The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-06-14
4 STREAK OF LUCK
A Poor Young Man Falls Heir to
Castle.
HIS FATHERS STRANGE CAREER
The Romance of the Girl Who Bore Him Son
Contingencies Provided for
in the Will.


fSnecial tn THE HERALD-Examiner Dispatch.l
NEy YORK. June l3-BernaTd Wittmer, lr,
was employed for five years by New foIh
business finn as a typewriter at salary OF Go
"a week one morning last February ne a"oAe
TO find himself heir to fortune OF s2,ooOOOo anu
a great castle in Germany containing no less
lhan $50 rooms. He went 10 Germany, estap-
lished his identity and his claim, ana ias'
month came all the way back to New orh ioi
the purpose of resigning honorably clio "eel.
position. He has now returned TO Germany anu
with his wife and two children mas TAKEN up
mis- residence in his castle.
There are qualifications to this remarkable
change of fortune which contribute much 10
the romance OF II all something over iot
years ago Bernard Wittmer ST., fatner OF thv
heir, came 10 America and invested MS sinai
fortune in cotton, having made MS home IN the
south. When The war broke out MI Mlttner
owned large amount OF cotton. Inc saie
made him rlcn. He returned TO Germany 10 en-
10y himself While in Bremen ne met young
woman TO whom he became aPpar,
entity devotedly attached, but Whoni
he refused to marry, even AFTER
son was born to them. Then he became weary
of her and when the war ended he deserted ner
and her child and came back to America. Inc
young woman followed him, pleaded that ne
make her his wife, but ne declined TO hold any
relations with her. She earned her own living
and was looked upon as an exceedingly respect
able widow Her conduct was beyond reproacn
and she married Brooklyn man. She died
three years ago. Her son was earning MS
living and was raising family OF his own.
Bernard Wittmer, ST.. also married oul
his wife died soon after his marriage.
Twelve years ago again ne Went 10
Germany, where his great wealth MADE MN
prominent among those who had known MIN
during his struggles in his youth. He purchased
estate of eighty acres on the OUTSKIRTS OF
Bremen. On this estate he erected great
castle of remarkable architectural beauty. Inc Inc
structure contained $50 rooms and it was fur
nished in excellent taste. After all this hao
been done. Mr. Wittnier determined 10 nave
his son with him and sent to America Tor him.
The mother allowed the boy TO go ana young
Bernard was received by his father with much
cordially. The boy was put IN le-
gal possession of his fathers name
which he already bore and was started IN bust
ness by his father in Eremen- Young Bernard
was inclined to be fast and soon ruined MS
business prospects by spending his capital at a
rate that frightened the old gentleman, ana IN
dismay the father sent him back to America 10
shift for himself. With the money his father
had given to him on his departure young Bern
ard studied stenography and typeWrlllng- ne
married here. One day In February, Nlttmer
received a letter from Germany winch
announced his fathers death ana con-
tanned transcript OF his will. He OBJ
tanned leave of absence and went TO Germany.
BY the erms of Wilmer, sr-'s viii the entire
property is to be held in trust Young Wit
mer is to live in the castle and Is 10 De Regarded
as head of the estate. The trustees are directed
TO provide for the maintenance of the estaD-
iishment in proper style. The servants, the
table vito its plate and food are TO be furnished
by the trustees. Bernard may ask for anything
he wants and he will get IL. the trustees
handling the money. For his own use
Bernard viii have GOO marks year
until his oldest child is twenty-one
years of age when the child VIII become the
head of the house and Bernard will retire on a
pension. The eldest child at his majority Is TO
come into possession of the entire estate, whlcn
at that time il is estimated Will be worth about
$40 OoO. GOO owing to the restrictions placed by
the will on the distribution OF the income.
There is a clause in the Will which provides
that If Bernard should refuse TO live on the
estate he will be cut of with an annual pittance
of ESQ marks and the estate would in that event
be held in trust Tor his children Until
the majority of the Oldest child Young Witt
rer has made the best of the situation by &C
csding to the terms of the will, and is now al
home in his castle. His personal income OF
600 marks is pittance and he is still practi
cally poor man in an abode of luxury. Had he
not foolishly spent that 5000 he would have the
whole fortune now and the jump from type
writing machine to a castle would have seemed
bigger, but it's pretty good jump at that.