The Washington times., 1905-07-17
MYSTERIOUS DO|NGS
Of RICH WOMAN
Claims Man as Relative and
Layishes Money on Him.
SHE STRANGELY DISAPPEARS
Now He's Looking for Her-Told Him
OF Great Estate in
Scotland.

LAFAYETTE. Ind. July 17.-yyhat has
become OF the mysterious Mrs. Rebecca
Bowman. who came to the home of VIII
liam Abbey three weeks ago. claimed
kinship to him, refurnished his home,
induced him to resign his foremanship
on the Wabash railroad and then left
for the West, after giving him and his
wife several hundred dollars?
This is Il question that Abbey has
been seeking TO solve for two weeks
Though some of the best detective tai
ent in the West has been assisting him
to locate the woman, not even a trace
OF her has been found,
Stranger Asks for Abbey.
The eastbound train on the Wabash
railroad brought to this city three
weeks ago styHshly dressed woman.
who asked the station agent If he knew
William Abbey. He replied that Abbey
was a section foreman on the railroad,
and stepped TO g telephone and called
him up.
Abbey hurried TO the depot when he
learned that a kinswoman was waiting
70 see him. When he entered the station
the woman was very demonstrative and
not little agitated as well.
She told him her name was Mrs. Re-
becca Bowman, that her father and his
were brothers, and that she had come
to bring him good news.
Abbey we-s increduIous and asked e
great many questions regarding family
history, TO all of which the woman
answered correctly He recalled thar
his father had spoken of a brother who
had been separated from the family
years before and who was supposed to
be dead.
Installed in His Home.
Abbey took his newly found kins-
woman home with him and, though not
wholly unsuspicious. domiciIed her in
his home The more he talked to her
Of family matters the more he was
convinced that her story was true. and
before they retired that night he was
thoroughly convinced.
Mrs. Bowman went at once to the
subject OF her visit She said her
grandfather had left a large estate in
Scotland but another r.anch of the
family had become possessed of II. and
for four years she had been trying TO
secure her rights, and that had Just
been accomplished. She informed Abbey
that he was joint heir with her. and
she had spent more than year trying
TO find him
She said his part of the estate was
Industries in the South and West, which
she said had come to her IN the set
tlement. and also several thousand dol
lars in United States bonds. At her
suggestion Abbey took some papers re-
lating to the estate to a lawyer, and
was informed after examinati ton of
them that they were perfectly regular.
Started In
Mrs. Bowman had been in the Abbey
home less than two days when she be-
gan TO do things. She refurnished the
house with expensive furniture. gave
Mr.. and Mrs. Abbey some elegant pres
ents, and spent money with lavish hand.
When Mrs. Bowman urged him TO re-
sign as a section foreman he threw up
his JOB with the railroad company.
For aearly a week Mrs. Bowman re
manned with the Abbey family, and all
Scotland to secure the fortune. Then
she announced that she must go to Salt
Lake City for few days. but would be
gone little more than a week.
Mrs. Abbey and her husband accom-
panied Mrs. Bowman 20 the Wabash
railway station, saw her purchase a
Eood-by. But before she left the house
she gave Mr. Abbey several hundred
dollars.
Last of Her.
That was the last seen or heard CT
her. When no word came from her, and
she did not return at the appointed
time inquiry was started, but no trace
Of her could be found. Every city in
the West has been searched for her. but
in vain. Not even in ST. Louis, for which
place she purchased ticket. could any
clew TO her whereabouts be secured, and
It IS not even known If she got that far
on her journey.
Mr. and Mrs Abbey are conDletel5y
nonplussed by the strange affair. They
do not believe 1t possible that the wonl-
an could have been an impester for
there could be no reason to practice i'm
position. She not only spent several
hundred dollars in refurnishing their !
home. but made them a number Of cost |
ly presents and gave them large roll
OF bills when she left for st. Louis
The only theory they can form is that !
Mrs. Bowman has met with foul play
somewhere. but how or where they can
not conjecture. The evidences of her !
visit however, are too substantial to be
denied. and these add to the mystery