New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-21
4 WOMAN'S STRANGE TALE.
FROM GOvERNESS TO WEALTHY HEIRESS
MISS HOWARD SAYS SHE HAS INHERITED A
FORTUNE FROM A CLOCKNAKEE FOR
WHOM SHE ONCE woRKED-HER
STORY DOUBTED.
STORY DOUBTED.

WHOM SHE ONtI WORhl-D-HEh
STORY DOUBTED.
Miss Estcllc Howard. who at present Is living
with a family named Hanks at No. 81 West
One-hundrcd-and-iifth-st. tells - most rcinarSa-
bic story about how she suddenly learned, ten
days ago, that, instead of being a poor gov
crness. dependent upon what She earned, she vas
n young woman worth $500 600 or Si00,0 600 in
her own right The strange tale of this sud
den elevation. told by Mss Howard last night
10 a Tribune reporter il follows:
When five years old she came TO this country
with maiden aunt, who found employment in
Ncw-lork as Il housel;ccper She remained with
her aunt two or three years, and was then sent
10 Rockford, H.. where her aunt secured
ployment for her with wealthy bachelor, who
was clock manufacturer. Miss Howard was
supposed 20 assist IN the household duties, bnt
instead OF being required TO do any work, shc
was sent 10 school and wes literally educated
At tic same time, III" says fhc acted fer several
years as an au;anucnsis and attended TO tho
greater part Of her employers private correspof',
epcc.
Miss Howard's father and mother, according 10
her story, who lived in Chittcnham Wiltshire,
England were too poor TO provide for their
daughter in England. Some Of her fathers rcla-
tivcs were wealthy, hut he had been rather recK-
loss in his younger days and was forced 10 90
manual labor to earn his lyinS. On account
Of the famllys poverty, EsicDc, VINO wac lle
only child. was sent TO tins country with hcT
maiden aunt, VINO appeared 70 be iond OF h'I
niece.
The Rockford bachelor lived a quiet retired life
and hi, only object Outside of attending ~
his business interests was 10 mako life pl"a'ant
for his ward as III" tale Iuns ~ th" sam" fh' h'
Ecayc hor TO unGcr,t N iii she was t. b" r'2ar"
"a a servant who was working for him On learn
ing that Miss Towards parents IN Englanh were
in destitute circumstances, he sent them i'ohcy' MI
howard about five years ago, on account oi au-
vanced age. forced TO give up WORK. an" '"'
wealthy cloak manufacturer sent them sliilc"hO
, money for their support In the summer Of So,
| Miss Howard expressed wish to visit h'r
| parcnts in England, and her bcnciactor IL s'FniS'
readily consented. Miss Howard intended to re-
main with her father and mother nntii al''i
christmos but in September or October of that
year she received news that the bachelor had dIcd
suddenly. She immc lately returned 10 Rockford
she says. but by the time she reached the iiil-
nois CITY the clock manufacturer had been buried
ard his will had been admitted to probate.
In the will ms filed Miss Howard WAS not men
,oncd. and the estate was taken possession OF by
auoocd distant relatives Of the dead man
The voung woman, soon after her second arrl.
|
voI at Rockford. secured employment in family
| ;,,crc rs "a nursery govcrncss, and she remained
| tLcrc until five weeks AGO when she came to New
| York with the intention Of securing employment
| here She was acquainted with the Hanks fam
! iIy and she at once went to their home IN One
| Ilundrcd-and-ilth-st
| On January 20 she received, she says. tclc-
gr,m from a law firm in Rockford telling her
| that the will that was probacd IN 1871 was Il
forgery and that she was entitled 10 almost 'hc
entire estate, which is valued at S"oo'ooo ="
$500. 600 The original will, they SAID, had pe''i
| ,ourd and il would be admitted TO probate as
soon as possible" ,...
Mics IIowara hes he'd some correspondence
with the lawyers, and as an evidence Vi gu"
faith. She declares, they have sent her sum o'
,n,nn,, ,o nay Lc, expenses here and her pa>SaS"
10 Rockford The money was not received uh'"
Yesterday. and Miss Howard says She VIII 80 70
Rockford to-day or Tomorrow
| Mis- Howard also says that she has icaf"'N
since she came 10 New-lork that III" We"i'hA
clock manufacturer was distant r'Ia,Nc "
hers and that when she was CHI" III EhsL'h"
= largc sum Of money had been nhtruS'e" 10 III"
ia give her when she was eighteen 9''''e '''
| The money as far the young woman can i''''''
| WAS given TO her supposed b'neiactor by SOM
If the wealthy relatives of her father Inc clocN
| manufacturer an En9llslliah, Du' WIN ~
came to America he went into business Ill iiihoI'
under an assumed name, and was never known
| ~ his friends by his correct name. with the
| moncv intrtIStcd 10 him. which was about SJo'-
| ooo tie Young woman says, the bachelor pun
nm the fortune of over quarter oil million doiaiH
| ~r" cannot imagine how the story reacled 'nc
| nev.papcr.." said Miss Howard TO The lrDuhc
| reporter. u" 'o' "iS' ny ~
| mentioned , ,.. ,,.. .bo
it was with considerable reluctance that ,i,n S,e
| hal aI in
| hnr home in England was in Wiltshire. She re-
rused 10 rive the name Of the clock manuiactur'r,
| nor would she tell the names Of the law urn ~ III
| Rock0,rd Tie young woman, when asE''u r.
rarding dates appeared 10 be somewhat cohius.,.
| Size said that she could not remember .,lr o''r
! of tho bachelors death. She could nethf w
| tic dat. of her leaving England nor tie "atf t ~
| her arrival at Rockford after the pac'oi'' y
Ro",,iord. ILL.,, Ian 30 Special ,fc9plc wlro
have lived here fer years say tlat Miss iiomau 'nod
| story is pure fiction As far as can be lcaiheu'
| no wealthy bachelor who was clock manu-
; facturer ever lived in this CITY.