The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-01-29

Philadelphia Press.
When Artemus Ward said that ..nsxt 10 4
man who can tell real good story is the Teller
who can't be caught by no conundrum," he
had in mind such . man 40 Con E. A. Merritt
Consul General 70 London. The General has
had - many foolish questions asked him ..
any man living, and he invariably produces
the right solution to the problema Mr.. Mer
ritz is now the guest Of DR.: John swinburne.
The late D. W. Carver, Of this city, made him.
self famous ~ IN antiquarian, and stirred up
. dozen good families by studying into the
Lawrence family's expectations, and leading
every second OF: third, Albanian to fancy that
t G:.+ ise missing heirs" 70 vast estates in
in tho Bank 81 England merely awaiting the The
claims Of the ''heifs" to be forthwith paid.
One Of these much expecting chaps took i'd
vantage Of tho Consul's visit to sound him on
the subject, but he found Mr.. Merritt prepared
to5 the conundrun and ready to give an in
=, periodically this mania breaks out" said
the CONSUL, land the absur1ity Of these pre-
tensions are such that it seems folly to prick
another bubble Of the kind. Many letters are
addressed to the Consulate General asking that
such and such claims be investigated Among
others received 1t ono time such number
2f letters from the heirs Of William Bradford,
hrst Governor Of Plymouth colony, that can
not, refrain from saying that nd one Of tho
Pilgrim fathers has left behind him I'd numer-
imagined themselves entitled ID 41OOO0O;OO6,
principal and interest Of his estate! Though
knew this Bradford estate was like scores
Of others, addressed the Bank Of England on
the subject aud received . letter in reply
which gives such full information of the posi-
IN - n1>rn> Il
estates IS to thoroughly expose the fraud.
have the letter here, and and willing that YOU
should copy and circulate, 1t as its contents, II
wen known IN the United States, might be OF
recurring inheritance folly"
The inquirer after expectations was handed
pom and ink, and tho letter referred to was
placed before him to copy. That it may be
seen how unexpectedly the conundrum of
great expectations. Tas answered; and that it
estate or other to come out Of the bank Of Eng
CHIEF ACCOUNTANT 0rEcE, BANK OF ENG
LANp.-E. A. Merritt, Esq, United States Con-
81. sui General-Dear Sir: I beg 70 aeknexledg:
to inform you that there is no unclaimed stock
or money recorded in the bank in the name OF
Gov. William Bradford nor 10 there, SO far "a
am aware, any foundation for the assertion
that there is. The only unclaimed property of
"AlCn S!o O0uA Aao COSAlZauCo IL SUCH u IL IN
vested in government stock and annulties,
and Of this they have no knowledge
beyond the actual name or names in
which it is inscribed in their books. Stocks
and annuities, the dividends on which are
unclaimed for ten years, and isolated divi-
dends similarly unclaimed, are transferred to
the commissioners for the reduction of the
national debt, but immediately ON such trans
fer notice is sent to tho stakeholder at tho ad-
dress registered in the bank book, and paine
are taken to discover him or his representa-
tives, who can at any time, on furnishing
satisfactory proof Of their title, reclaim the
stock, annuities or dividends 80 transferred
There is no Limitation of the time when such
reclaim can be made The bank receives very
numerous applications for unclaimed money
from America, only fractional percentage Of
which refer to funds in existence These in
a tSat are and any means
ants the trouble, anxiety and expense into
which they are led by designing persons would,
at the Same time, confer boon on them and
spare the bank much unnecessary trouble ]
am, etc. $. R. GRAY, Chief Accountant