Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-10-30
A ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.
A Long Search for the Heirs Of an
American who Died In Buenos Ayres
with the Aid Of Letter-Carriers
They Are Found.
n. Y. Journal.

The state department, writes a
Washington correspondent to The
Journal, has just brought to success
full close an investigation OF a real
life history which involves all the
elements of an interesting romance.
In 1863 Franklin BirdsalI emigrated
In great haste from California, while
under Indictment for manslaug Inter In
Butte county, that state. After devil
Gus wanderings he settled IN Buenos
Ayres and married there. His wife
bore him several children.
FIR some unknown cause she left
BlrdsalI and married Samuel Smiler,
who is now dead. In 1880 Franklin
Birdsali died. possessed of fortune OF
about $43 600. The divorced wife,
Deborah Ann Smiler, and the chill
dren and one grandchild put IN their
claim for tie vast estate The CLAIM
was referred to the American con-
sui
Mr.. E. l. Baker, who took charge of
the case, Immediately reported the
facts to the department OF state here.
He received instructions to proceed
in his private capacity as an able
lawyer to defend the estate, but at its
close to report the result to the depart
ment.
Mr.. Baker fought the case with
great persistency. He found from
the examination of the papers OF Bird
sail that the Buenos Ayres claimants
had no right to the estate whatever.
He at length, after nearl y i've years
litigation, was able to demonstrate
that fact to the satisfaction Of the
Buenos Ayres authorities, and won
the case. 1t was now a question to be
settled who the American heirs were.
In his report to the department Mr..
Baker says:
'Jn regard to tie distribution of the
proceeds of the estate, 1 would respect
fully call the attention of the depart
ment of state to nay dispatch OF July
10, 1883. While the actual heirs OF
Franklin Birdsall, deceased, are Sam
uel Smller Blrdsall, his son; Adavstta
G.. Petigrew, his granddaughter,
and Deborah Ann, his wife, who
many years before the death of
Birdsall intermarried with Samuel
Smiler, now also deceased, and yet
there is great reason to believe that
the money which Franklin Blrdsall
brought to this country was not his
own, but in reality it belonged to the
estate of his brother, George w. Bird
sail, deceased, of California, of which
Franklin Birdsail appears to have
been executor. 1t was certain that he
was destitute OF means when he lived
in the United States and when he left
there not even his own family knew
what became of him. | find nothing
among the few papers which he left
which explains his relations to his
brother except book marked e. w.
Brdsall,' with the leaves nearly all
torn out, and one deed of real estate
from A. J. Snyder to George Blrdsall.
In regard to himself l also find the
following papers, which likewise
enclose:
1. Copy of an indictment against him in Suffer
county, California, assault with = deadly weapon
February, 1858
o Copy OF an indictment against him in Butts
county for manslaughter In April, 1863
,. deed from Augustus LoPlougion to Frank
lin Bird.sll, December, 1855, for property II
Marysvllle, Cal.
Franklin Birdsall, March A. 1850, showing that he
was then settling somebody's estate; part OF al
unsigned me morandum, probably from his
brother, showing what he was expected to DO IL
the settlement OF his estate.
The inference is very strong thai
he left California while under the
indictment for manslaughter, and
carried his brothers estate away with
him. Certainly he never made any
money in this country.
Consul Baker also forwarded 8
large bundle of letters to the state de
partment, which we're among the dead
mans effects. They were all evident'
ly from his sisters. They usually be-
| gan Dear Fran" or Dear Frank
lin" and were signed Your loving
sister jane" or Your sister Mary" OF
Lovingly, your sister Sarah" the
surnames never being given.
This report and the documents
wero received at the department OF
state some months ago. AS soon as
they arrived the department inserted
this advertisement ia the newspapers
small fortune is awaiting the heirs of Frank.
| lin Birdsall, deceased, in Buenos Ayres Those
| interested will address the department or state
| Washington, d. =.
No response was received from this,
after waiting some time longer q
short newspaper article was prepared
by the department of state and Sc NJ
cut by the associated Press, stating
| the same facts as the advertisement
Nothing was eyer heard from this,
and as Mr.. Baker had informed the
department that under the laws of the
Argentine Republic if the estate was
not claimed within two years it would
escheat to the government, the 9th
Gals were full of anxiety.
at this stage of the case the sisterly
letters were again taken out and care
fully studied for some clew by which
the heirs could be traced. 1t was no
ticed that they were all postmarked
either in Brooklyn or New York City.
A letter stating the f&cts was accordln G
ly sent to Mr.. Hallworth Howe. the
dispatch agent of the United States
in New York, who was also the pr
vate secretary Of Postmaster Pearson
1t was suggested that circular, Civ,
iae in brief the facts according to an
outline sent, be printed and circulated
in New York and Brooklyn. This
suggestion was carried out, tbs circu-
lar was prepared, and on certain
day every carrier in tue cities OF
Brooklyn and New York received a
copy, and was told 10 inquire at every
house on his route for relatives Of
Franklin Birdsall. That night five
different carriers had each report to
make that he had discovered the slst
err, and sure enough all were right
Five different sisters, all married,
had been found. They Immediately
employed Atty. Jelenik. Of New YORK
who began the work OF establishing
their CLAIMS He was successful, and
the money has nearly all been turned
over TO them.
Meanwhile it should be stated that
tae loag course of litigation in
Buenos Ayres and the depreciation of
the national bank notes OF the Ar
genuine Rebublic, in which it was or
iginally paid, had dwindled he as
tate down to $s,4l9,9 SO Something
over $1,000 has been paid, and the
balance is here and will be transmit
ed.
A Human Ftend.
A Descripti n OF the Burmese Enperor-Ssngsr
Manc.
s,,ppose that there is not in the