The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-07-15
The Morgan Estate.
The Alleged Facts Patient Researches
have Brought to Light.

few days ago the PRESS published the
statement that Col. d. w. Scribner of this city
had received a telegram from Theophilus B.
Morgan stating that the will of the late John
B. Morgan had been discovered in South Wey-
mouth, Mass. Mr. 7, B. Morgan arrived
home yesterday and we are enabled to give
some of the results of his investigation which
have now extended over eighteen months.
First it will be well to recapitulate little.
John B. Morgan was a sailor resident in
Portland. In 1929, or Whereabouts, he killed
his wife, and tried to commit suicide. Owing
to the serious injuries he had inflicted upon
himself he was placed in the work-house,
from whence he escaped by the aid of friends
on New Years morning 1880. Morgan fled to
Canada, pursued his calling of a sailor for
some time, and then gravitated to New York
where he went into the real estate business 1t
is claimed by his family and was so stated in
the Directory of that city for 1915, that John B.
Morgan was engaged in business at No. Wall
street. In that city he accumulated by his
speculations property estimated in value, at
the present time, of over million dollars,
perhaps two millions. 1t will be remembered
that John b. Morgan left brother, Theophilus
Il. Morgan, resident in this city, and some
other relatives who were not aware of what
had become of their brother until recently.
When this fact became known Mr. I. B. Nor
gan went to New York and was told by Ex-
Governor E. ID. Morgan-so he states-that no
John B. Morgan ever had an office at No 2
Wall street, although the Ex-Governor had an
office in the same building at the same time
with John B. Morgan. Then commenced Mr.,
L. b. Morgan's arduous labors which now APP
pear about to be crowned with success.
Mr.. L. b. Morgan stated to us yesterday that
in 1919 Mr.. Samuel Barberick of this city,
received letter from Mr.. John B. Morgan of
New York, inquiring the whereabouts of
Theophilus and requesting an answer be sent
to No. 2 Wall street. Mr.. Barberick was an old
friend of Johns when he resided in Portland
and was one of those who aided him in his
escape from jail. Theophilus was away at sea
at the time, and in 1873 Mr.. Barbericks house.
at Cape Elizabeth was destroyed by fire
together with his letters and papers which he
kept in an old trunk in the house. and this
letter was included. Mr.. Barbrick's son is
however alive to-day, and remembers the
fathers trouble with his hands. the son
transacted all his business for him. This letter
shows conclusively that John B. Morgan who
had an office at No. . Wall street in 1910 was
the brother of Theophilus Morgan. 1t has
also been ascertained that John B. Morgan
boarded with another John B. Morgan (who
we will call John B. Morgan No. % and his
business was that OF a speculator also. John
B. Morgan No. was bachelor, John B. No.
had wife and daugher, the latter afterwards
marrying man named Mulfort.
In 1868 lady appeared before the Surrogate
of the County of New York. representing her.
self as the widow of John B. Morgan and the
heir to large amounts of real estate in New
York and Boston, valued at about two mil
lion dollars. She gave her name as Maria
Jane Morgan, brought forward Homer Morgan
"a real estate dealer-to prove her claims to
the real estate, (Which, prior to this time, had
not been claimed) and Edward d. Morgan as
her attorney. Letters of administration were
granted her and she proceeded to administer
on the property and took up her residence in
house on 34th Street valued at $4,000. 1t is
claimed by the Portland heirs of John B.
Morgan was the widow of John B. Morgan
No. 2; that the daughter who received share
of the property is Maria Jane Mulfort; that
this property of John B. Morgan No. was I'M
claimed for several years and this fact sug-
gested to the mind of Mrs. John B. Morgan
No. 2 the idea of appropriating it; and that
scheme was concocted by Edward D. Morgan,
Homer Morgan, Maria Jane Morgan and
Maria Jane Mulfort, all of whom received sub
stantial pecuniary benefit thereby.
1t is also claimed by Mr.. Theophilus B. Nor
gan that in 1862, they shall prove that John B.
Morgan No. . was alive and well in Florida;
that he was in an impecunious condition and
wrote letters home to his relatives in the
vicinity of Boston, requesting aid to get north;
that they sent him small sums of money; and,
further more, that they shall show that, in
1875, John B. Morgan No. 2, attended the
funeral of his mother in Eastern Maine If,
they say John b. Morgan, No. 3, was as rich
as these New York Morgans claim in 1868,
why was he compelled to send home to rela-
tiyes for aid in 1862, and especially as, at that
very time, there was 100000 to the credit of
John b. Morgan in the Chemical Bank, New
York
Mr.. L. B. Morgan states that the will dis
covered at South Weymouth, bears date
January To- 1862. 1t proves conclusively that
his brother John B. Morgan was bachelor
when it was made, and, while it will not be
proper at present to give the terms of the will
and the means that led to its identified
ions were obtained we shall hope to
do so at future date, merely stating that
Mr.. I. B. Morgan and the Portland heirs will
not be sufferers by its discovery.
Horse Thieves Around