New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-20
BOOKING FOR TWO MILLIONS


4 MISSING ExECUToRs STRANGE STORY.
.wuaIAm Known, WEALTHY ENaIsBMAR, SAID
70 HAVE LEFT $2.o0o00o TO BIS SPIRITUAL
AFFINITY BIER SEARCH FOR THE FORTUNE
AND THE ExRcUroR.
The following advertisement appeared on sunday
December 90:
important. go 600 000-Mrs. B. p. Baekas, formerly
Hayward Baltimore. Md. VIII send her ADDRESS 70
n9oWn, Rngisnd This viii. though contested since
ISIS Il now sc tied 10 behalf Of the above named party
By order OF the executor A. W.
On Sunday. January Q, another advertisement
was published as follows:
Important So OO0 00o.-Alfred Willard Williams or
his executor OF estate Of William Brown
NJ D. l53 East Thirty -fourth-st, New-York
The goodly proportions of the sum named attracted
The attention of O TRIBUNE reporter. who called ~
the address given. He was received by Mrs. Dr.
Backus pleasant-faced, middle-aged woman. who
was surrounded by ponderous medical books aud
diminutive pill bottles.
"Thee called in regard to the advertisement
she asked revealing her Quaker faith by her speech
"Ycs. IL refers to estates in EnglandT
"Yes.n replied Mrs Baekus, hesltatingly. " but
think had better not say more to thee until my
husband Gomez back from Philadelphia Can thee
oall in two daysiS and this was Mrs. Backuss ulti-
ppstum. 30 another call was made. but the nus"
band. who had not arrived, had written that moth
ing should be said. Being evidently an obedient
wife, Mrs. Backus said nothing at this or subse-
quent call, except to hold out vague promises TO
her visitor, whom hope deferred was making de-
cidedly sick. few days later note was received
from Mrs. Backus intimating that the story of the
mysterious two millions would be revealed once
more the door bell of No. 153 East Thirty
was rung and the expectant visitor fonnd himself
confronted with Mrs. Bacl1us several volumes OF
the Practice of Medicine bound in calf, and sx
bottles of white pills. But with unspeaksbie dls-
gust It was learned that the Obdurate though inVs-
Bic DIR. Bsckus had again put his foot down upon
the visitors hopes, who retreated in bad order.
Aponth passed and the two millions were forgot.
one night of fat package neatly tied up in brown
paper. This was found to contain box in which
formation 10 regard TO the advertisement, and
great deal of information concerning the hlgn char
acter OF I nno HS nrosessonal card was Thought
folly .nciosed. The letter was signed " d. IT, o.
FRIEND" and was accompanied by directions that IL
should be printed next Sundays paper, and re-
quest for Baltimore and Philadelphia papers to
copy. But Sunday came and went ana b 6ne carr
worn exchange editors OF Baltimore ana tSeir
shears over the matter and enliyenIpg
their columns for the qualification of III. g. G." The
aes TO call once more upon Mrs. Backus, who had
been discovered to be physician as well as her |
husband. She was out and her medicine bottles |
were protected by. notice on her door:
Examinations begin tomorrow. NO unnecessary
Interruptions. please" -
prised by a call from Mira. Backus. |
Thee has been to see me. hear !" she said
eyes. have received q letter giving information
in regard to your advertisement"
MIS-. Backus expressed surprise. but declared that
she recognized the initials appended to tine letter
After some questioning she told tho story hidden /
behind tie advertisements as follows:
g. In 1873 my husband and myself were in Boston.
one of whom Was William Brown, the other. his in
innate friend Alfred Williams Brown was tall,
dark haired handsome man with an iptellect e
specimens of English gentlemen. Brown had the
reputation Of being very wealthy; He lived at the
fremont. and afterward at the Parker House. and
knew many prominent people. among whom was
DIR. bio Lewis. He was o strong sDIrltnailst. con-
stantly attending seances, and assoclating with
spiritua lists and being known among them as an
Englishman with large amount OF money who was
making a visit of pleasure to this country. N'ithsr
in spiritualism, he beng Baptist and Quaker"
IHs what folio we'd Is of some little dehc aey, al;
10 quote the language OF the anonymous letters Mr.
Brown at once after meeting Mrs. BackuS saw i'll |
her his Ts% Of the earthly Iaer tie
nate Dr. Baokus) which separated them he contented
himself in the one great thought OF their spiritual
10 saw but very little of Mr. Brown" said Mrs.
Backus. "and that only when with my husband III |
nance to him on account Of his views. He sent me |
some letters aud Others came from bis splrtualistc
friends dwelling upon the spiritual GItS bonds be-
Boston and see the last of him.
In 1875 1 was, visiting at 81, Maiden.
Mass when one day the card of Alfred Williams,
MIR Browns friend, whom had almost forgotten,
was brought up to Inc. Asking lady with me to
accompany me- went down INTO the parlcr. Mr'
formed me that Mr. Brown. who had just died 20
England had left his entire property. valued At
81 DOC, 900, the ground OF what no considered
our spiritual relationship" 80
Tor to revert to the moro poetic language OF the
anonymous letter: In 1879 Air: Brown died AFTER
Mrs Backus in the full belief she was bis not only
earthly but spiritual affinity."l
Mr.. Williams bad two copies OK the WILL, said
Mrs. Backus. He handed me one aud read the other
to me, asking me to sign the paper that had. He
Land. He was appointed executor and Sc. 600 was
left him his services and the expenses incident TO
carrying out the Of .n he sad bSt be bad
no doubt of my success, and promised to conmuni-
cate with soon az matters were satisfactorily
arranged. My husband and myself both REGARDED
the whole thing as moonshiDe. We spoke
of 1t a. strange occurrence, put had
NO faith In any resnlt@ Inc affair a.. Vas
williams advertisement, announcing that tho con-
Iest was settled and the money mine appeared on
10 it. and we inserted the other advertisement in re-
ply, siDce wbIoh time We have heard nothing"
tsascious OF her orthodox Quaker birthright, and
her great antipathy TO the views held by Spiritual
ists has led her place but little II any. reliance
SpSI;cy Announced that the viii has been really
left her and settled In her behalf being pereoD OF
sound mind Christian character and as we who |
have known her from her early girhood can testify
beantsfal indeed, Mrs. b. will doubtless aim to do
much good with the fortune fortunately and un-
sxpectedly left her. Her cousin il soon TO 60 to
England IN her behalf"l
"What was ever known definitely about MIR.
Browns property ~ was asked.
" Only that he had the reputation in Boston for
being very wealthy. especially among Spritualists"
said Mrs. Baekas. "Then be knew many prominent
people and lived very handsomely, always having
plenty Of money. Mr.: Williams stated definitely