Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-27
MYTHS ABOUT MILLIONS.
UNCLAIMED ESTATE FRAUDS
OFFICIALLY EXPOSED.

The Stories Thrust into Print Only the
Nets of willy sohemers-No Large
sums in the Court of Chancery Going a
Begging for Claimants.
WASHINGTON, Dec. ga paper on the
subject OF unclaimed estates in
England, prepared under the
direction of Minister Lowell by
Henry White, one of the American secre-
taries of the Legation, has been sent by
the President to Congress with other
state papers. "There seems to be no
doubt" MI. White says, "that many are
led to believe themselves heirs to vast es-
tates in Great Britain by designing per-
sons on both sides of the ocean, who, with
view to personal gain, insert notices in
local newspapers in the United States to
the effect that large property left by a
person of the same name with that of
some well-known family Of the district or
ol some exceedingly common name likely
to occur anywhere, such as Smith or
Jones, or who distribute far and wide
lists Of unclaimed estates which do not
exist.
DUPES IN PLENTY.
Large sums OF money are annually
thrown away by the dupes Of these adver-
tisements and fictitious lists and hand
some revenue is made by the agents, as
they call themselves for the discovery of
lost heirs, and the recovery of unclaimed
estates. The mOdus Operandi usually
adopted by these agents is TO ask first for
remittance of 81 or G3 to cover the cost
Of copying the Will upon which the claim
purports to be based. Then comes large
sum for the expense of institutlng inqui-
ries, and at each successive stage more
blackmail is levied, the correspondence
being so cleverly conducted that several
years frequently elapse before the fraud
is discovered.
FAIR WARNING TO ALL.
Noone should contribute adOllar TO un-
known agents, especially towards any
expenses connected with establishing
claims to estates in this country until
inquiry has been made OF counsel here,
first as to the expense of the estate and
then as to the chances of its recovery. |
am told by reputable solicitors that not
one claim in thousand Of all those re-
TERED TO them by legation has had any
validity whatever and very few during
their long experience Of claims from
America hNve been successful" The
paper is loug one and the subject is
treated exhaustiveiy. Mr.. White says
the archives of the legation show that
considerable proportion Of its foreign
correspondence is composed of letters
upon this subject.
THE JENNENS ESTATE.
Mr.. White describes the results of in
quiries relating to the "Jennens estate"
to which there We're many American
claimants, showing that the property
went to heirs at law long before the
American claimants were ever heard of,
and that the latter never had shadow of
title to it. Moreover, had the title been
good one it would long since have be-
come worthless by the operation Of the
statute Of limitations. ANY attempts
therefore," continues Mr.. White, ''to re-
cover real estates from the crown or in
dlYiduals after a lapse OF twelve years
which may be extended to thirty under
certain circumstances }, and personal
property after a lapse of twenty years,
however valid the claim OF the person
making the attempt may have been Orig1-
nally, is certain to end in failure.
MONEY THROWN AWAY.
"All members consequently of the
Jennens association Of the United States
OF America may rest assured that there
subscriptions are simply money thrown
Jennens' estate. Recently letter was
received from a member of the aforesaid
Jennens association who had just been
notified that a general assessment OF So
had been levied for the end of the year
ending June 30, 1884, and who. before pay
ing the same. inquired whether the lega-
tlou could furnish any information re-
earding the Jennens estate said to be
pending before the Court OF Chancery in
England.'
''The letter enclosed sundry interesting
q documents emanating from the assOcia-
lion, one OF which stated taat the finance
q committee are fully satisfied with our
s. agents progress in the case and further
II on that 1t becomes necessary for each and
b every member OF this association TO re-
. sp0nd with cash as literally as their
means viii afford, TO carry our case to
nnal issue, which we have every reason
70 believe will be successful provided
funds be furnished"
Similar TO this case are the "Hedges
estate" "BradfOrd estate" the "Hyde
estate" "Horne estate" and many others
Which are described as among "the Ordl-
nary myths by which 50 many OF our
eountrymen have been beguiled."
no UNCLAIMED MONEY IN THE BANK.
With regard TO the large sums sup
posed 70 be awaiting American claimants
n the Bank of England. Mr.. White quotes
rom letter written by the chief
ace0untant Of that institution, as follows;
mere are no large amounts OF un-
lamed stock or dividends standing on
- books. Speaking generally, without
having made an exhaustive research.
"hch would involve some considerable
aoor, there are very few amounts Of
lVOO, and probably none that exceed
ms sum by more than El00 or f2O0."
Anq In regard to the fabulous fortunes
unked up In chaucery he says: "To
81 uuge from letters received at this lega-
lon from the United States in reference
unclaimed funds in chaneery many Of
cOuntrymen must imagine that insti-
-uon 10 be depository Of incalculable
lillons, goodly share OF which can be
dlly Withdrawn upon the mere institu-
on OF claim 20 the same by the Ameri-
an Minister and without the require
elt by the court Of any particulars ss
lle name OF the suit, the relationship
t1e claimant % the parties mentioned
ereln' or TO the original owner OF the
tate claimed.
MILLIONS IN Tr.
~ Is very rarely that in any c0mmu-
cation sent us on this subject q smaller
~ ~ mentioned than several Millions
frequently our correspondents state
at they arc entitled 10 twenty, hfy and
n more millions. 10 Will doubtless
uae surprise and disappointment. such
llese, 70 be Informed that the whole