The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-07-20

| thero - any other property left to
be discovered I can be of no help
for J can recall no place in which
Kansas City, Mo-. July 17-Mrs. Mar"
garet klock Armour, widow OF Simeon
Is. Armour, the packer, filed suit in the
circuit court here today for $142, 000
against Miss Harriet Byington, to COW
| er populations alleged to have beer
made by Miss Byington while serving
as companion and housekeeper to Mrs.
Armour.
The first intimation the public re,
ceived concerning populations against
MRS. Armour came about three months
ago when local newspapers published
stories saying that $4,000 In bonds and
securities had disappeared from Mrs
Armour's safety deposit box at the
New England National bank, OF thi.
city.
The fact that the majority of thu
business of Mrs. Armour's household
was conducted by Mrs. Armour's COM
panlon, nurse and housekeeper and the
fact that this companion held the keys
TO Mrs. Armour's safety deposit box,
was mentioned, but the name Of the
companion was kept secret.
Mrs. Armour refused ID believe any
charges Of dishonesty against Miss
Byington. Meanwhile new discoveries
increased the amount OF missing secu-
rites until the Armour attorneys stated
1t at $4,000.
Woman Confesses Gilt.
Under pressure brought to bear by
FRIENDS or Mrs Ar .nour and despite the
expressed confidence of her employer,
Miss Byington several days after the
discovery OF the populations confessed
that during the three years she had
Arm ttv.'ey .l.- ~
from time to time extracted securities
from the safety deposit box, and sold
them to brokers on the pretense she
was doing IT for Mrs. Armour, who de-
sired the money for private charities.
Miss Byington then directed investf.
gators to dog kennel at the Armour
home, where about SCI, 900 Of the secu-
rites were found buried in a corner.
She promised to restore the remainder,
1t developed that thousands of dollars
had been spent by Miss Byington for
fine tewelry and works of art, for which
she had paid fabulous prices, in some
cases apparently with the use Of little
judgment.
Much Plumber Recovered.
From storage houses in this city, I'M
der Miss Byingtons direction, Mrs,
Armour's representatives recovered
$4,000 worth of jewelry bought from
one firm in the course Of Is months;
$4,000 worth OF oriental rugs and $4,000
worth Of MeZzo tints purchased from q
local art dealer whose shop she had
frequented a great deal. Other gew-
gaws and fiashy art works were found
In Miss Byington's apartments at the
Armour home.
Miss Byington came to Kansas City
from Rochester. n. Y. and entered
Mrs. Armour's employ about three
years ago. Mrs. Armour Is rs years
old. Gradually she came to lean more
and more upon her companion, until
eventually she gave her a large part of
the control OF the financial manage
nent of the household. When told by
her attorneys of the disappearance on
securities Mrs. Armour refused to take
any action against Miss Byington, and
for weeks afterward kept her in her
employ.
The amount named in the suit, s142,-
BOO, is stated to cover the entire
amount of alleged populations, includ-
Ing the bonds and the value of prop
erty returned. Vouchers showing the
amount returned must he presented in
court and credited against the entire
amount OF the suit.