The herald., 1895-05-01
A PENCHANT FOR WILLS
New Facts About a Missing Man in
Washington
Anyone Who Did Favor for Wealthy Man
in the Northwest Was to Receive
All Of His Property

PORT TOWNSEND, April 30. Neigh
bors and friends of Ansel White the miss
ing heir to an estate valued at $4 ,00,, 100
who died near Port Angeles in 1888, state
positively that White made no less than
three wills to as many different persons.
Usually for some trivial favor rendered
he would make out a will leaving his
property unconditonally to his benefac-
tors child. Then if something went
wrong he would change the beneficiary to
some other person. These acknowledge
ments were always taken before some au-
thorized officer.
He was regarded as being eccentric and
shortly before his death he sold his farm
to William Wooding for $1,000 and con-
tracted that he should retain life inter-
est in few acres. but after his death that
all his property should revert to Wood
ing. The latter thinks if no subsequent
will is found that he can lay claim to the
deceased's interests in New York.
TACOMA. April 30.-An Olympia spe-
cial to the Ledger says:
Preston M. Troy, young attorney of
this city, today received news tina he IS
heir to New York estate of S4. 900. 900 by
the will of Ansel White, for whom search
has been in progress for many years.
For many years Ansel White has resided
on ranch adjoining thato Smith Troy,
father of Preston M. Troy, in Clallam
county. White was bachelor and lived
in IA log cabin on his ranch for twenty
years. May IS, 1888. he died at the age
of rs years and was buried in the land on
,1, l,, 1o IL
fancy to young Troy and made a will
making him his sole heir and legatee.
Just prior to his death, however, he sold
he ranch for nominal price retaining a
life interest and at the time of his death
was supposed to have considera BILE
money in his possession yet none was
ever found.
Search was made high and low but no
trace OF money could be discovered.
Neighbors believe he buried the money
somewhere on the ranch. White was ex
tremely eccentric. He seldom held COM
municatlon with any one but the Troy
family. Before coming to Washington he
made some money in California. Seven
hundred dollars he handed to woman in
San Francisco as he was about to leave
telling her to keep it for him until he
called for it. He left no word in San
Francisco regarding his destination, and
this fact has for fifteen years baked
those searching for him to inform him
of his having fallen heir to an estate in
New York. 1t was supposed that Ansel
Whites was one of those unknown bodies
found floating in San Francisco harbor.
yet during, the past two years w. II.
White. a son of Ansel White. has been
searching for the lost heir or for conclu-
sive evidences of his death. He was
traced to California. Advertising led to
the establishing of the identity of the old
rancher as the mi ssing heif for whom a
long search had been made. At the time
of making the will there is little proba-
bility that the Old man was aware of the
fact that the New York estate was his.
This, however does not affect the will
made. 1t was executed in accordance with
law, and the witnesses are still living.
Among his former neighbors in Port An
geles he is generally remembered. The
will is in possession of Preston Troy, who
has taken steps to have the claim ack-
nOWledged.