Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-07-22
American assrs to ros,,sh Estates.

Amsrican Hs1Ts TO EogIish Estatss-
There are a great many '.heirs-' 10 large
English estates In this country IL we can
believe the stories Of such persons that
are continually eoming 10 us through the
columns Of the nevspspers- Scarcely
wealthy Englishman dies In these mod
ern days that crop Of American heirs
do not turn up to claim slice Of his
estate. With all respect to this
class Of individuals We submit that
this business il being over done. The
army Of claimants IL large one, but the
number Of those who ever lay their hands
on an ounce Of English gold il 40 small
that even the eagle eye Of the historian
has failed 10 discover them.
We venture to assert that II the army
Of s'heirs" In this country would apply
themselves energetieaIly to honest indus
try for = single year they would make
NOR. money than reaches this country
from English estates In whole century.
Perhaps no English property has ever
fAifcu fOftH soeu aH ARM VI htncfiSah
heirs A. the Jennens- estate which
IL valued at ESQ.,, 00O, 900. The claim
ants to this property are so nurner-
Gus that they have organized themselves
into the Jennens' Heirs Association. This
organization has branches In the South
and North. and It's members are to be
found In almost every State In the Union.
A general fund I. maintained, and Ia used
In the employing Of eminent counsel to
watch the claims 0f the members through
the slow processes Of Chancery. For the
past ten years the agent Of the Association
has been Lawyer =. {. Cook, who has
had his headquarters 10 London. The
bulk Of Mr.. Cooks work appeared to con-
sist in the writing Of sanguine letters TO the
heirs In this country, describing In
glowing terms the hopeful outlook Of at
fairs. commenting cheerfully upon the
fine progress that was being made with
their claims, and predicting that In the
near future the legal labyrinth would be
successfully threaded and the ''heirs'
have the exquisite pleasure Of dividing
among Themselves the Jennens millions.
Then Mr.. Cook would close his
letter with delicate request for
more funds which would be promptly
forwarded and the heirs" would adjourn
to dream and hope till another letter from
the agent got along to soothe them with
its buoyant cheerfuness.
But about a year ago they grew tired Of
Mr.. Cook. He had been In London ten
years and during that period had received
more than sixty thousand dollars for his
services. SO far as the heirs were able to
ascertain Mr.. Cooks labors during that
time had been confined to taking care Of
his family and writing the sanguine
letters which always used to enliven the
meetings Of the Association. These
spirit Of hopeful expectancy that was truly
commendsble. They were also not de-
void Of literary merit But the
heirs somehow became possessed OF
the idea that they were not an
adequate return for the large sum
OF money that they had paid Mr.. Cook.
,ha, ,,.m -a.a.an -. ~. ',,..;.,o. -,
a., ., ., -.
Mr.. Cook first took up his residence At
London. They felt that their agent had
t,sf in l,,fv- Lott
.... 49,, 49,
-,
- ~
- '"''o" mn" ','"'
-,
49,. 49, - ~.
,.,,',. ,....,... ~ g.,
=.
W ',''
p'''e'
ef
@
.-... '7.,.au. an iii, It.. =.
-. ~
"
~, ~
49,, '"e'
~ '"'' ~ ,"A
90, ""' -'''
'n ~ p'o'e' lux
>" "'.'e