Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-02
A CALIFORNIA ROMANCE.
A FOOt-Pad Falls Heir to a Great Ea-
tate in England.
Woodland (Cdl.) Democrat

A few days ago a gentleman by the
name of ROBBERY Eldridge arrived in
Woodland and took rooms at the Capital
Hotel He stated that he was an Eng
lishman. and that his object in visiting
the United States was to find a man by
the name of Algernon Branningsford,
who had left his home in England in the
year 1850. Mr.. Eldridge, who is
cousin of the missing man, arrived in
San Francisco about one month ago.
Last evening he happened to step into
the Capital Hotel saloon, and overheard
the barkeeper, Patsy Donnelly, Incl
dentally mention the name of "Old Ag."
Mr.. Eldridge,, thinking that possibly
this was an ellipsis of the name of the
man for whom he was in search,
made further inquiry about him. Mr..
Donnelly informed him that "Old
Ag" was a sort of dead beat" whom he
had known for years as tramp, and
supposed that every saloon keeper in the
land was equally familiar with him, but
he knew nothing of his history. At
present he was engaged in saving wood
for gentleman near by, and managed
to spend his money for drink about as
fast as he earned it. Mr.. Eldridge, hav-
ing been directed, sought out the man in
question, whom he found engaged in
the healthful occupation, and at once
recognized him as a man of English
birth, which greatly increased his
hope of success. After a series of
questions were answered by "Old Ag,"
it became very apparent to Mr.. Eldridge
that he was the same person he was look
ing for, Notwithstanding his fOrlOrn and
dilapidated appearance. Finally Mr..
Eldridgc-who, by the way, is an Eng
lish gentleman of the strictest type
ventured the remark: "Well, old Ag,'
as they seem to call you here, allow me
to introduce myself as your cousin,
ROBBERY Eldridge. have come to tell
you that your old father, Lord DRAWINGS
ford, is dead, and that you are heir to
fOur-ffths of his estate, which is about
s., 10000 To say that "Old Ag" was
started by the unexpected news would
not express One-half, and the scene which
followed can be better imagined than
described.
Lord Branningsford, who was very
wealthy, had two sons, one named Lion
aid and the other Algernon. In 1847
Lionald was married to a young lady of
high birth by the name OF Elizabeth
Stratton. Algernon was frequent Wis
itOr at the family residence, and, owing
to a quarrel between the two brothers
over the young wife, Algernon embarked
for America. and arrived in San Fran
cisco in the fall of 1850. According to
his own story, he first engaged as book
keeper in the wholesale house of A. P.
Hotaling, in which position he remained
for the space of year and half, when
a defalcation in his accounts caused his
discharge. He went to mining and his
history from that epoch down to the
time he was found a penniless tramp in
this city is but the story of the many who
have gone the same way. About two
years ago his brother died, leaving him
heir to four-fifths of the immense estate
one fifth going to the cousin, who was
made the residuary legatee if he could
prove Algernon's death. This he set out
to do. but coming to San Francisco he
found the living heir vagabond.