The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-08-12
Two Millions Going Begging.

In the last few days an advertisement
in the s'Personals'' of the Herald calling
for information in reference to a 80, OO0,-
600 legacy in England, for which the
heirs are said to be wanting, has attract
ed considerable attention. Yesterday
the English lawyer who had inserted this
''Personal" was called upon and some
particulars of the case were ascertained,
which surrounded it with no little mys-
terry. The first impetus given to the
present inquiry was the following adver-
tisement, which appeared in the Herald
of December 26, 1880:
IHPORTANT-S2,OO 0, OO0-Nrs. B. P. Backus.
formerly S. A. Hayward, Baltimore, Md, will
send her address to Alfred Willard Williams,
This will, though contested since 1870, is now
settled in behalf of the above named party.
By order OF the executor. A. w. w.
Brown, according to the statements of
the lawyer, was rich young country
gentleman from Yorkshire, England,
who came to this country in 1873 in
company with one Alfred Willard Will
liams, and travelled about for some years,
residing considerable portion of the
time in Boston, where he was well known.
nU GuC L oil hCl Ills udulc HIS UcCl
found on the register, and he is recalled
as tall, fine. hearty-looking English
man of lavish habits. He is also said to
have lived at the fremont House, but of
this no proof has thus far been obtained.
Where he died is not known, but the
lawyer in question claims to have re-
ceived corrobOrative information from
some lawyers that Browns estate in
Yorkshire had been the subject of will
contest, which had been decided favora-
bly, to the rights of the Mrs. Back
US, nee Hayward, of Baltimore,
mentioned in the advertisement. Who
Mrs. Backus was is pulling feature of
the case, and it is equally perplexing to
guess what her relation to Brown could
have been to have entitled her to the
100000 Yorkshire estate. Williams
was in New York last August, before his
return to England. He stopped at the
Astor House, where he is still remem-
bered. It is now supposed that Will
liams, as well as Mrs. Backus, has also
died, and no trace has thus far been
found to the heirs or kinsmen of either
of the persons involved in the mystery.
It is a remarkable fact in these days,
when s'bogus" claimants to large inher-
itances spring up like mushrooms, that
not single reply has been received by
the English lawyer to the advertisements
which have appeared in the Herald for
three or four days. Williams was sup
posed to have been searching for the
nebulous Mrs. Backus last August, and
to have died broken-hearted from the
knowledge that the vast estate might be
diverted from its rightful owner. the fair
Mrs. Backus, in case of his death. 1t is
now sought to find the heirs of Williams
and Mrs. Backus in order that they might
accept the estate, but thus far no success
has crowned the efforts of the English
lawyers engaged in this noble search on
both hemispheres. Thus far there have
been many English estates for which
American heirs have been advertised
which have shown themselves Of rather
shadowy and evanescent nature, but the
English lawyer claims that there is no
doubt of this cosy little $4,000, 900 prop
erty actually awaiting in Yorkshire the
first e-blooded Williams and Backus
that may turn up.-Ne,0 York Herald.