The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-01-02
Those Fabulous Fortunes.

w AStilNGION, DcSVuoo' ~o' A.
paper on the subject of unclaimed
estates in England, prepared under
the direction of Minister Lowell by
Mr.. Henry White. one of the Amer
lean secretaries of legation, has been
sent by the President to Congress
with other state papers.
"There seems to be no DOUBT" Mr.
White says, "that many are led to
believe themselves heirs to vast es-
tates in Great Britain by designing
persons on both sides Of the ocean,
who. with a view to personal gains,
insert notices in local newspapers in
the United States TO the effect that
large property left by I'erson of the
same name with that Of some well.
known family of the district, or of
some exceedingly common name
likely to occur anywhere, such as
Smith or Jones, or who distribute far
and wide lists of unclaimed estates
which do not exist. Large sums of
money are annually thrown away by
the d1pes of these advertisements
and fictitious lists. and handsome
revenue is made by the agents, as
they call themselves. for the discov-
cry of lost heirs and the recovery Of
unclaimed estates. The modus oper-
andi usually adopted by these agents
is to ask first for a remittance of 92 or
E3, to cover the cost of copying the
will upon which the claim purports
to be based !; then a larger sum for
the expenses of instituting inquiries,
and at each successive stage mole
blackmail is levied. the currespon-
dence being so cleyerly conducted
that several years frequently elapse
before the fraud is discovered. None
should contribute a dollar to I'M
known agents, especially towards
any expenses connected with estab-
fishing claims to estates in this coun.
try until inquiry has been made OF
counsel here, first as to the existence
of the estate, and then as to the
chances of it's recovery. l am told
by reputable solicitors that not one
claim in a thousand of all those re-
ferred TO them by the legation has
had any validity whatever, and very
few, during their long experience of
claims from America, have been sue
cessful."
The paper is a long one, and the
subject is treated extensively. Mr..
White says the archieyes of the legis-
lation show that a considerable pro.
portion of the foreign correspondence
is composed of letters upon this SUBJ
ject. Mr.. White describes the results
of inquiries relating to the "Jennens
estate" to which there were many
American claimants, showing that
the property went to the heirs-at. law
long before American claimants were
ever heard of, and that the latter
never had the shadow of a title to
it," Moreover. had the title once
been good one, it would long since
have become worthless by the opera.
ton of the statute of limitations.
ANY attempt, therefore," continues
Mr.. White, "to recover real estate
from the crown or individuals after a
lapse of twelve years (which may be
extended to thirty under certain cir
cumstances, and personal property
after lapse of twenty years., how
yer valid the claim of the persons
making the attempts may have been
originally, is certain to end in failure.
"Ail members, consequently. ofthe
Jennens Association of the United
States of America may rest assured
that their subscriptions are simply
thrown away, if their object be the
recovery of the Jennens estate, Re-
Gently letter was received here
from member of the aforesaid Jen-
mems Association who has just been
notified that general assessment of
FIVE dollars had been levied for the
year ending June 30th. 1884, and who,
before paying the same, inquired
whether the legation could furnish
any information regarding the Jen-
mems estate, said to be pending before
the Court of Chancery in England.
The letter enclosed sundry interest
ing documents emanating from the
association, in one of which is stated
that the finance committee are fully
satisfied with our agents progress in
the case.' and further on that it be.
comes necessary for each and every
member of this association to respond
with cash as literally as their means
will afford, to carry our case to final
issue, which we have every reason to
believe will be successful, provided
the funds be furnished" Similar
to this case are the "Hedges estate"
the Bradford estate" the Hyde es