New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-17
CHASING A BIG ENGLISH RAINBOW.
ALLEGED AMERICAN HEIRS TO ENGLISH PROP
ERTY-vAST ESTATES IN LITIGATION.

ALLEGED AMERICAN HEIRS TO ENGLISH PROP
ERTY-vAsr ESTATES IN LITIGATION.
The following improbable AMI almost Incredible story
is told by some English lawyers who have rcoehu'
come 10 this country Of lawsuit In England involving
an immense estate, 70 which d large number OF Amer
leans are said be heirs The solicitors for the
plaintiff Benjamin Wilson. Nicholas Moody ana
Heinz -Bouchette. They arrived In this cts on the
Alaska a few DAYS ago and were at the N"w-l0ih
Hotel but have gone from there. They are tfNlhS
10 hunt up all the descendants in this country ABOUT
1870 I'm number, OF william JcnnenS, upon whose es'
tate there has been litigation for almost century.
According to the legal papers Of the solicitors the
suit for between SO 1900 and $3oooOOO0 has been
rcopened against Earl Howe, who the plainuha
allcce holds the estates by fraud. The original
owner, William Jennens, died III l'"7' The hche't
commOner In England. son Of sophia 'hhriOiic
Curzon was declared hcirat-law to the estate lie
died and sophia produced small boy, Richard rem
Curzon, who, she alleged was her second son ana the
next her-atlaw. He was put In possession Of the
estates and was created Earl Howe, his mother be
coming Baroness Howe.
The other heirs not satisfied, however ana they
began litigation, which has continued Throughout most
Of the present century The suits were Invariably
decided In favor Of tie defendants, who were In pos
session Of the estate and plaintiffs, who's; number
gradually increased, frequently expended their whole
fortunes in the frutess l. gaton. Several Of them
came 10 this country and moved TO the south whence
they have been trying to take OF their Interests
in the big suit.
According TO the present plaintiffs lawyers, II has
been learned that the original Earl Howe WAS an
illegitnae child. and that that fact has been known
70 the family through the successive generations 10
fine present Earl the third In line Richard william
Penn Cuzon. The plaintiffs say that they have
positive proof that the boy who was first created
Lord Howe was an illc1tlmate son OF Anne oakes,
who held some position In the Curzon household
The daughter OF this Anne Oakcs, when very Old
woman. In 1870 revealed the identity Of the first
Lord Howe. The new discovery was substituted by
many church records Inscriptions etc. H"n.Sgln
Wills the heir 10 whom the discovery was first W~dc
known was but fifteen years old at the time. As
soon rs he became Of age he took steps 10 regain his
rights and has called upon The American Dc
scendans to put IN their claims.
The litigation the property, which has been
going for many years formed the groundwork for
Dickens famous Jarndyce vs.. Jarndycc, In LEAK
House.. and 1t also served Nilkc Collins In one Of
his novels. The property consists Of the Acton Place,
Classified BolIner and Cavcnd,h estates in SuiO, and
much property In Iiarwick Essex and Leicester.
Concerning This remarkable tale. II might be- added
that the American Legation In London Ia, repeatedly
Investigated the subject Of large estates in England
10 which Americans said be The rlgtul heirs.
and the officials there reported Invariably and
sound, much Ike the Harlem Commons claims and
other contests OF Hike ephemcral nature Unless
strong evidence Is produced 10 show that there j,
more in this suit than III the Others which have ap-
prarcd from time 10 time, Americans VIII doubtless
be exceedingly sccptal about Investing their money
If