The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-03
LUNAR ESTATES.
Revival OF an Industry Which Has
Suffered Depression.

Revival of an Industry Which Has
Suffered Depression.
New York Times.
during the recent period of depression was
the manufacture and sale in the United
States of ancient unclaimed" or, ''undis-
tributed estates alleged to exist In Eng
land. Holland, Germany or some other
country on the other side of the Atlantic.
Several persons prominent in this industry
became very seriously embarrassed. 1t
will be recalled that the Rev. George VIII
liam Burgoyne Howard was worsted in a
little contest with the Postof1ce Depart
ment and the Department Of Justice and
has since occupied lodgings in the Column
bus penitentiary. Two well-known promot-
ers who had been connected with the In
dustry for some years were so unfortunate
as to become inmates of an English prison
and several other enterprising manufact-
urers of such estates or dealers in estate
futures were harshly treated by Amer
lean or English courts
II is not surprising that the great re-
features and business has exerted a slim
uating influence upon an industry which
suffered so many reverses and we have no.
ticed. during the last few weeks indica-
factories. Howard, Jaques and their fell
low-sufferers in prison can derive no bene-
fit from this resumption OF work. this en-
larged output and growing demand for
products. but there are Others who Will
enjoy the profits.
We shall not go through the full list of
new ventures in this field of human ac-
tiyity. but two may be mentioned. One
OF the new properties is the Antrim cs-
ton On. j. American of the 18th inst. that
1.-The English government recently took
charge OF a vast .. amount nm ann OF property;
the late Lord Antrim. who died IN that
country, leaving no direct descendants"
and that the rightful heirs. who are to
be found in Washington, Philadelphia
Trenton and Indiana. have collected. for
use in the prosecution of their claims,
proofs which seem TO be complete and IN
controvertible." The date of Lord Antriri-s
been quite remote, for the heir In Trenton
asserts that her grandfather. now dead.
was "a descendant of Lord Antrim's son,
who is said TO have been one of the early
settlers of New Jersey.
We advise the claimants not TO spend any
money in an attempt to obtain the $4,000, 600
until they shall have ascerta.ned by inquiry
at the State Department in Washington or
at the office of the United states consul
general in London whether Lord Antrim
left any estate, and IL he did leave one. in
whose hands it may now be found, and
whether. if 1t has come into possession Of
the government. there is any reason TO ex-
meet that the government Will ever give up
a penny of it. In all probability this estate
is in the moon. and on the dark side or that
inconstant luminary.
The Vondersmith estate also a new prod
uct of the revived industry. is situated. 1t
only s23,O00000. all told. Our information
Is derived from the Baltimore Sun of the
18th inst There are ten heirs In Baltimore
four esteemed contemporary publishes their
names and addresses). and others reside in
the West. They are soon TO hold a meeting.
and one of them will then make an investI-
CATION in Europe. II appears that one sof
the heirs, who lives in Chicago, has been
working on the case for many years." has
sent attorneys TO Germany and has recently
been Informed by them that II the American
heirs can prove their descent the money
will be forthcoming. We suspect that good
American dollars have been thrown away
by these hopeful persons. The story is
that Ludwig Vondersm.th and his wife
Lancaster county. Pennsylvania, during a
revolution In Germany, in the middle OF the
last century" left behind them large
property. big tracts Of land and enormous
sums OF money" which came into the pos
session OF the authorities and have never
since been restored to the heirs
liz the attorneys sent to Germany by the
Chicago heir had. before their departure