Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-04-06
H. e NJ.

The following letter from Cotton, Ohio, was pub
lished in the Toledo BiGde last week, which we
reproduce by request:
| CoLToN, March 27.-For some years, up to about
five years ago there lived man and his wife by the
name of Bartholomew Mansfield and Mary Mansfield,
upou farm of 40 acres os land belonging to them
within so rods north of Texas o.. in this county, and
about two and threc-quarters south of this place.
Bart. Mansfield as he was famiiarly called, took
sick and died about that time, leaving his wife
chdless; but previous to his death some two or
three months he made will, bequeathing his prop
erty (realty /, consisting of farm, etc., to one
John Mansfield his nephew n nonresident of the
State In this provision for his nephew his Mans
helds) widow was to have life estate in the farm
upon which they living at the time, and to have
and to hold the same, for her said use, as long as
she lived of which she accepted of under the will.
In the meantime since the death of her husband, she
became acquainted with and married Mr. P. Nc
Crane farmer, and are living upon the Mansfield
place at the present time.
As Mrs. MEG rane had never seen her former hus-
bands nephew, and having some curiosity to learn
or his whereabouts, she advertised in the Irish and
Catholic World, hoping to hear something from
him. In her advertisement she mentioned the fact
that he had been left heir to his uncles estate
after her death. Nothing heard from the de-
sired information until lately a man produced him
self sailing under the name John Mansfield, the
nephew and heir as he called himself, to the Mans
field estate probably getting his information through
the advertisements in the papers, it is said he
does not answer the description of the man wanted
in the least Parties here state that before he made
| l.. NJ ND Of tta rarp of Mrs
McGranc he had been loafng around Hogate and
Napoleon, and was trying to dispose of his socaed
interest in the Mansfield farm, the place being
worth some 49, 900 or $4,000 He offered his interest
on the farm subject to the life of Mrs McGrane for
500. Mrs McGranc is u woman somewhat ad-
vanced in years, and the amount he offered to sell
foris trihing consideration for the property, and
the suspicious of persons knowing the value of the
place were aroused at once. Finding that he would
be detected in his attempted swindle, he left and
went to Napoleon and came very near roping in
! Dan. Hartnett Esq, our County Recorder, Mr..
Hartnett knowing the farm. I learned he made
him an offer of Ss75, which the unknown man ac-
cepted and was about to pay him an advance on the
purchase when he concluded he would wait awhile
and make some further inquiries aboat the man and
the purchase. The next thing heard Of this fellow
he turns up at Topia, Mimi, where he claimed to Nc
frame and his wife when here, that he had sister
living with the editor of the Clinton Herald, at or
near Topia, by the name of Mary Mansfield. Mr..
McGrane addressed letter of inquiry to the editor
of the Hvrdld, but informed in return that no
such person persons lived there, and never had
fur az he could learn. Before leaving Napoleon it is
said, he called upon Messrs Tyler Donnolly, at
torneys, wanting them to hunt him buyer for his
future claimed farm at auy figure, probably in order
to get hold of some money In fraudulent way
Efforts will be made to stop any transactions of the
kind and the fellow brought to justice if he persists
in the error of his way.