The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-06-21
She Carried His Check Book
and Possessed Power
Of Attorney.
She Was Living Life Of Lux.
urious Ease.
DAUGHTERS STIR UP TROUBLE

New York, June 21.-The story
which gained currency relative to the
irregularity of Mrs. Ralph w. Ash
croft in the management of the house
hold affairs of Mark Twain and the
subsequent serving of writ of at
tachment at her home through the
efforts OF the latter received Official
veriication from the humorist at his
home in Redding, Conn.
Mr.. Clemens sent down his priv
ate secretary with authority to speak
freely on all the phases of the. mat
ter. Later the secretary was joined
by Miss Clare Clemens, the Oldest
daughter of Mark Twain, who has
gained some repute as concert sing
er and was the original cause OF the
whole matter being brought to light
"To really understand the case one
has to go way back" said Mr.. Glenn
ems secretary. MRS. Ashcroft had
been Mr.. Clemens secretary for seven
years, having come to him upon the
recommendation OF his business agent
in Hartford.
cat that time she was plain Miss
Lyon. When she made her appear
ance upon the scene Miss Clara Glenn
ems was away on a concert tour, and
Miss Jane, Mr.. Clemens other daugh-
ter. was in a sanitarium, so she had
clear field for whatever she wanted
to do. She was a very quiet and
efficient young lady and very soon Sc
cured Mr.. Clemens absolute conf
dence and became the head of the
household, directing AL his affairs
when Mr.. Clemens began to build
his new place at Redding she super
vised the work and furnishings and
had carte blanche so far as making
expenditures was concerned. II must
be admitted that she performed these
Offices well and as an acknowledge
ment OF her services Mr. Clemens
decided her piece of property here.
The place consisted of about twenty
acres and had on Il an old-fashioned
farm house. which Miss Lyon pro-
posed to repair as a residence for her
mother.
"At this time she was receiving
$50 a month besides her keep, trav-
cling expenses and other expenses.
Also she had been In Mr.. Clemens
employ so long that he had not the
slightest suspicion of anything she
chose to do or tell him.
Never Looked at Check Book.
1t was in 1907 that she began the
reconstruction of the old house.
about a year before Mr.. Clemens
place. Stormfeld, was completed. Dur
ing the course OF these operations
she informed Mr.. Clemens that 1t
would be necessary 70 mortgage the
property he had given her in order
to raise the amount requisite for the
repairs. He told her not to do any
such thing, but to use his money and
mako an accounting when the work
should be completed.
Mrs. Ashcroft accepted the prop
osition and the repairs and con-
struction on her house continued UNI
Ill tue fall of 1908 when she report
ed that she had used $500 OF Mr.
Clemens money. He never examined
HIS bank account nor his chesk book
Everything was absolutely in Miss
Lyons hands and he never questioned
her word.
ut was not until February OF
March OF this year that any complica-
lions arose. Some friends of Mr..
Clemens who were familiar with the
facts told him that Miss Lyon was
not living by any means in fashion
In accordance with her income.
Investigation Begun.
both of Mr.. Clemens daughters
urged their father to have an investi-
cation made"
Miss Lyons accounts were found
to be in such confused state that
very slow progress was made with
them. In the midst OF all Mr.. Rog-
ers died and that complicated things
still more.
"The report showed that instead of
81 500 Miss Lyon had expended over
SO. 500 on her house alone. Now,
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