The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-01
A GAME OF HYDE AND SEEK.

4 GAME OF HYDE AND SEEK.
The Detroit Tribune contains an account
of meeting of the Detroit Hyde Associa-
ton. held in that city a few days ago.
The object of the association is to prose-
cute the claims of the American heirs of
William and Humphrey Hyde. who are
said to have left England in the early part
of the last century. The Tribune. which
has evidently obtained its information from
some of the claimants, says: ar
There are fifty-six estates in England
left by persons whose name is Hyde which
are now in possession of the government
and held in trust by the Bank of England.
There are four hundred descendants OF the
Hydes mentioned in the United States who
were represented i'm the meeting of yester-
day. William Hyde left merry England in
invested with the title of the Earl OF CLAIR
enden. Some time after this nephew was
also obliged to seek more congenial place
of living, and he went 10 France. His
descendants are settled in South Carolina,
where there is a county named after him.
William Hyde left property in England
which he could not carry away, which now
amounts TO $500. 600 900. This money. part
of il. was invested in consols by the govern
ment and used by II to settle the national
debt. The bonds issued were placed in trust
in the Bank of England and are there now.
Humphrey Hyde left England twenty years
after William. but there is no proof that he
money which has since grown into millions.
1t was the golden dreams born of these
alleged facts and the hope of sharing in
the great wealth that lies awaiting the
coming of the true owners that drew the
Hydes together in Detroit in such num-
th.f
and were not mere Missionaries they selected
an agent to go TO England and investigate
the matter. They also effected an organ
ization with a president, vice president
secretary, vice secretary, treasurer. etc,
ard appointed an advisory committee TO
consult with the agent who is TO go abroad
and keep the claimants advised as to deS
velopments. In short, they showed a COM
mendable disposition to assert their rights
as American citizens and not to let any
part or parcel of the Hyde wealth get
away.
Intelligent readers who are somewhat
posted in regard to such matters will
hardly need the assurance, which the Jour-
nal can give authoritatively, that the So
called Hyde estates are a myth and that
there is absolutely nothing in the supposed
claim OF the Hyde heirs. Every moment
of time devoted to considering and every
cent OF money spent in prosecuting or in
vestigating the alleged claims is thrown
away. All of them combined are not worth
as much as the postage stamps on single
one of the many letters that have doubt
less been written on the subject. The
whole thing is a fake originated and pros
ecuted by sharpers for the purpose of
fleeing guilible people. This statement is
made on the authority of acknowledgement
New, who, during his residence in London.
personally investigated the matter and
found there was absolutely nothing in it.
The absurdity of this and other similar
claims will appear from the following;
The total amount of chancery funds de-
posted in the Bank of England is about
100000, or 100000 This represents the ag-
gregate of all unclaimed or undistributed
estates and all trust funds of whatever
character that have passed through the
Court of Chancery. The statute of limita-
tions in England is six years as to personal
property and twelve years as to real estate.
| except as TO minors or persons of unsound
| mind against whom il is thirty years.
| This period bars all claims against chan
rT,l,
! idea of any fund lying in the Bank of Eng
| land and accommodating interest for fifty,
| hundred or two hundred years. awaiting
the appearance OF a true heir or claimant
is utterly preposterous. The entire assets
| Of the Bank of England are less than ESQ.,
| COO CO., which is considerably less than the
| Hyde heirs claim is in the bank to their
credit. Neither the books and accounts of
the bank nor the records of the Chancery
| Court show one dollar to the credit of the
| Hyde heirs. The American claimants are
on a wild-goose chase, and If their agent
or anybody else reports favorably upon
their claim it will be because he is deceived
or is trying to deceive them. Convict How
| ard. who is now in the Ohio penitentiary at
! Columbus. formerly worked the Hyde
claims, as some of his victims know to
their sorrow. The agent VIII was appointed
! by the Detroit meeting TO SO 10 England
! and investigate the matter will have a
! pleasant summer trip at their expense. but
if nc asceriains and reports the trAh he