The Osceola times., 1882-08-19


of the courts, and the lack Of means TO
present her suits successfully, il is n
question whether she will come into pos.
session Of her inheritance before it is too
late for her to enjoy it, The heiress is
now eighty-five years of age, but with ali
her wealth and aristocra,ic connections,
she has been a subject Of public charity
nearly half her life. She was admitted
to the old almshouse i'll 1878, and trans
ferred to her present home in 1871. The
pride peculiar to the majority eliminates
of public institutions has rather initiated
against securing her rights. She stroye
to lose her identity in the crowds of un-
fortunate women about her, and gave her
name as Sydney ldey, thus cutting off,
for time, all inquiry in the proper di
rection for the true heiress. The prop.
erty is known as the Spurrier estate, and
has been in chancery number of ears
1t is valued at 100000, or 100000. Be-
sides this the heiress has claims to prop
erty through other lines amounting to
100000. The eldest son of her moth
er's first husband swore thai all the heirs
were dead except himself were deceased,
and he thus came into the enjoyment of
the property until the estate was thrown
into chancery by the discovery that Mrs.
Spurrier, her husband and five of her
children had emigrated to America, and
that at the time Of her litigation her chill.
dren were living in New York city. The
point was TO find any Of these children,
both parents being dead. Agents were
put on the trail, and after many years
sydney was found at the Hospital for lu-
curables. A careful examination and
cross-questioning revealed the fact that
she was the person being searched for.
Mr.. Mcnamara, steward of the institu-
ton, and the Rev. DIR. VIC. French, mis-
sionary, took an interest in the old lady.
The British Consul was Eotifed, and a
New York lawyer was employed to put
the evidence in shape. Now comes the
strangest part OF the story-the discovery
of the circumstances of Sydney's birth.
1t has been secret, 'the skeleton in the
household" these eighty.fve years, and
the disclosures will entirely alter the
pleadings at courtand give Sydney claims
only to the personal property and para
phernalia, fhe history of the family
goes way back to the time William OF
Orange and his wife Mary held the throne
of England, in the sixteen hundreds.
The father of Sydney's mother was, by
Inheritance, very wealthy man and
was also successful manufacturer at
Birmingham. When the manufacturer
went out of business he divided his prop
erty among his heirs. His daughter and
her husband lived in magnificent sty lie at
Il copntry place five E.iles from Birming-
ham. A band of robbers, led by Portu-
guese known as Captain Brads entered
the house one night in 1897 and took
possession of all the money, jewels, plate
and other valuables. The band had their
weapons drawn, covering their retreat
with their bosty, when handsome
young lady. the only child of the people
they had robbed, came out and pleaded
with them. The captain, much taken
with the young lady, restored the prop
erty instantly, then asked her to be his
wife. She refused Indignantly. Captain
Bradley leveled his pistol al her head and
told her she must submitto him then and
there without marriage. That was the
cause of Sydney's birth. To conceal this
circumstance the young lady married
Mr.. Spurrier, and the secret of her wrong
was kept from him, and carried TO the
grave by her parents and herself. Young
BILE wealth, and was n uch given to sport
ing. His father was banker and broker
in LONDON, and often wanted his son to
go into his establishment as clerk, but he
would not do it, Nut lived and died a
spendthrift. Mrs. Spurrier then married
a respectable mechanic and tradesman
whom she loved, and so offended her
relatives that she lied with him and her
family TO America, TO avoid persecution
and social ostracism. Her first child by
Spurrier never liked her much, and re-
mained in England TO spend money after
the fashion Of his father, and finally got
10 a conspiracy to secure her estate
Mrs. Spurrler lived in Vesey street, New
York city, some sixty years ago, when
Sydney, the present claimant, was
young lsdy in the twenties. Before
leaving England wealthy gentleman
offered her his heart and fortune. Her
mother objected because he was the faith
er of eight children, all older than sgd
ney. Living in pretty good STYLE in Nesey
street, she had many suitors, but could
never love any one as she did the old
widower in London. So it was that sgd.
ney remained spinster all her days.
She is tall, refined looking and educated
woman. Even at the age of eighty-fve
her mind is bright and her conversation
interesting. When visited by a reporter
recently she WAS actively engaged in
making bright red flannel suit for her
sell. She is very old looking in the face,
but not otherwise. Her wrinkled face
might lead one to suppose that she was
as old as some of the women in the Home
who are said to be over a hundred years
of age. Her manner and style of speech
are evidence that she has been well
brought up.