The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-11-11
WANT HIS WEALTH
Queer Fight For the Posses
sion of a Fortune.
THE CASE OF JONATHAN HUNT.
scOrned While He Lived, the Money He
Left Now Causes Contention.

He Had No Right to Fathers Name
Desoen1ants of Samuel II. Smith, His
Reputed Father, Trying to Prove That
the RelationshIp E1Isted-Jonathan's
Eccentric Life and Mysterious Death.
WORTHWHILE, N Y, Nov. II. "A short
time prior TO tho war of 1912 a cert ain
Widow Hunt, living on farm near
what Is now the scat Of Colgate Uni
versity, in Hamilton, then settlement,
gave birth to a son, over whose pattern
ity gossips wagged their tongues, but
for whose being no msn was ever held
responsible.
Living near Hamilton was Samuel r.
Smith, a we'll known business man. In
1920 Smiths wife died, and shortly
afterward he married the Widow Hunt.
Jonathan Hunt, the reputed illegitimate
son, was never publicly Acknowledged
by Samuel r. Smith to be his son. From
this marriage were born three children
--Adon, Sidney and Charlotte, after
ward Mrs. Adams-who were always
spoken Of as half-brothers and half-sister
OF Jonathan Hunt.
Jonathan Hunt, while yet boy, went
to New York City and became a boot
black and newsboy. He prospered, and
at thirty-fiye was spoken of as a wild
speculator. But as the money flowed in
he invested it in land on Manhattan
Island and in the South.
In the mean time Joathan's mother
had died and her husband had ma ried
again, and by the third marriage other
children were born.
By 1S45 Jonathan Hunt was reputed
one of the wealthiest men in America.
He possessed millions, but his eccen-
tricity was the talk Of New York. In
January, lS47, Jonathan Hunt was in
Charleston, s. G. Early on the evening
of the 18th of that month he left his
hotel for short walk, from which he
never returned. None that knew him
ever saw or heard of him again.
today the descendants of Samuel r,
Smith are trying at the special term of
the Supreme Court of New York, to
prove that Jonathan Hunt was the son
OF Samuel R. Smith and that they are
of the blood of Jonathan Hunt through
the father, who never owned him as a
son in his lifetime.
If these allegations shall be proved,
about fifty descendants of Samuel R.
Smith by his third marriage, will claim
to be entitled as heirs at law of Sidney
Smith, lunatic, deceased, one of the
devisees and heirs of Jonathan Hunt, to
seven -ninths OF all of Sidney Smith S
real and personal estate, now said to be
valued at much over 81, 800, 900 and con-
sisting Of properties in New York City
and in Alabama and other Southern
States
The case is being argued before
Judge Parker Senator John E, Smith,
of Morrisville; eX-Congressman Mason
and S. w. White, of Hamilton, and
Judge Countrymen, of Albany, appear
for the plaintiffs, and W. Mann, John
E. Parsons and ex-Judge Russell for the
defendants. 1t is agreed that William
Herman, of Utica, brother Of ex-senator
Herman, shall act as referee
The records are being overhauled, and
gravestones, old papers, diaries, news
papers and letters are being drawn upon
for evidence.
Thus the litigation over Jonathan
Huut's millions, their once possesso
dead aud his bones lying no one know
where, may perhaps secure for MIN after
all these years the right to possess ever
in death fathers name