Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1883-12-27
THE SPRING En- ESTATE.


Bteroe and George Il. Evans, Repre-
senfatiOns.
George Il. Eyars, the mau previously
reported as having swiudled one of the
numerous and ersdulous Springer heirs,
was brought to New York on Saturday
and arrsigned in the Tombs police court
on charge OF grand larceny.
Charles w. Van Doren made affidavit
that he became acquainted, In October,
1882, with Charles Ii. Bierce, who repre-.
scented that he was one of the heirs to the
estate OF Carl Christopher Springer,
which consisted OF lands In the city of
Wilmington, valued at 800, 900, 900 ;
Bieroe told Mr.. Van Doren that his
mother, Henrietta Schroeder, was an.
titled to one-twenty- seventh OF the
| Springer estate, and had assigned to him
one-half of her claim. Mr.. Van Doren
| also alleges that in February, 1883, Bierce
represented that the heirs through Mr..
Edward p. Springer Of Providence, R. l.,
were about to release the city of Will
mington from their claim, and that the
| city authorities had agreed to pay the
| heirs $40, 000, 900 in settlement.
Shortly after this, Mr.. Van Doren says,
| Bierce showed him circular, purporting
to have been signed by Il. P. Springer,
saying that the city would pay the heirs
the $40, 900, and introduced to him
| one George X. Panton as the agent OF Mr..
| Springer, who, PAXTON said, expected that
the city OF Wilmington would pay the
$40, 900, goo on or about May 10th. Rely
ing on these representations, Mr., Van
Doren alleges that he lent Bierce 5000 on
April 18th last. He afterwsrd, he says,
ascertained through the treasurer of Will
mington that no settlement or agreement
had been entered into between the city
and the heirs of the Springer estate. He
learned also, upon information received
from X, p. Springer, that Henrietta
Schroeder, the mother of Bieroe, was not
one of the heirs att law, and that Bieroe
had no right, claim or interest in the
estate. Mr.. Springer also informed him
that he had signed no circular, and that
George Il. Panton had never been his
clerk or agent.
Mr.. Van Doren, in September last, laid
the oass before the grand jury, and
Bieroe was indicted for larceny in the
second degree. On the 22d of that month
he was arrested and locked up in the
Tombs. Hs is still there and has not
tained that Panton's right name and ad.
dress were George Il. Evans, London,
Ont, and the detectives there were or
dered to procure his arrest.
The prisoner gave his age TO Justice
Smith as 4S years and said :-tI desire
to waive any examination" He was
therefore committed for trial in default of
81, 900 bail. In the jail Evans said he
had been used as tool by Bieroe, whom
he knew in London two years ago under
the name OF Rdward Emerson. Bierce,
he said, sent for him last April, saying
that he had employment for him in this
city. When he came here he was put to
work in business he did not understand,
and said he did not oonspire with Bieroe
to obtain money from Mr.. Van Doren.
He believes he was druggsd when, it is
alleged he represented himself as Panton,
agent for Il. P. Springer. He had been
given to understand, he continued, that
he was to be used as a witness against
Bieroe and would not be prosecuted.
Bieros asserts that he is victim of a
conspiracy, the intent of which is to force
from him valuable papers in connection
with the estate. These papers, he says,
are the original deeds from William Penn
to Carl Christopher Springer, and the
lease the latter gave to the old Swedish
Church in Wilmington. His mother
| (Ars. Sohroeder) is 80 he states-one
| of the Springer heirs, and has been as
sessed to carry on the legal efforts to
obtain the estate. The prisoner ia 2t
| years old and lives in Chicago, He says
he borrowed over 10000 in all from Mr.
| Van Doren and gave his notes for the
money. He had been given to under.
stand by persons who seek to control the
| whole estate that If he would give up the
papers spoken of they would give hin
100000 and would pay his Indebtedness
| TO Mr.. Van Doren. Bieroe said thai
on advice Of his counsel he refused til.
offer before his arrest, and again yester.
day in the Tombs, when he was ap
| preached by detective i'll the employ Of
those who seek to 'Sobble up" the
estate. He denies that he meant Il
swindle Mr.. Van Doren out OF his money
and thinks that he has been misrepre
scented to that gentleman.
Bieroe complains Of being kept locked
| up three months without trial, snc
wonders why he was not charged will
fraudnlently obtaining $4,000 instead o
5000. He says that his wife has been in
dueed to begin suit for divorce, and tina
those who are after the papers have tried
to make him surrender them through
other prosecutions.