The morning call., 1893-05-15
HE MAY BE RICH.
A San Francisco Mans
Strange Quest.
SEARCHING FOR MILLIONS.
AFifteen Million Dollar Legacy Which
Other Heirs Failed 10 Get-Big
Interests Involved.
SEARCHING FOR MILLIONS.

San Francisco IS likely to furnish one of
the elements in peculiarly interesting
legacy story.
Given prize of S15OOO,0oO and there
Will always be plenty of claimants especi-
ally when the mystery of it all was buried
in India in 1873.
Still it looks as if the San Francisco heir
has the best chance of any, to Judge by his
plain. unvarnished tale, which hangs to-
gether and riyets attention 10 the end.
This interesting case will shortly be
brought before the English courts.
II will involve several banks and in
directly the British Government, and some
of the most prominent legal talents of this
country will be interested.
William II. Davies is the center of the
legal battle which he modestlY stated to a
CALL reporter yesterday. will Involve the
ownership Of nearly SIS. .ooO.O0o
This enormous sum is supposed to be in
the hands of certain English bankers
awaiting the legal claimants.
Mr.. Davies was seen by CALL reporter
Rt his place of business, H. 13 and Is East
street, yesterday. He is pleasant-man-
neIed gentleman, about 45 years of age,
and spoke freely of his prospective riches.
1T is quite true" said he, that l ex-
pect TO send an agent to England shortly to
see what he can do with my case, ana if
you Will look over some family papers with
me l will gladly give you any inform alton.
Il have been spending with my
English agents and hope soon to get things
Into tangible shane.
1T will be best to commence at the be-
ginning and give thorough account of the
family history.
81 was born in 1S49 and was raised in In
verness. Scotland, but tired of our quiet
life. and while boy ran away from home
and came TO this country.
Il learned the clgar-making trade in New
York State and later went to Cleveland, o.
While in that city | met John +. HOl-
lingsworth. and we both came to San Fran
cisco in 1873 and engaged in the cigar bust
ness. He retired few years later and
continued the business, adding the liquor
branch to il.
at was while looking over some family
papers that first conceived the idea of
making inquiries about my uncle's estate,
ana expect soon to be able to proceed with
the matter.
"All the members Of the family knew
that our grandfather died very wealthy
and that his eldest son, Thomas Davies, lin
heTited the bulk of the large property,
while the four younger sons received
smaller portions Of the estate.
MY grandfather died early in the present
century and Thomas assumed control of
his estate, 70 which was added iegacies
from other members of the family who h had
died during his lifetime. He soon tired of
tbe dull old town of his birth and began
TO seek for more lively occupation than
that of a country gentleman.
wv hen lad he displayed marked talent
and had added to his other accomplish
ments thorough knowledge of civil en-
glneering. He later visited London, where
be lived several years. and about 1904 en-
tered the army.
"He secured lieutensncy in the Royal
Engineers and was at times in command of
different corps.
in 1868 he was ordered to East India for
active service. Before leaving England
he informed his younger brothers, among
them my father, that he had turned the
estate into ready money, and told them
In what banks in London the deposits
were made. They amounted to $3.50, 900
English currency, or about $3.50. 500.
During his absence my uncle Owen. the
next eldest brother, became physician
and crossed the border into England.
where he died q few years later.
Then his brother. Edward Davies, was
Deputy InspectOr-GeneTal OF Hospitals
and Fleets. and was for many years con-
nected with the Royal Navy. and finally
died without male issue.
The two younger brothers, John and
Joseph. the latter my father. went 10 Can
ada, and at the time Of Thomas death
they were pretty we'll scattered.
John Davies settled down to the life of
Rgenleman farmer GEAR the small TO wn of
Brighton, in Canada, while Joseph, my
father, was still lad and went to live
with him.
I'm the meantime My uncle only corre-
sponded at long intervals with his brother.
When Thomas died in India. Owen. Ed
ward and John each put in claims for the
estate, but died before they could estab-
Hsh M Nv fof of 10
Government. Inspector of Schools for Can
ada, which position he held until his death.
and about 1S40, when Edward died aud
John became the next of kin, still resided
with the latter. He corresponded with
English attorneys about the estate. Ono
day be left home and told father he was
going to Belleville. neighboring town. to
get important letters regarding the estate,
and would return in a few days
But the same fatality pursued him and
be WAS never seen alive again.
The dread disease cholera had already
carried off number of the inhabitants of
the locality, and Uncle John. like many
others, was buried in an unknown grave.
We had always thought the papers pertain
Ing to the estate were buried with him. At
all events neither he nor they were ever
heard of again.
"My father then became heir presump-
tive. but he also, like his predecessor,
failed to secure the property. Legal OBJ
slaces, which he failed 10 overcome, were
the cause OF his failure.
Among other things, according to the
then existing laws. he was required 10 fur
Dish proof Of Johns death. This he was
unable 10 do, although efforts were made
10 trace his movements and 10 locate his
grave Failing, he was obliged to walt for
period II years, until the law presumed
John deceased.
My father continued his search up to
the time Of his death In 1868, in hopes of
hnoing some clew to his brothers death,
tune.
when | was able | ontinued to hunt
Ior evidence. So far my success has been
very natterlng. | experienced great diff
Guilty, as the probably most important pa
pers whlch could throw any light on the
mauer we're buried with my Uncle John.
,,h Sas 9oNeed 10 commence almost entirely
al the beginning again.
The result of my INQUIRIES is that al
tnough nave not been able to locate the
original Gl30,000. l have succeeded in
IaeLng portion OF the money belonging TO
he e sstSsf;ea eisae II only recover that 1 shall
Ce - saeIsned. aon My uncles knew that about
40 GOO was sent by Thomas To his bapkers
ANS sum was probably prize money he re.
SeIVea during his Indian campaigns. As
nc uiea IN 1913, and the estate was closed
ssnIee YEARS later, II now amounts with in
GOO. " Neaiif sZ'ooo'-
a. hrst instructed my London solicitors
70 secure the records and various other
parucuars OF Lieutenant Thomas Davies
sa,Iy s1,ny career and death. l received the
toiiowIng in reply" said the possible heir
I'm niiill9ns, handing the reporter letter
iIou MS London correspondent. a we'll
known solicitor
Inc epiStie conclusively shows that Lieu
tenant Davies died intestate, as he made
no VIII that could be discovered on file in
any Of the courts. 1t reads:
WILLIAM H. Davies. San Frnnc,,co mr.,
sih; send you these lines in acknowledg-
menf, eic. "s
he Davies, Lieutenant Thomas
nave searched all the courts OF probate
lndlah, win the result that no will of the
epoVe las been admitted 10 proba'e in any OF
hen. From this-you may be satisfied that be