The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-01-28
CASTLES IN THE AIR.
Fraudulent Dait At which Americans
Arc Too Often Prone to Bite.

Arc Too Often Prone to Bite.
It would seem, after all the publicity
given to the scheme in the papers
throughout the country, that few per-
sons would Indulge in the chimera OF
obtaining a part or a whole Of the es-
tates said to be held unclaimed in the
courts of England Circulars to the
effect that more than half billion of
dollars in unclaimed estates are await
ing the rightful heirs in England. Scot
land, Wales and Ireland continue to
be scattered broadcast through this
country, and there is an agency in this
city employing men to promote just
such schemes
There is something alluring in this
little paragraph: Thousands OF heirs.
have never seen these advertisements
If your ancestors on your fathers or
mothers side came from any of the
above named countries do not fail to
send the ancestral name and ascertain
If you are an heir. Your deceased an
cestors' rights are yours by British law.
We have information of every estate
and deceased person whose heirs have
been advertised for in 125 years Send
postal note for twenty-five cents to in
sure information. If you are an heir
we will recover the estate for you. No
recovery, no fee"
1t must have been this circular
which caused Miss G. H. Clqpton, OF
Columbia, Tenn, to address the agency
in this city for information concerning
a supposed Drake estate in England,
to which she believed she was AN heir.
In reply she was told that Mrs s. NJ.
Redfeld, of Edwards, Miss, and Mrs.
L. V. Donelson, of Lexington, Homes
county, Miss, had filed claims to the
estate, and then the ingeniously worded
letter suggested to her that she might
be permitted to enter the lists with the
Others consent Continuing, it said
"Our terms are the same to each,
namely, l per cent of the amount
gained. If we gain nothing we gel
nothing. And if we have to assume
the costs, $40 of our fee in advance az
a small guarantee OF good faith"
The meat of the nut is in the last
sentence. The circular distinctly states
mo recovery, no fee"
Miss Clopton replied to this letter ir
effect that her Uncle Elijah knew moth
ing about Mrs. Redfield or Mrs. Donel
son. In letter of the date of Oct. q
she received this brief communication
"In replying to your favor of Oct. L
we beg to say that Mrs. Redfleld ha
accepted our terms, and suit is nov
pending in her behalf. "
For the benefit of Miss Clopton ant
others who fancy that they are within
one step of wealth the letter of the sec
rotary of the United States legation il
London, bearing the date of April Is
1887, and addressed to person inquir
ing about the Sands estate, may be @
some benefit: II beg to inform yo
that there is no such estate as the on
! you mention. Vast numbers of peopl
in our country are deceived and d.
frauded by designing persons, who reE
. resent that great estates are awaitin
! American claimants here, whereas ther
u, are none such"
' Again, Sept. ls, 1887, deluded PEE
son in Massachusetts,, who thought h
was an heir to the -Townle
estate, received a letter of caution
y this time the advice coming from Nil
= lister Phelps, in which he said: :"
= worse fraud was never attempted
Q There is not a pretense of foundatio
e for it in fact. 1t is simply device fl
s obtaining money by false pretenst
l. from the credulous. New York Time