The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-05-30
ASIEI MON
Deluded Americans Who Believe
themselves Heirs to Wealth
Thousands of Dollars Thrown Away II
tho Hopeless Endeayor to Push
Claims Which Have No lFoun-
dation Whatever.


In spite Of the repeated warnings
which have been sent out from time to
time by the United States legation here
and by the press Of America concerning
the fraudulent character OF so-called
English estate agents in America, re-
cent developments have shown, says
the Chicago Times, that the warnings
have been UNDECIDED, and that the num-
Der of dupes is increasing instead Of de-
creasing During the last few weeks
more letters than ever before have been
received from America inqu iring after
imaginary estates of fabulous sums
awaiting the writer's in the banks of
England. This correspondence, as far
back rs Mr.. Lowell's time, grew to such
enormous proportions that all letters OF
this description had to be answered by
printed circulars. Mr.. Lowell, in his
circular, said:
The pretended prosecution OF these pretended
American claims to English property is carried
on with such persistence and ingenuity by the
mon engaged in 1t that we despair OF being
able to make their credulous victims under
stand what an utter imposture and delus1on
the whole business is. I cannot too strongly
advise you, since you have addressed US on the
subject to have nothing to do with such
schemes and especially to remit no money to
their agents.
In the case of many estates, such as
the Jennings, Internationally, or
Chase-T ownley, Hyde, Herne, Bradford,
Hedges and others, special circulars
had to be printed to answer the numer-
Gus applicants. The plan generally
adopted by the estate agents is to in
sert advertisements in the country
papers to the effect that a large prop
erty has been left by a person of the.
same name as that of some well-known
family of the district or of some exceed:
ing1y common name likely to occur any
where.
The modus operandi usually adopted
BY these agents is to ask first for re-
mittance of So or e3 to cover the cost of
copying the will upon which the claim
purports to be based; then larger
sum for the expense of instituting in
q,1iries, and at each successive stage
more blaclxlnail is levied, the CORE
spondence being so cleverly conducted
that several years frequently elapse be-
fore the fraud is discovered.
During Mr.. Lincoln's term of Office
as minister nearly all the let
ters have come from small country
towns, showing that the agents find
them the most profitable field. Texas,
Kansas, Iowa and the far west seem to
be especially productive Of them, al
though letters are received from all
parts Of the United States. Among the
letters recently received at the legation
are communications from claimants to
some thirty-fve estates Of all the
claims investigated by English solicitors
not one has been found to have any
validity whatever. In every case the
legation is utterly powerless to
help claimants or even investigate these
cases, as under positive instructions
from the state department no one at
tached to the legation can take any
part in the Investigation of claims Of
this character, and in a report drawn
up by Mr. White, secretary of lega-
ton, it is plainly stated that the time of
anyone wishing to prosecute claims
will be wasted by addressing the Legal
ton on the subject.
Claimants should also bear in mind
that a statute Of limitations fixes a
period within which unclaimed estates
revert to the crown, and this period is
twenty years. The limit within which
action can be brought for the recovery
of real property is twelve years.
There are no large sums of money
awaiting claimants in the Bank of
England There are very few amounts
of 81, 900, and none exceeding that sum
by more than e100 or e2OO. The amount
of money in chancery belonging to nn-
known heirs is altogether less than
81, 900, 900.
Some Queer People.
There is now living in Madrid, says q
Ss,ax:cl, l2du hel0nGinp to