The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1907-03-07
TWO HEIRS
ARE HERE
Brother and Sister by Adoption May
Come in for Their Share
Of Property.

GRAFTON, Feb. 2S-Is Miss
Louise Butcher. OF Stafford, O., who
Is half sister of the late Adoiphus
Armstrong. the sole heir to the Arm
strong fortune, as has been sserted
by nearly everyone since Mr.. Arm
strong's death. In the light of in
formation that has been received
here from Harrison county, this
question cannot be answered affirm
atiyely at least without some quail
iications and doubts.
1t now appears that Jack" Arm
strong. the putatIve father Of the late
Adolphus Armstrong, recognized
Adolphus as his son and adopted
him as such. This adoption is
shown by an instrument Of record in
the clerks office OF the Harrison
county circuit court. It has been
known that Mr.. Armstrong lived in
Harrison county for a number OF
years before he came to this county,
In 1876. when he was twenty-three
years old. but that he had an adopt
ed father did not come to light until
the controversy that is now on con-
corning mis- estate was brought to te
notice Of the older residents of Har-
rlsou and Lewis counties.
Jack" Armstrong. Mr.. Arm
stronss adopted father, it seems
married when Mr.. Armstrong was
still a boy. and there were two child
rem born of the marriage, Mr.. Ed
ward Armstrong and Miss Kate Arm
and are residents on West Pike
street, Clarksburg. Jack" Arm
strong being the father of
these old people and the adopted
father Of Adolphus, are not Edward
and Kate the latter's half brother
aud half sister and therefore at least
an equal heir with Miss Louise
Butcher In the Armstrong fortune?
1t Is provided by the Code of West
Virginia at the close of section 4 of
chapter 1872, that II an adopting
parent. or parents, shall have other
child or children, theirs by birth,
then. aud IN that case, the adopted
child or children born to the adopt
ing parent. or parents, in which case
he. or they. shall respectively inherit
from and through each other as II
all had been children Of the same
parents born in lawful wedlock."
From this provision Of the statute
1t would seem that William and Let
tie will come in for share of the es-
tate. and should such be the case
more fuel will have been added to
the flames that have been burning
with daily increasing intensity and 1t
is hard to see Just now when the end
OF she fight for the fortune will
come.
Proceedings have been Instituted
In the probate court Of Monroe coun-
~. Ohio. for the purpose Of having a
committee of guardians appointed
for Miss Louise Butcher, the duty of
which committee will be to take
charge of the business affairs of the
old lady. who is now nearly eighty.
two years old and is suffering from
q generous affection. The case Is
being heard by the probate Judge at
Woodsieid. o., today. and a num-
her of lawyers are there representing
the various: interests nthe estate.
Judge NJ. H. Dent, of this city, left
fast night for Woodsfeld.
Should committee be appointed,
as these proceedings contemplate,
there is no doubt that the several
powers OF attorney executed by Miss
Butcher in favor of Messrs. Wilson
and Sommervllle, of Grafton, and
Wn H. Ullman. of Stafford, o.. and
the deed executed ny he rim favor of
Hou C. p Dorr, of Webster Springs,
w Va, concerning the estate. will be
declared void and of no effect. The
outcome of these proceedings will he
watched with the greatest interest,
for should they be successful SINH (
lar proceedings Will be instituted
here and committee will be APP
pointed for the woman In this State
as we'll as in Ohio.