The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-05
Amerioan Heirs to Foreign Lega-
cies Who are Unknown.
How Swindlers Turn These Affairs
to Their Own Advantage.
Thousands of Dollars Lie in the
Treasury not Belonging There.
Careless Habits OF Americans Living
Abroad, Who Leave Fortunes
Without Indicating the Proper
Heirs-Actual Cases Given.

WASHINGTON, Jan. Aust now there
seems TO be period of quietude among
the thousands OF american heirs TO for
eign fortunes" Yet il is we'll known that
thousands of dollars are extorted from the
pockets OF the fools who believe that they
are entitled TO portion Of the alleged
Jennings" millions held in chancery in
England, and of other vast estates. Only
few months ago firm of swindles in
New York reaped rich harvest by adj
vertising list Of surnames Of American
families who were said TO be entitled 10
shares in enormous fortunes which were
held in chancery until the proper heirs
were found. Thousands of Americans,
who believed that they were entitled to n
share in these estates, sent "rctainers" in
order that their interests might be properly
looked after. II is not recorded that one
OF them ever received dollar in response.
While Americans haye been trying for
years 10 secure fortunes from abroad they
have been neglecting the opportunities
which present themselves right here at
home. Americans are ubiquitous They
.
business under every flag. As n rule they
are busy-too busy 20 communicate with
their relatives at home, and not infrequent-
~ they die abroad without leaving scrap
OF paper by which their heirs might be
traced. Whenever one OF the citizens Of
the United States gives up the ghost in a
foreign country the American consul, or
minister resident, takes charge Of his estate
and sends whatever proceeds may arise TO
the state department.. The state depart
mcnt does lis best 10 find the rightful own
ems OF the estate by advertising in the
newspapers In the neighborhood Of the de-
cedents last place Of residence in America.
hut, unfortunately. that last residence Is
not always known, and after all proper ei-
forts have been exhausted the money IL,
under the law, covered into the treasury,
there 10 remain until the crack Of doom
unless the rightful owner comes 10 the
front and substantiates his claim. There is
rigid rule in the treasury department
which makes II an otienso, punishable by
immediate dismissal, for clerk or ON
ploye Of the department 10 give out any
information which might lead 90 the pay
ment to the rightiul heirs Of any sums
which lave been turned over 90 the Gus
tody Of the department for safe keeping.
When money has been covered into the
treasury, therefore, II is likely 10 stay
there forever unless Congress enacts the
necessary legislation 10 discover the own
ems. II IL said by one who knows, that
| hundreds oithousands Of dollars have been
collected by consuls In foreign countries
| during the past century and turned over
| 10 the department Of state 10 be In turn
| handed over 10 the treasury department,
there 10 remain concealed from public
view and never TO be paid out except 10y u
miracle. Occasionally an extraordinary
effort il made and American heirs discov-
cred and made happy by the receipt Of
MONEYS due them from the estate OF de-
ceased relatives who died abroad.
A ease in point il that Of n man named
Birdsall, who died In the Argentine Re-
public several ycars ago. llisestate nettcd
something like Sl2, 900, but he left no pa
pcrs by which his hcirs could be found,
except one letter This letter was evident
" sent from New York, but Il was signed
only by the christian name Of the writer,
who was evidently sister Of the deceased.
In Il she referred 10 other sisters, four in
all, but did not mention the surname Of a
single one Of them. Advertisements were
printed In the New York aud Brooklyn
papers, hut they brought no Response.
Private investigations were equally fruit
less In results, and the Secretary OF State
was about 10 order the money To be GOV
cred into the treasury whom one Of hi.
subordinate officials asked permission "a
make one moro effort. IL was granted
aud the dispatch agent Of the State depart
ment in New York, Mr.. llaughwout Howe
was appealed 10. lie saw the postmaster
OF New York and Brooklyn aud arranged
with them 10 secure the aid Of the Letter
carriers. These men were furnished Will
the christian names Of the supposed sisten
OF Birlsall, and upon n given day were in
structed 10 inquire at every house yisitct
for the sisters. The effort was successful
aud the five were all located In one day
The money WIS paid over 10 them instca'
Of going to swell the surplus in the treasury
A few years ago one Of our consuls II
France reported the death Of an American
!, named Mark Hamilton. lie left no paper
by which his hein could lie discovered
but among his personal effects were blanl
books. stock certificates and other paper
Of value which showed him 30 be man o
= wealth. Advertisements failed 30 brin
= any information concerning his heirs, an'
. for come time Il was thought that his for
| iuUtt MNlAu NllbhH'h W Ah'Nh Nf'tN''
/, would have 10 20 10 the treasury. On
day two or three newspaper correspondent
, heard the story Of Mark Hamilton NJ Oh
! State department aud they proceeded :
, write accounts Of the fortune whicl
] awaited his heirs The fact was incident
ally mentioned that n portion Of bis none
was on deposit In one Of the New YOr
banks. This attracted the notice Of Ilenr
Eisendecker, the public administrator {
G the city Of New York, who at once cam
l on 20 Washington 20 secure the proceed
OF Hamilt0n's estate. lie failed 10 brin
y proper credentials with him at ilst, bt
finally, upon producing them, the none
and other effects were turned over 10 hin
Then Il appeared that there had been &C.,
eral Mark llamiltons who had myseriousl
disappeared and heirs from all sections ,
: the couniry.j cyan 10 send inquiries 10 N
u State department They came from low
Is from New York, from illinois and irol
!. Massachusetts But the Illinois peop
A had the best claim. They establishc
n their right 20 the money and Mr.. EiscI
Il decker was compelled 10 pay over 10 thei
d the $4,000 which he expected 10 COW
n i,to tho treaaury of the city OF New Yorl