Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-21
Akxonp Or cAur,os.
ThrSvn Oss ~ One whs Believes shat
'All that Gllesers % net 0old."

Thrswn Oss BY One Who Believes h
"All that Gllttcrs % net 0old."
Eds Press and Dakotaian. Your item
Yesterday on the ninety million claim TO-
estates to be recovered IT possible by certain
worthy heirs, reminds me Of several simila
enterprises within our recollection. They
are usually promulgated by some sharp at
torney who wants \ European trip free o
expense, under the pretext Of acting N
agent for the American cousins in prosecu'
ting the claim, and securing the millions OF
British sovereigns from the usurpers, through
the English courts. One Columbus Smith
Of New York used to be ono Of the conf.
dsnce men, sending his circulars 10 all the
members Of . great family. and by their
credulity and hope of sudden wealth draw.
ing . five dollar note from many an heir or
heiress who could ill afford to throw it thus
away. The writer feels personally interest
ed to the extent Of five dollars in said Col,
umbus. and his swindling circulars about
the fifty millions in England belonging to
the W family, only awaiting the arri-
val Of Columbus to be disgoreed into our
empty pockets.
The New York Tribune of ten days ago
has an item which indicates that there is
renewed activity in this "immense inheri.
lance" business, resorted to by hard.up law.
yers when other means fail. The Tribune
says editorially
"Now it 10 the Kern family who have dis
covered that they are the heirs to a vast es-
tate in Europe, and who propose to take
immediate steps for its recovery" This
time the amour, awaiting the lucky owners
is $500, 5000. A cipher or tvo really
makes little difference when you 20 up in.
to that range Of figures. The odd fact
about these estates to which American
younger branches of noble English families
put in their claim is that millions are reck-
ened in them as half pence. The ordinary
rich man achieves his hundred thousand or
solitary million with difficulty but besides
the Anneke JAMS affair there are now the
Hamiltons, Shephards, Howards, Lawrences,
Hardings and a dozen others, who have q
sure grip on eums raging from tens to
hundreds Of millions in Europe, with bar
onial castles and manors to boot. Aladdin's
old lamp was a beggarly fraud beside these
golden dreams. If all the claims are ever
paid there is danger Of depletion in the
money markets of foreign capitalr, especially
if the kerns come out winners. 1t is the
king Of Holland who owes them their
$500, 000.0 and the king is reported to
have rather a scanty income at the best of
times, even with the additional sum he
rakes in by showing his palace to tourists at
a thaler apiece, which goes direct to his
privy purse. 1t is a pity the kerns should
have for their debtor the only sovereign
who is driven to such straits. Seriously,
it is pitiable to think Of the number of de-
luded men and women in this country whose
brains are deranged by these hopes Of fabu-
lous wealth. The idea of "a claim" when
it takes possession of family, leads them
to insanity, %laziness and general worthless
ness just a. certainly as whisky. The only
sane man in the party is the member who
goes abroad ito look after the matter" and
the only one who ever makes a dollar out
of it."
Hoping the claim for ninety millions in
New York may prove an exception and pan
out we'll for our Yankton friends, l yet ad-
wise CAUTION.