The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-09
A MYTHICAL ESTATE
How a Gay Adyenturer Is Tleeciny
Citizens of Southern India. GOO

Citizens of Southern Ind,.n GOOD
Philadelphia Press
correspondent of tho Press, writir.
Pennville, Jay county Ind. saws. Ag Iron
There is man travelling through this
looking up heirs to an estate in Philadel,h:Eoa
ued at several million dollars. The ttIe ~ va
estate, he says, is in the name of Ret Toe
several residents of that name hereabosat, and
been persuaded into paying $50 anaca 60 naN
strangers legal service in putting thon ths
rightful possession o. the legacy n ihA
cured at least 81. 500 IN cash, and renrese,. s se
the records IN the register of wills OFF, uas
Philadelphia. give full particulars of tb o"ee u
The correspondent concludes by reora".. 'e
that his name be withheld, as ''some nar,;ese
so taken in that they would make it "bo.s s s
him for writing "os t0
Inquiry at the register of wills ofsca w.,
day revealed interesting particulars rac ysset
the Baker estate Last summer a toliuing
man. with an evident knowledge of legal osous
tiers, spent several days in tie registers a saE
searching for the title of an estate which ouee
was located in the section of the citv fos Soa
known as the Northern Liberties He gava ~
name of Baker and said he was a Csn.S; 'no
No such estate could be found OH the raaaN.
though an old title under the name of Rs"ls.
was discovered which located property naar .St
district the tall man spoke of. He pursued ,S %s
title With the utmost care, and, HAVING ha"s
fully satisfied that it had resolved into cas oeeu
session of its rghtful heirs, nothing furthar ~ "
heard OF him. Last month a lady from Chests.
appeared at the registers Office and inonrsJ w.
the same estate, naming its location near F;fth
and Green streets. She was allowed free acsn"a
to the records, and duplicate copy of the Becto,
VIII was made to satisfy her. She likewise dis
appeared, and has not been heard of since
we have been pestered by claimants Of N.
imaginary Baker estate for nearly three years.
SAID Deputy Register William G.. Shields vesta,
day They come from all quarters. and acras
with remarkable uniformity in locating thu
property in the old Northern Liberties section
near fifth aud Green. We have repeatedlv
searched for such a title. but without successh
Wnen SHOWN the letter from Indiana Mr. Shields
SAID: Il have no doubt the Individual referred
TO Is our fat Canadian friend who was here last
summer, and who is turning his KNOWLEDGE into
money by circulating the Baker chestnnto
among creduions country people in the West
dis commission of $50 is mild charge indeed
considering the vastness of the mythical estate
for have heard it valued as high as twantv'
seven millions by the cranks who come bero r.
look it up"
The Press reporter, out of curiosity CON-
suited directory. and noted all the Bakers liv.
ing in the Northern Liberties section The ser
ond one he visited was an exceedingly old man
who had spent the best part Of his life SAILING
between New York and San Francisco. via Cana
Horn He was found in narrow street. near
Third and Green. and frightened up with hone.
full anticipation the matter was opened 10
him. Yes said he Joseph Bakers estate
comprised nearly all this part of the city with
q frontage the Delaware from CallowhiI
street to Kensington. He was sea -faring man,
and went down on VOYAGE in
the North Atlantic when I was but lad
leaving nobody to honestly claim
his immense possessions. Notwithstanding the
fact that he was a bachelor, I know of several
families who claim kinship with him as direct
descendants. l was very hopeful once that I
could establish claim to his property by tracing
my family to his, but, after found it wouldn't
hold water, cut loose from that idea and have
been steering on my own tack ever since have
often wondered how the thing was settled up and
divided, but, though my own little house is an.
chored here right in the heart of Joseph Bakers
freehold, it never bothers me where the prize
money went, so long as my little craft is prop
erly registered and l have charge of the title'