Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-11
Story of Henry Dream, Who Ends
Life as a Charity Patient and
Leaves Over $4,000 Behind.
MRS. M'CLELLAND THE ONLY HEIR.
The Sight of a Mothers Defaced Grave
RecOncileS Two Brothers and Saves
the Family Honor.
4 COUSIN MAKES AN AWFUL CRARGE.
Evidence in the Case That Was Gathered in Both the Old
World and the New

ckurchyard in the little hamlet of Aughna-
cloy, Ireland, have led to Mrs. Anne NJ.
McClelland, of Allegheny, being estab-
lished as the heiress of $4,000, and has
driven away forever the taint of Illegiti-
macv which hung like cloud over some of
the best and Oldest families in Pennsvl-
vania.
In 1876 John DARN, then gray-haired
man OF over 20, of Allegheny, visited his
native home in Ireland, and he was shown
where, in a far corner of tine churchyard the
remains of his mother rested. The mound
had been tramped down by hun
dreds OF careless feet. No headstone
marked il. 1t was in the even
ing, and the setting sun threw across the
mound the shadow OF the church spire
which, like q hand from another world,
pointed its long finger toward the east 1t
recalled to him stories of a father he had
never known; stories that his mother had
told him of the gallant English soldier
John DARN. who after one short year of
happiness with his mother, had been ordered
to East India with his regiment and died at
Calcutta from the fever.
Started to Find His Half-Brother.
Inc OaLeS were 50 ldT UdGh llldb ue OulN
knew of them through his mother The
marriage had been performed in 179S and
he first saw light about year later. Then,
TOO, mis- mother had married a second time in
1905 to a Patrick Dream and another son had
resulted from that marriage. But what
did he know of his halt-brother, Henry
Dream. 1t was almost half a century that
both had lived in America, but they had
become estrarged, and now he did not even
know where his brother lived-if he lived
at all Here, kneeling beside his mothers
grave, he decided TO hunt up his brother,
effect a reconciliation, and the two woul d
together fttingly mark her last resting
place.
John DARN then visited his relatives and
learned from them the story of his father.
He returned to America, and that winter
the two white-haired brothers were Joined in
PHILADELPHIA after half century of separa-
tion, and to-day white marble monument
marks the resting place of their mother.
For few years they were friendly and
then sgain all communication ceased and
the brgthers lost sight of each other. John
DARN passed away in 1885.
Refused to Make VIII.
Henry Dream again appears as charity
patient in the Presbyterian Hospital at
Philadelphia. He was friendless, and by
his own statement pennlless For months
he had been lying there balanced between
earth and the great beyond. On the after
noon of January >, 1883, Cashier Colling-
wood, OF the Western National Bank of
Philadelphia, visited him with a will al
J ID i
sign it. Henry Dream refused. An hour
later he was dead.
Death had but claimed the body for few
hours when the same Mr.. Collingwood no.
tilted the Attorney General that Henry
Dream had died intestate, and claimed one
fourth of the old mans estate for being the
first iniormer.
In some way Isaac D. Yocum, ESQ.,, of
Philadelphia, was placed in charge of the
case and in the spring of 1888 the following
advertisement appeared in THE DISPATCH:
INFORMATION WANTED-Any of the heirs
OF the late Henry Dream, of the Western Ma
tional Bank of Philadelphia, living in Pitts
burg and vicinity will hear something to their
advantage by addressing Isaac d. 6ocum, SPA
Walnut street, Philadelphia.
First News of the Fortune.
The advertisement was answered by Mrs.
Annie McCIelland, nee Annie Warner of
Grantham street, Allegheny. She was a
grandniece OF Henry Dream by only half
blood. she being the only granddaughter of
John DARN. Her husband, Samuel I. Nc
CIeliand, is the well-known halter, who for
number OF years had an establishment on
Federal street, Allegheny, and who is now
connected with J. 2. Gregg. She sent a
number of letters and photographs to Mr..
Nocum, who at once began work on the
case, but at this time neither Mr.. Yocum or
Mrs. McClelland knew the great extent of
Mr. Dreams possessions.
After much difficulty the Real Estate
Title Insurance and Trust Company, of
Philadelphia, was appointed as adminiStra-
tor OF the estate. The old mans papers
were found in a lock-box in the Pennsyl-
vania Company for Insurance on Lives and
Granting AnnuitieS. When it was opened
all were surpriSed to find securities aggre-
eating $40, 541 81, and deeds for large tracts
OF land in Iowa.
All this had been accumulated by hard
work and the closest parsimony. Henry
Dream had concealed all knowledge of his
wealth from even his closest and most init.
mate friends. He LEFT behind him no fam
lily. no vile and no will, and to all who
spoke to him during the closing years of hii
life he declared he had not relative.
The Story of NIiser's Life.
Here is the life of this strange man. HI
lived in ireland, at Aughuacloy, until 1880
when he came to Philadelphia and EN-.
barked in the clothing business. He mar
ried bat had no childsen. Thirty years be
fore his death he became messenger ior Iht
Western National Bank of Philadelphia
and held the position until August, 1887
when he was sent to the hospital. In 1871
his wife died childless.
Naturally reticent, he made few acquaint
ances and DO confidante. He lived only t.
himself and, although he had been in Phil
adelp phia for about so wears, he did not vIsi
his mother until 1877. He visited Pitts
burg again in 1873, and then, fearing SOM
one would discover his wealth, he cut off al
communication with his relatives and Iivet
almost the life of u recluse until he died.
In June, 1889, Richard Dream, of Balti
more, set up claim to the estate as full
cousin OF the deceased, and appeared witt
strong counsel at Philadelphia. The law
of Pennsylvania, however, give preferenc
10 lineal descendants before collateral rela
tives. and where only personal property j
involved the law recognizes lineal descend
ants OF the half blood before collateral de
scendants of full blood. As Mrs. McClel
land was the only lineal descendant tn
Baltimore cousin saw he would not receiv
= sou.
Setting Up the Bar Sinister.
Then Richard Dream set up the plea tha
Henry Dreams mother, whose maide
name was Betty Scott, had nc
been married twice. 1t was a
legged that on account OF the hast
removal of John DARN, the British So