Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-24
Gold for a Wild Woman.

at proved to be about as romantic a
case as we have ever handled said Mr..
Cardwell. of the law firm of Davenport &
Cardwell in Brooklyn yesterday.
Some six years ago Mr.. Davenport made
the acquaintance of an old ScOtchman
named William Mackee, who had come on
East from little town on the Union Pa
cific Railroad. The old fellow was Teputed
to be worth considerable money, but his
habits of life did not indicate thath was
possessed Of a penny.
His clothes were very much worn, and
to save the expense of even third-class
hotel board In New York be lived in the
house of a poor laborer just outside of
Jersey City.
He soon left for the West again, and
was forgotten by Mr.. Davenport.
About four years ago Mr.. Davenport re-
ceived letter from the West informing
him OF the death of the old man Mackee
and stating that he had left a Will ap-
pointing Nj Davenport his executor
Shortly after the will arrived, and il
was found that the old ScOtchman had left
behind him over 800, 900, all in hard cash.
1t was hard to believe that he was worth
so much, as he was reported TO have died
from lack Of proper nOurishment and eX-
posure. He had lived for several years in
an old tumble down shanty in one of the
widest parts of the State OF Nebraska
taking small contracts from the Union
Pacific Railroad Company, and doing odd
jobs Of all kinds where he could pick up
a dollar. He bad been in the country for
% years, spending the greater part Of that
time In the West, and always living in
apparent abject poverty.
He was voted a miser in the neighbor-
hood where he passed the last years Of his
life, and many stories were circulated
crediting him with being worth a great
deal Of money. He always made ii a point
to contradict these stories, aud whenever
he could gain assistance by pleading
poverty he did not hesitate to accept aims.
From the will it was ascertained that the
old scOtchman came from Wigtonsbire.
scotland, away up in the highlands, and
he left all Of his worldly goods to his
brother. John Macher, and his uncle, Pc
ter Gordon, both residents Of WytOnshIre
Mr.. Davenport decided u visit Scotland
in search OF the heirs, and, taking the will
with him, started for the old world. He
travelled directly to the county named by
the old man, and at last found that the
brother was dead, but Peter Gordon still
alive, although over 80 years of age and
very poor.
He discovered that the brother had left
one child, daughter, and after a great
deal OF hunting about the lawyer found
this daughter, already an old woman, liy-
ing in hut away up on the mountains and
looking like wild woman; her
clothes hanging in rags about her thin
form and her gray hair streaming down
her back.
She Was entirely upeducated, and about
the last woman IN the world 20 know what
10 do with the % her stupendous fortune
OF $4,000, which was her share Of the old
Scotchman's money.
She could not even be made 20 under
stand the nature Of her good fortune, ana
treated Mr. Davenport as though he was
an enemy instead OF a friend.
The old uncle. Peter Gordon, proved
little better informed, and 10 was agreed
that all business should DO transacted
through him.
Having satisfied himself as TO the iden.
tity Of the heirs, Mr.. Davenport returned
TO America and proceeded 70 settle up the
estate.
While doing this no was surprised by a
long letter from railroad labOrer living
in a shanty Just outside 81 Jersey City
and claiming that the old scotchman
Mackee owed him n board bill running
overa period Of ten years, during which
period he had stopped at the laborer's
house from time - time, but never offered
10 pay for bis entertainment, saying that
he would leave something IN MS Will 70
the lab0rer. suit was brought for this
claim, and over $4,000 recovered by the
labOfer.
The settlement Of the will was finally
placed In the hands Of a referee, and the
Anal work on the case by Dir. Davenport
has just been done.
This consisted IN sending two sight
drafts for fi0.OO0 each through Brown
Bros. 10 the old man and the Wild woman
Of the highlands.
nWbat the miserable woman will do
with ali tho money u is hard 70 say.
| From life In n mud hut in the wilds of
/ scotland 10 the possession OF $4,000 Is q
tremendous jump said Counsellor Card
/ well. ~ suppose they will soon be driving
| In a coach and-f0sr with out-riderB"