Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-20

The suspicion on the part Of neigh
bors that all might not be we'll at the
home OF Mrs. Paulina c. Lithgow, 96
years of age, who has for many years
lived the life Of a recluse at her home
1874 State street, lead Wednesday
morning to the finding Of her body
in an upstairs hallway of the house.
to which she had laboriously climbed
before her death which was believed
to have occurred about two days ago.
The discovery of the body was made
by City Marshal William J. Skehan
to whom her nephew. Edward G.. Luz
cQues Of Biddeford had appealed for
help when he was unable to gain ac-
cess to the house.
Breaking in a pane Of glass In one
Of the windows Of the house, they
opened the window and entered about
$3.50 Wednesday morning. They found
the house in an uptidy condition, due
to the fact that she had been unable
to perform her accustomed work. At
ter searching about the lower floor
they started UP stairs and upon the
stairs which were very dusty they
found undoubted signs that she had
struggled up one stair at a time,
pushing something ahead of her. In
the hall above they found the aged
woman lying face downward upon the
floor and just ahead Of her were a
candlestick, a reading glass and a
stood she had for years kept a large
amount of bonds and valuables and
which she never left out Of her sig--s.
It was apparent that she had fallen
to the floor sometime in the night by
the fact that she had the candle stick
and 1t was considered fortunate cir
cumstance that she did not overturn
the candle and perhaps set the house
af1re.
Mrs. Lithgow, who was the widow
Of Llewellyn w. Lithgow, who died in
1882, and who was donor Of the Lith-
gov Public Library has lived in Sc
clusion for many years. She had but
| one close friend who had access to
her house, and this lady Mrs. NJ. E.
Fuller became alarmed on Tuesday by
| the fact that the morning papers and
the milk, which were usually remov-
ed from the porch, had not for two
days been taken care Of. Mrs. Fuller
on Tuesday evening examined the
house from the outside and not gain
| ing admission sent q message to Mrs.
Lithgow's nephew. Edward c. Lucques
Of Biddeford. who came to this city.
| Mrs. Lithgow was a wealthy wom-
an. but she apparently died in circum-
stances which might almost be des-
cribed as restitution. Because Of the
infirmities of age she could do little
about the house or for herself.
Mrs. Lithgow last September mar
rowly escaped death when she was
found unconscious in the house which
l al wit q
opened gas burner. She later recov-
cred and since that time has lived a
very retired life.
Mrs. Lithgow, who was born May
%. 1880. was the daughter of Elisha
Child and Martha Palmer Child OF
this city. She came of a distinguish
ed family and one Of the older famil-
les of this city. Her grandfather was
| James Childs, who was born in 1867
and came to Augusta, which was then
Hallowell, in 1776. Her husband
Llewellyn Lithgow, was the son OF
James and Ann Gardiner Lithgow
and she was his second wife. the first
being Mary Bowman. Llewellyn
Lithgows grandfather was Colonel
William Lithgow, commander of Fort
Halifax during the French and Indian
wars. and the Lithgow family history
L
Of Maine and Augusta since the ear
Hest days.
The old house on State Street Is a
veritable storehouse OF priceless an
tiques, some Of the original mahogany
/ furniture from the old fort still being
preserved there along with large
quantity of valuable oil paintings and
I other relics Of the historic pasts of the
family.
Her only real relatives are Judge
Lucques of Kennebunkport and Ed
ward Lucques of Biddeford.
It is understood that Mrs. Iithgow
left no will. in event of which the
estate will pass to these two neph-
ews by, inheritance. A third nephew,
the late Frank Lucques. painted the
large oil painting. The Feast Of Lu-
cullus, which hangs on the west wall
of the Lithgow Public Library, which
Mr.. Lithgow gave. He studied for a
time in Paris and afterwards did ex-
cellent work in oils, specimens Of
which may be seen in many Maine art
galleries. Funeral services will be
held at P. NJ, Friday, and will be
| strictly private