The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-25

tbs lsls Mr.. A. I. Stewart we're about TO institute
legal proceedings what thcy regarded
their proper share OF his estate. representative Of
the HERALD called upon Judge Hilton yesterday after
with the view OF asccrtanng whether the story
was true false.
Tho reporter found Mr.. Hilton in his private ofnce
at the Wholesale store down town, and AFTER ntroduc
ing the object OF his call the Judge with him
~ follows:-
JUDGE HnroS's STORY.
II never knew that combined attack OF pre-
sumptive or presumptuous heirs was about TO be
made upon the viii OF Mr.. Stewart or upon myself.
until read It In the columns OF ono Of our morning
newspapers to-day, nor do know anything about Il
now have referred all who have called upon me In
relation 70 y 70 tho newspaper oice from which the
Butt said the HERALD reporter. have you not
since Mr. Stewards DEATH been IN receipt Of letters
from parties claiming relationship with him ?"
Letters ~ exclaimed Judge Hilton, laughing heart
ny why, certainly; have received them by the
dozen. 1t is safe TO say that they from almost
before the death Of Mr. Stewart and since his funeral
they have been pouring in upon me in steady, I'M
please tell me more definitely where the letters
came from ~ SAID the HERALD reporter.
Il cannot They drift IN from AL points" responded
the Judge "From the East. West, North and South !.
from England. Ireland, Scotland and America; from
Manchester Liverpool and London; from Peoria,
"what is the character OF these icttcrsi"
"Ihcy are Of every variety. No two are alike. Yet
In each the writer ESSAYS 70 prove beyond the SHADOW
OF doubt that he she Is relative Of tho late Mr.
stewart and consequently entitled to some share OF
his property"
"fes, OF late have been keeping them Formerly
they were all destroyed"
Have you any convenient nowf"
'Ycs, great many"
Hereupon the Judge picked up huge mass OF lot
ters There must certainly have been least hty in
the parcel They Of all szcs-some enclosed in
hugo envelopes, with imposing stamps OF business
firms upon them. some envelopes Of rose orange and
lavender TINS; some enclosed In wrappers closely
DOLLAR rERcALR SHIRT,
exposed for sale along the Bowery, and others,
dantily white and, considering the long distance
which they had traversed, narvellously clean.
FAN these" said the Judge, may BIO regarded MS
since the funeral"
"How do you regard their authorss"
"As perfect swindlcrs.' -
"But the letters very funny. You have no idea
how ridiculous the majority or them are Neither
Mark Twain nor Artemus Ward ever wrote richer
things than DO pointed out in this most peculiar
and extraordinary correspondence"
won't you please read me few Of them, In order
that may catch an idea Of their purport requested
the reporter.
with pleasure the Judge answered. untyng tho
tape and running his hands through the letters "Let
mo take them as they come. l have them from
nophews ncces, cousinsin fact. Il would seem from
relatives both near and remote. !"
Tho Judge then proceeded to open square envelope
which bore foreign stamp and about the edges OF
which there was heavy band OF mourning II was
from Manchester, England, and addressed to Lady
Stewart II was couched in language of regret From
it's lugubrious verbiage would certainly DO led
mag Inc that must have been written In sorrow and
in tears In its opening paragraph the writer en-
deavored to express her sincere grief at the demise OF
HER
II have never seen him since he left Manchester"
she wrote land was in perfect ignorance Of his where
abouts until read the news of his unfortunate DEATH "
She closes her sweet epste BY announcing in the most
emphatic manner that Mr.. A. T. stewart her uncle
and that she hopes her portion OF his wealth will
speedily DO RENTED
The next letter was from the West The writer gen-
erously enclosed her photograph and her private char
acter Endorsed by the Postmaster and cashier OF
The bank of her native place. There necessity
tor this Endorsement. however, for the portrait clearly
indicated that the woman eighty years of age
She too in sackcloth and ashes" because oil the
stern visitation OF Providence, and gracefully supple,
mented her commiseration by tho perfectly natural
query concerning the exact amount OF dollars and cents
that was due her.
man residing In tho State of Ilnois' He wrote
terrific hand, and expressed himself in the most
to Judge Hilton like thls:-"Push my claim forward as
speedily rs possible collect all the money to which
am legally entitled and III give you just half the
Tho letter which the Judge read to the writer
was from Alice somebody), who resides in sold Ken
tuck" She not relative exactly, but has such
business affairs OF Mr.. Stewart and his partner that
unless satisfactory sum is immediately settled upon
her she VIII at once mako reDlation that will be
to forever blast the future prospects OF the firm.
This lady lives in Bourbon county and hence the
Of her peculiarly savage and crrac letter the average
male reader will readily understand
NORTH.
And then thore has come to the Judge fifth letter. 1t
comes from the north and Is cold and In
no tears The writer has consulted with his lawyers.
He "knows his rights and knowing dare maintain. ;,
Hos "relative on tho wife's sdc and stcrny lnsn-
yates that he cannot possibly receive his money
enough. Judge Hilton must certainly remit the
due this pugllistic young gentleman ut once BY tclc
graph, otherwise he will fall victim to the vengeance
Of provincial awy orsa vengeance, by the way which
may occasion Mr.. Rice great deal of trouble 10 ward
OIL
And then there are numerous other lcttcrs-as, for
example, 0Defrom tho destitute relative; her from
cousin who lost "both legs in the civil war;; another
whose property was swept away by the Chicago fire,
and another who ought to have been wrecked on tho
White Star steamer Atlantic These statements
exaggcrations Had Judge Hilton kept all the letters
which have from time to time into
his hands from parties claiming relationship with Mr.
Stewart they would In number exceed thousand.
Not only do letters of the character given above reach
him. but they are also daily received by Mrs Stewart.
Judge Hilton, very properly, gives them no answer.
Though during business hours they annoyance
to him, their extreme righteousness him whom
he IL at leisure.
.Mr stewart" said the Judge .'failed to end these
relatives while he was living, although he exceed
ingy earnest in his cndeavors TO do. All these par
ties swindlers and will receive attention what
ever"
Consequently those 5000 or 10 900 individuals
who engaged In framing their arguments to
prove they relatives OF the deceased had
ter abandon their undertaking, the will OF Mr.. Stew