The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-29
AN HEIR TO MILLIONS.
The Romance in the Life of the Son of
Francis Palms, of Detroit.

The Romance in the Life of the Son of
Francis Palms, of Detroit.
Detroit Special.
Francis Palms, the richest man in Michigan
left two heirs. Francis F. Palms. his son, and
Clothilde, his daughter The children had dit
ferent mothers. Clothllde Palms has obtained
unpleasant notoriety OF late because of the
stories connecting her name with that of SEN
ator Jones, of Florida 1t is due to the lady to
say at the beginning that she has never given the
slightest encouragement to her persistent sutton.
Francis Palms, who has just died, was the son
of Ange Palms. who came to Detroit in 1881 from
Antwerp There were four sons and two daugh-
ters and when the father failing to find the City
of the Straits to his mind betook himself to New
Orleans, Francis and one daughter remained in
Detroit. Ange Palms. with his other son and
his remaining daughter, established himself in
the Crescent City.
Francis married Miss Bennett, who died in
giving birth TO his only Soon after his first
wife's death Mr.. Palms married second time.
and the new wife was so averse to the children,
that the boy. while yet baby, was sent to his
grandfathers house in New Orleans to be
brought up. So engrossed was the father in
money getting that he forgot all about his son.
and the lad grew up in utter ignorance of mis-
father No letters passed between the two
branches of the family, but the grandfather took
entire care of the boy In the course of time he
was sent to college in the South, and when his
education had been finished he was started out
To see the WOrIu TluuluR ulmS0lL as lar NOrLn
as Virginia, young Francis took it into his head
to push on to Detroit to see If he could discover
his father. who was a sort of mystical person
age to him. In due time he reached this CITY.
His grandfather had told him that step-mother
was the cause of his exile from home, and he
wisely concluded to see how the land lay before
making himself known On making inquiries
he found that his father was regarded as the
richest man in the State. He further discovered
that it was the habit of the elder Palms to visit
the hotel reading room every evening at 8
o'clock, to read his letters, look at the papers
and occasionally do little business with people
from out of town.
That night the son was on hand, and he had
not long to wait. Punctually at s short man
with little stoop in his shoulders came into the
Office There was smile OH his kindly face as
he nodded good evening to the people he knew,
and then made his way to sofa in the reading
room. The son possessed his soul in patience
until he saw his father tear open his last letter.
glance through It, and then turn to take up a
paper. Sauntering up to the elderly gentleman,
the young man, with the ease of a Sourherner,
began the conversation. Gradually he drew
from Mr. Palms the admission that he had rela-
tives in New Orleans II have a father there
and brothers, too" said the elderly man.
Indeed said the younger, In apparent sur
prise, 'and what Is the namei"
"Palms is my name"
"And mine, too" said the young man, coolly.
"Perhaps you and are related"
my fathers name is Ange Palms." admitted
the elderly one
Sand he is my grandfather" was the young
fellows response.
There was no scene. In a few words the
father told the son that he was glad to see him
again. and then gave him TO understand that
the hotel would prove more comfortable quar-
ters than the big brick house up the avenues