The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-28
MILLIONS TN ITC?)
How Joe Hummel, of Cincin-
natl, Sought a Legacy,
And How He Went to Europe on q
Wild Goose Chase.


towing, undoubtedly recall TO mind the sensation
created in thiscity in March last by the announce
ment that an old, poor aud worthy laboring man,
living on Budd street. had fallen heir to some
thing like $40 900, which were awaiting him
in the Bank of England, in London.
At the above named time Mr.. William Joseph
Hummel the lucky man referred to above was
keeping bookstore, notions, stationery, etc. at
No. 26 Budd street, three doors from Donners-
berger street. His wife, who, by the way, is
eightyseyen years old, is now at the Betts-street
Hospital.
About two years ago Hummel received letter
from lawyer in Germany, to the effect that he
had inherited large legacy. On January 2, 1877,
this was followed by an official advertisement, in
the Volksfreund and some English papers, asking
for the heirs Of the immense amount of money.
The legatee was alleged to have been one Weiss,
who. about seventy-fve years ago, died in the
English navy as a Rear Admiral, and left behind
him, in the Bank OF England, a sum OF about
El,000. Among the foremost heirs that had
claim on this sum, which up to date had, owing
10 the compound interest," swellcd up into tfe
millions, was the wife of Mr.. Hummel. She on
the ID Of January, received the notice announ-
eng her good fortune
Her husband sent response to the writer Mr..
I'd. F. Weber, who stated that he was an attorney
iof His Majesty the Emperor of Austria. The cor
fespondence was kept up during the past two
years, and finally matters took such a tangible
hape that the neighbCrs living in the vicinity of
gt Anthony's Church, who had been consulted
by Mr. lIummcl, came to the conclus on that the
legacy was in fact waiting for IIummel. The let
tets from Weber came over regularly and finally,
when the following document came. they advised
Hummel to cross the deep blue sea and secure the
vast fortune.
n nnl ntal, ,is vii CON
from the Aurora Enterstuctzung's Verein and was
escorted to the depot IN right royal style. There
was band music, there were the congratua-
Hummel wa off. He had with him all the papers
that were to identity him.
The principal reason IL OF led Hum mel to take
This step was the following letter. referred to
above:
[Letter No. 49,
FUELLSfErN, February %, 1879
DEAE SIR: did not get your two letters at home
In which you want information about the stand
ing OF matters. But for something good one does
not wait long. Rejoice. Your affair is q success
and nearly finished. By the 1st of May you can
be present and receive the money Your re-
Spected family will get legacy of flS,COO
sterling, and congratulate you. There are OH the
whole go distinct heirs with different legacies.
The total costs so far as can be learned will be
fl 600 and as you are one Of the principal heirs
your fees on the cost list will be at least E112 Gs.
This is. however only to be paid after recnirt OF
whole legacy, which without interest amounts to
ElO0. o0O or OOO,00O guiden austrian money, or
k0OOOOO marks OF German coin. AS the finish OF
this matter, which has cost me so much labor for
years and taken all my time, is about at hand,
there are still some fomalties to be filled to re-
cover the legacy. As | have your authority the
stili wanted iornalities must be satisfied at
that place and for the end, to straghen
the matter between you and your W fe, you must
come yourself. On this occasion you will guar.
hntee me my fec the usual ten per cent. must
In lao, ~.
70 the individual, That person must reside OH
English ground. AS England has possessions in
America this will cause you but little trouble. l
Will leave from there with duly authorized per-
son connected with the Cincinnati banking firm
for London.
Now am exhausted, nearly sick from the long
trip made in the inter, st of the many heirs III
London. | will therefore take a rest for several
weeks, and then for the journey to II ct you and
Mt the same time sec the wonders OF Cincinnati,
especially the wire ge the great Waterworks
the Cathedral. Observatory, LibIary, the German
fheater, the S;enger Hall, the Lookout House and
the world-renowned slaughter-houscs We will
also taste the wines raised in the vicinity. 1t Is
Of course understood that you will have TO cover
the expenses my coming and going back, which
pum will be deducted from my fee.
For travelling expenses liquldate $3.50, or about
eS-after havin laid out considerable sums my
self in this transaction, by which my finances
fees duly legalized yet. Therefore you must the
more surely send my travelling expenses, as no
dnendst time is to be LIST and I"n,.,isn as post
be also neglect-as to the interests
of the other heirs. The sum or check may be
sent. After leaving Hamburg or Bremen l will
send you dispatches and also on arrival in New
York. Please notify me If can so better from
New York or by Ohio steamer.
With friendly greeting,
EFF WEBER.
PSI now live in my own house in FuclIstein
and have removed from R0sswald. My address
now is f. F, WEBER,
Attorney in Fuellstein, Auslria-schlesia
Europe
Nr. Hummel crossed the water and little over
week ago returned 10 his home wiser but a
Radder man.
A STAR reporter was one of the first to hear of
the arrival, and last night paid visit to Mr.
Hummel, who gave our man the following infor-
nation:
''After saw the official notification in the
Volksfreund wrote to Mr.. Weber, who asked me
TO give him written authority to collect the money
for me. He wanted 4per cent of the money col
lected as his fee. sent him the authority and
then for seven months heard no more OF him.
People told me to 10 low Weber, lest he might
collect the money and go off with it.
81 sailed On March 10Th on the steamer Maine
from New York. On the same day the above
letter came to my wife. went to Munster Prus-
Es, to my brother. and asked for Weber's where:
nbouts. My route to meet him had been laid
out-Dresden and Neusen, to Burgsteinburg
where l got copy of the letter from Weber
stating that we would go to London at once and
Bek the money. next got letter from Weber
stating that, as was now in Europe it was no
use for him to go to America and meet me. He
wrote that must be in London 10 the latest on
April 2jth.
"He then wrote me that his family had gone to
London to live and he would also go there and
leave Austria for good. His residence was at No.
Is Oxford street in Kentonyie. l became dubi
GUS as to gettn my money, and went at cnce to
the American Consul, ] next went to the Aus.
trtan Consul who, after looking over my papers.
said that had been swindled systematically. He
said no Weiss had died in the English navy, and
that over fifty different people had been beat by
Weber on the same legacy fraud"
Hummel, hereupon, applied to the Austrian
Government for relief. On his complaint Weber's
property in Roswalt, Austria was SEIZED and
then 1t was learned that Weber had never been in
London. The officials told Hummel that if he sue
ceeded in getting any money bnrk from Weber,
who Is now in jail the same would be sent 10 him
in this city.
Hummel, after borrowing his passnge-money,
returned 10 his home, and is now giving to his
neighbors his experience in foytune-hunting The
people who loaned him money to go to Europe are
silent, and UP to date not one OF thQm will saw
whether they were taken in as was Hummel the
principal, who is now in exceedingly low circum.
HanceS.
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