Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-13

- <&ecl unawarcS for some months
pox( IL The person Of Thomas James
Rawlmes. an English boy whom Bowncs
&na everybody else .ssrnoscd 70 be PEN
nilcxN bit who kx< suddenly developed
mo che hsjxsH large fortune. On
Supdas Mrs. Bownes was quietly
,<c<inr the =. Personals T" in the
Aerad when her eve fell upon
4 nctice inviting the children OF
&sorgc Rawlings 10 call upon William
Ra;ch. At Chambers and William streets,
a. they might there learn something to
their advantages. Mrs. Bowncs at once
made the astonished Thomas. whose
5Ather's name was George, promise her
the handsomest silk dress that could be
bought IN New York and scalskin
sacQuc Cor her daughter. Thomas
prsnised all. and took an early occasion
70 call upcn Raicb. What he learned
there convinced him aud his friends
that he Is ono Of the heirs 10 az estate
~ Ess 600 sterling.
Mss. Bowncs, her son and daughter,
end Thomas were sitting in back
kitclen diniy lighted by two kerosene
lAnpx. when Tribune reporter called
M evening. On table IN the centre
Of thc room was pack Of soiled cards.
ssd the reporters visit had evidently
nsesrupsed friendly rubber. Nothing
about the room spoke Of the wealth to
which one Of the party had suddenly
hllen heir. Thomas related his story
n . straightforward way, and his open
scunteDsncc is proof that he Is not
enc 10 be spoiled by fortunes favers.
George Rawlings was gunsmith at
Birmingham. About his fathers rels-
ssons Thomas knows little, for George
Asxlings's first marriage had been bit
serly opposed by all his family, and
even when the wife died the feud did
not cease. He was never reconciled to
his father, but at last his neither for
gave him. and lcft bi,n on her death
little property. In 1870 George Raw
Iincs determined to come 10 America.
His first wife was dead. and he
lad married again. but he was
etHl on bad terms with his
relations. and decided to begin life again
in the New World. lie brought with
him his wife. his son Thomas James,
and his daughter. lie found employ
Imcnt with the Singer Machine Com
ipany, and remained there for ten years.
In 1880 he removed TO Woodside.
where his daughter married Mr..
Randall, living, ut Newtewn. and where
he himself soon died. His wife did
not long survive him. Thomas James
Was left an orphan when about sixteen
years ofage. Hisfather had often spoken
10 him Of large fortune which some day
would be theirs. just how this for
tune was TO come Thomas had not
known. but in a general way he under
stood that an uncle Of his father had
left large estate in Flintshire, North
Wales. and that the estate had been
for many years in chanccry. When
the litigation should be over they
would all be rich. On his dcath-bed
the father committed to the son bag
OF papers. saying as he did so
s.1akc good care of the papers.
Thomas, for they'll come in handy
some day
in this bag Thomas found his own
bspiism-card. his mothers marriage
certificate, his fathers letters OF ap-
premiership, and. in fact, all that was
uecessary to prove his relationship to
the rich great uncle for whose wealth
his father had so long waited in vain.
After his parents death Thomas got
what work he could do. He was en-
ployed at the Hunters Point ferry
during the summer. lie lived with
his sister, Mrs. Randall, but last
June she gave up housekeeping
and Thomas was left without friends
or shelter. Then it was that an old
friend, George Bownes, met him. The
fwo lads were both musicians. Thomas
played the flute and George played the
violin. and in former days they had
played many duets together. When
George learned the distress in which his
friend was he at once offered 10 him the
hospitality of his fathers house, and
since that time Thomas has been living
as one Of the Bownes family. and doing
what work he could in Mr.. Bownes's
nndertaking-shop.
When Thomas saw the advertisement
in the Herald he at once got together
his papers and called at Mr.. Raieh's
address. Mr.. Raich examined the pa
pers, said he was convinced that
Thomas and his sister were the persons
Of whom he was in search, and then in
formed him that the estate was at last
cut of chancery. that the litigation was
ever. and that the sum of G31, zoe was
waiting TO be claimed by those who
were Of the Rawlings family. lie con-
cluded by kindly offering to give
Thomas his assistance in obtaining pos
session of his fortune in considera-
ton of Is per cent. OF the profits.
Thomas thanked him heartily, but de-
,clined his Kind offer. Raieh then pro-
posed TO allow him to leave the papers
in his safe il Thomas was afraid Of
losing them on his way home. This
efier also Thomas, with excellent judy
ment. thankfully declined. Raiehis said
10 be claims agent. He says that he
makes two yearly visits to England for
the purpose Of investigating the proceed
ipgs OF the Court Of Chaneery. and it
was In this way that he discovered the
fortune TO which Thomas is one of the
heirs. Thomas has wisely decided to
write to friends in Birmingham and
10 an uncle living in kentucky
before he takes any action in
the matter. lie feels certain that there
can be no mistake about the genuine
ness Of the fortune, for his father often
predicted that the estate Of his uncle
wonld some day make them all rich.
Thomas is not. however, the only heir.
There Is brother OF his father still
living in kentucky and sister in Eng
land. 1homass sister, Mrs. Randall,
will also come in for her share Of the
snoney. When asked what he would
do with his fortune. Thomas replied
Well. ] guess III 20 first TO Eng.
land aud Have .,athae tn.t. ~, A.. II !,