The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-17

under a great strain since she left
Woodstock some months ago.
When seen by correspondent, she
declared that before leaving Cleveland
she had been warned by her lawyer
to say nothing. She would neither af-
firm nor deny the established identity
of Madame De We're with Mrs. Chad
wick.
Mrs. Campbell admitted that her
sister, Elizabeth Bigley, is the Mrs.
Chadwick whose financial operations
have stirred the continent. She de-
clined to discuss the matter further.
The members of the family here
keenly feel the exposure that has fol-
lowed Mrs. 'Chadwick's prosecution,
but from what can be learned they
have not in late years had a great deal
family was kept poor contributing to
Madame De Vere's defense when she
was prosecuted for forgery in Toledo,
and there are no evidences that the
Cha adwick profited them any.
One son, Daniel Bigley, now a sue
ceSsful implement dealer in Cleveland,
probably has kindly feelings toward
Madame De We're. was liberated on
parole from the Ohio state prison, he
left the old homestead at Eastwood,
near this city, and went to Cleveland,
where he WGs set up in business, it is
said, by his sister. He prospered, and
is now reputed to be worth about
100000.
There is probably no man more
Madame De We're, or Betsy Bigley,
than DR.. Wexford, of this city. The
doctor was reared within a mile or two
of the Bigley homestead, and just
prior to the time when Betsy BigIey
left Woodstock to enter on her ad-
venturous career across the border
treated her professionally. He knew
her well and was familiar with her
M io o1-iii TI,1 4
quainted with the family affairs of
the BigleyS.
At the death of William Bigley,
Betsey's father, he was called to per
form an autopsy on Bigley'S body. The
old man who was a section boss on the
Grand Trunk railroad, had died under
peculiar circumstances. The autopsy
revealed the presence in the stomach
tacks and a gimlet. Whether he had
taken these with suicidal intent was
never esta abliShed.
DR.. Wexford has followed the career
of Madame De We're as closely as the
press and other means would permit
and from published photographs and
which. he does not care to men
ton he declares that the Betsy Bigley
whom he treated later as Mrs. Hoover
of Toledo is the Mrs. Chadwick now
accused in Cleveland.
Woodstock residents who knew the
girl will find it hard to believe that
Mrs. Chadwick was Madame De We're
it is conceded that her native
cleverness would carry her a long way
Betsy Bfgley was not an attractive
looking woman in later life. She had
keen business sense, but her personal
appearance was not such as to attract
men, From her early girlhood she ap-
pears to have been actuated by an in
ordinate desire to acquire wealth.
An early recollection of John Pascoe
a prominent business man of this city
is that once when she was walking into
from her home he overlook
her driving. The two drove into town
together, and during the drive the busi-
ness man was regaled by a story to the
effect that his fair passenger had re-
Gently fallen heir to 800, 600. The next
she went into his store and
asked for loan of $5, which she didn't
get.
Other attempts to defraud woodstock
She was finally arrested in Brantford,
disguised as a man, and was prosecuted
chased an expensive plano. A series of
frauds of this sort resulted in her disap-
pearance from Woodstock. Then came
her Toledo experience.
1t is recalled that, as girl, while she
was not particularly brilliant at ordinary
studies, she excelled at the school enter
to the school programmes. Her imita-
tive powers were remarkable and she had
a voice of wonderful expressiveness. She
was capable of giving clever impersona-
tions of many varied characters. AS a
young woman she was fine looking, tall,
and well featured, with keen dark eyes
characteristics that nave apparently done
much in assisting her in her varied roles
since she left her village home in Oxford
county.
Mrs Chadwick was of English parent
age and in the early days she had a de-
ctded CoCkney dialect.