she was living here in peace and COM |
fort in her old age. Last year a niece |
came here to visit her, but was told 4
that her aunt did not care to see her. |
so she left thinking perhaps that the /
aunt was indisposed- The relatives /
back east have written letter after let |
ter, but received no replies so Mrs |
Strobridge and came here to make |
an investigation.
And what did we find? This woman, |
IS years of age, living in the cellar of /
her own big residence, in two SMALL
rooms. one of which is her coal cellar
with a stove and a few dishes. The |
windows were barred and the rooms /
foul smelling. We asked Drs. Goddard /
and Boiling to go out and see her She
sent them word that she was cleaning |
the walls of her room and did not care |
TO see them
We looked over the house In the
upstairs rooms we found George Sax
ton and family residing in comfort. The
rooms were clean and as neat as could
be- The fine old mahogany furniture
now of almost priceless value, was be-
ing used by them. Who Saxton is I do
not know. j understand that he came
here from Missouri. What influence he
has over Mrs. Stilley is beyond me. vet
he must have some influence over her.
She would write out checks and he
would cash them at the bank She had L
$4,000 in 1898 and has been drawing the
$1,000 a year, but what she has been
spending the money for 1 cannot I'M
derstand. She had diamonds and lew
elry worth hundreds of dollars but one l.
night they disappeared.
When we went out to see her Sax
ton had to prevail upon her to come
out of her barred room. She had her /
hair cropped short, was wearing an old
dress and an old hat Mrs. Strobridge Il
asked Mrs Stilley what month it was
and she said May
We wish to have a guardian ap-