The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-05-19

Mr.. Alfred SHIELD, clerk OF the Circuit
Court Of Richmond, yesterday received by
mail from 8. H. NJ. Byers, United States
consul at Zurich, Switzerland, depositions
OF several witnesses who swear that the
legal heirs of the late Solomon Hannstein re-
side in the vicinity OF that town. Haun-
stein committed suicide soon after the break
ing out OF the late war, and his property
passed into the hands OF curator, but a
fraudulent claim was set up against it,
and it was sold to satisfy it. The
real estate went into possession of
Johnson II. Sands, who afterwards, with
George zChahoon, attained notoriety on ae-
count Of his criminal connection with the
estate. Notwithstanding the fact that
Sands's claim was declared to be bogus
one it was not until few weeks ago that
the escheator could resell the property for
the benefit of the Commonwealth, the pro-
perty having been declared escheated.
Several years ago parties claiming to be
the legal heirs OF Haunstein endeaYored to
assert their rights in an action brought
against the escheator in the Circuit Court Of
Richmond. The proof they have long de-
sired seems now, furnished in the deposi-
tions received yesterday, though grave legal
questions yet remain to be determined.
Luo uepOSitlOus are Nfc
letters written from Richmond by Haun-
stein to his brother in Switzerland. The
substance Of all the evidence of heirship is
contained in the testimony Of Haunstein's
brother and sister, The other witnesses
merely spoke of their knowledge OF the
Haunstein family.
Anna Haunstein, being. sworn, deposeth
as follows: am siXty-fiYe years of age. I
am the daughter Of Andreas Haunstein and
Maria Haunstein, both deceased. l am a
sister OF Solomon Haunstein, who died at
Richmond, in the State Of Virginia, about
ten years ago. Besides Solomon Haunstein
/ had four brothers and two sisters. The
sisters and two OF the brothers are dead.
Two other brothers, Andreas and Joahn
Haunstein, have also been declared dead
in the eyes Of the law by a decree OF
the Court OF Zurzach, Switzerland. They
have been many years absent from the
country, and their whereabouts is en-
tirely unknown to me. One brother,
Henry Haunstein, is still living, and re-
sides at Unterendingen Canton, Argan,
Switzerland. One of my deceased sisters,
named Louisa Haunstein, married Gotlieb
Krattign, deceased. This sister Uouisa)
died at Basle, Switzerland, on the Sd or Au-
gust, in the year 1859. The only child Of
my said sister Louisa and Gotlieb Krattigh
her husband, deceased, as aforesaid, is Lou
isa Krattign, now living at Oberdorf, Swift
zerland. 1 have been shown the five let
ters referred to in the deposition OF my bro
ther, Henry Haunstein, and I fully be-
lieyc them to be in the handwriting Of
my deceased brother, Solomon Haunstein.
Henry Haunstein deposed: have care
fully examined the FIVE letters attached to
these depositions, marked A, B, c, D, and
E, dated at Richmond, Va, February q,
1916, 10Th July, 1916, 10Th July, 1S47, Sd
July, 184S, and March 16, 1859, respectively.
These letters were all received by me from
my brother, Solomon Haunstein, deceased,
then in Richmond. They were brought to
me at my house, just as they are by the
postmaster at Unterendingen. -Four OF these
letters were addressed to me on the outside,
and one was sent in an envelope.
Iknow that these letters were from my
said brother, Solomon Haunstein, for the fol-
lowing reasons: First, am perfectly ac-
uuainted with the handwriting OF my said
dead brother, and believe these letters to
have been written by him; and second, for
the reason that they contain matters Which
I consider perfectly impossible to have been
known to other parties than my said brother,
Solomon Haunstein.
The Haunstein estate sold at auction for
several thousand dollars.
General Bradley r. johnson and Mr..
Royal represent the heirs-the Swiss claim
ants.