The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-05

"Old White" Is the hero OF severai
press dispatches that have lately made
the rounds of the newspapers Of the
Northwest, although his case is one In
which this region has no earthly in
terest, nor have the dispatches told
why certain people are anxious to find
traces of Ansel White.
Several months ago the richest bach
elor in Central New York died. His
father and mother were dead. his only
brother died several years ago. He
was the last of his immediate line. He
was eccentric; he lived by himself and
absolutely for himself. He did not
have three friends among his towns
men-his life was practically that of
recluse. He kept few good horses;
he was a miser, but he made himself
notorious by building a stable which
was in the nature of a palace; IL cost
$50, 900. The story is that he spent
this money to spite his father. because
the old gentleman, some years before
his death, to the sons disgust, made
handsome gift of money to a we'll
known institution of learning.
The mans name was Grouse. He
never invited people to enjoy the cour-
tesies of the magnificent club and bill
lard rooms that were a part of the sta
BILE; his coachman was his only COM
panion there. People who sought per-
mission to show the curious premises
10 visitors in town were gruffiy re-
fused. AS a part of the estate. the rich
draperies, vases and furnishings were
sold for song. The building itself
went for less than $4,000. Grouse left
a will. He gave about a hundred thou
sand dollars to a horseman OF local
fame; he made his cook and coachman
rich; the bulk of his estate went to
cousins and next of kin.
Then appeared the woman in the
case. said to be a typical adventures.
She asserted that Grouse was the faith
er of her little daughter Her story
was genuine surprise. Then lot of
lawyers laid hold of the estate. II was
anybody's fight. Then all hands pooled
| their issues and their interests; II was
found best to let the alleged daughter
in for something like a million. The
fees were fat and all the rivals hungry.
They all wanted to hasten the day for
the division of the spells; and, in fact.
everything was supposed to be ready
for the grand climax in court-the day
| and the hour had been named.
Old Ansel White was the brother of
Crouse's mother. White had been on
| the Pacific coast for years and years.
| His relations in the East had lost all
track of him. He might have heirs.
| At the very last moment, when the
| Grouse millions were apparently ready
for the plucking. the surrogate insisted
| that he was not satisfied with the
proofs of death of Ansel White or
| with the evidences that he left no heirs.
| The lawyers said that. in this respect.
they had searched with due diligence.
but the best they could do was to pro-
coed on the theory that he died prob
| ably thirty years ago, without heirs.
| But the surrogate insisted, and now
the heirs are searching every nook and
| corner of California In their quest for
"oid White" They have. in fact.
| found that he was alive many years
later than the date named as the time
when the last was known of him, as
recited in the papers before the surro-
gate. The latest news Is from an ex-
sheriff In the state of Washington, who
says that White died in 1888; that he
lived alone; that he had been dead four
days before the fact was discovered,
and that he is buried in the woods.