Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-01-03
SPICE FOR THE SPRlNGERS
THE ABS URDITY OF THEIR PHAN.
TOM CLAIM.
And Why His Descendants are Look
ing for a Hundred Million Dollar
Estate in a Twenty Million Dollar
City.


Estate in a Twenty Million DoIIa
City.
Editor Gase.ts g. Journal: Every year o
two in the last 20 years, We Whining
tonians have heard what an immens
estate--staeks Of milliops-we were en-
joying unlawiully, having in some wa,
diverted these small sums from the right
ful heirs, to wit, the heirs of one Charlie
Christopher Springer. We heard, tina
following the example of the great crowd
of heirs apparent to English fortunes
there we're meetings being called by "Tht
Springer heirs," agents appointed tt
look after their interests, both here and
in Stockholm and money collected from
those aredulous heirs to pay those agents
&c. Men, representing themselves to bt
these agents, would occasionally appear
in our county Offices and spend days and
weeks in busy, but silent search for some
trace OF this stolen treasure. Generally
they remained but lew weeks, then de-
parting, giving no sign of success. One
OF these future millionaires, however, did
remain about three months, became hor-
ribly impeounious, WAS forced to submit. to
the hospitality of New Castle county, and
from its we'll conducted boarding house
on one OF our hills, soon departed to
other happy hunting grounds. This
condition OF affairs to those of us who gave
1t thought, did not seeln to alarm or
prevent us from sleeping o'nights. But
in last Sundays New York and Philadel-
phia papers there appeared the history of
one of these expectant millionaires
Also, his victim, Ot ia said, to the tune
of $4,000, aud the history and facts OF
the claim Of the heirs to, and of the size
| OF the Springer estate, which might pos
sibly be alarming, and force some Of our
large landholders to sell out, "chesp." To
prevent 30 dire calamity will give you
the Springer heirs claim, or case, as the
lawyers say, and then the facts. | will
not stop to review the facts OF the alleged
cheating of Mr.. Van Doven, real
estate agent Of New York, by Charles II.
Bierce and George W. Panton, out Of some
$4,000, by the representation that
Blerce's mother was one of the Springer
heirs, that our city had agreed to pay
those heirs 10000, 900 to settle their
claim, and he, Bierce had an assignment of
one.half OF his mothers interest, &C.,
except to say that do no. believes word
of it and that it is an advertising dodge
to get up sort of judicial investigation
OF the Springer claim, where no one can
be upon the other sideto contradict them,
aud thus give their Claim, to these un.
told millions, Htrappings OF fictitious
credit"
But to their case, as 1t is foreshadowed
in the newspapers, Mr.. Edwin P. Springer
of Hartford, Conn, evidently being the
person from whom the information was
obtained as most of the papers who
gave the account name him "as the agent
of the heirs to Investigate the olaims,"
he being first appointed at q meeting of
the heirs, held in st. Louis, in January
1879, and reappointed at another meeting
held in Providence in April, 1881
Frst-They say one-half of Wilmington
is part of the Springer estate.
Sscond-That the Springer from whom
they claim is Charles Christopher
Springer, son of Baron Charles
Springer of Stockho
Third-ThaI the baron came to Stock
holm from Germany aud had seven
children by three wives, and that Charles
Christopher WAS the last child by the
third wife.
twas sent to London to be educsted, and
while there was kidnapped, and carried
to this country, where he was sold into
slavery, for five years, to a tobacco raiser
in Virsinia".
Fifth-'At the end ot his term OF
slavery he went to Wilmington, where
lot of Swedes had settled, and bought
], 300 acres of lard"
Sixth-of this 1000 acres she leased
$50 acres to the Old Swedish Church aud
more than half of W ilmington was built
on that"
Seventh-Thst Mr., Springer's estimate
OF the value OF the property in Whining
ton ia something over S0,000,0 900.
Eighth-Bisrce insists that there is
deed, and that he has it from William
Penn to Charles Christopher. L p
Springer denies this aud says that Charles
Ch ristopher did not get his lands direct
from William Penn, which is true.
Ninth-Thst there was lease to the
Old Swedes Chnrch from Charles Christie.
pher, bat that 1t is missing from the
records. That whilst he (E. p. S does
not think that Bierce has this lease, he
admits Offering in Chicago to give Bieroe
for it a bond tor $40, 900 payable when
tue estate ID settled.
There are in this statement by Mr. E.
Z. Springer good many suspicious
points by which can see how he expects
to make out, or at least give plausibility
to this most ridiculous claim; and the
same in the account of the arrest of
Bierce and PantOn by Van Doren or Vau
Dorm. l can only mention few. In
tue first place why is Mr.. K. P. Springer
on hand in New York at the moment of
the arrest of Bieros and Panton, TO be
interviewed Why should he make
denials that Biercs and his mother are
heirs, that Bierce had not possession OF
the lease, that Penn did not make deed
to Charles Christopher and other really
unimportant matters, 80 far as the gene
raj heirs are concerned, but to
get a chance to ventilate the Springer
claim by his testinon before the court
of general sessions on Wednesday next
Then why should Charles Christopher be
the son Of a baron Would not commoner
suffice The concoctors of these claims
wanted to appear to the foolish pride of
most men, which would make them the
more readily pony up their ASSESS
ments, to pay agents, who said they
(the heirs) were the offspring OF the loins
of nobleInan, rather than those OF
ploughman. Then again, they would
have two strings to their bow--a fortune
in Wilmington and fortune in Stock.
holm.
Again. Why 80 particular as to mum
ber of wives aud children of the poor,
dear old baron, and that Charles Chris.
topker was the last child of the third
wife, and that he had seven children
4. z. s. thought, and thought correctly,
that any one who was fool enough to
believe in astrology, would be about big
fool enough TO believe in the Springer
estate, and you know there is by astrol-
ogy great power, luck and fortune in the
seventh child and his descendants.
But to the main point. The claim to
the $50 acres upon which SO large part
OF. Wilmington is alleged to have been
built, is based upon the title of one
Charles Christopher Springer, who, they
say, came here from Virginia, where he
had been five years in slavery, a redemp
toner, suppose they mean; /. e. a msu
who unable to pay his passage, was
brought over by the captain Of ship, and
sold to planter or farmer, or any one,
who would pay his passage money,
and take him as workman
for certain number Of years.
At any rate he was in s0me Kind OF slavery
in Virginia, and as soon as he got free, he
came here where lot OF Swedes had
settled, and Immediately bought 1900
acres of land. Happy slave lucky
kidnapping 1t would have been many a
cold day before Charles Christopher