Evening journal., 1896-04-23
.HEIRESS TO MILLIONS.
Sudden Transition From PEN
ury to AfHuence.
MRS. GAUDIN INHBR1Ts sl7ooo,ooo.
She Lived In Poverty In n New Jersey
viilage-she Has Received Reliable In
formation That Her Aunt Has Left Her
Vast Fortune.

formation That Her Aunt Has Left Her
Vast Fortune.
HAcKENsAcK, n J., April 28.-Mme
Eelantino Gaudin OF Woodclif ia this
county, after years OF hard work, has sud-
denly found herself heiress 70 the enormous
fortune OF si7, 600, 600.
The story Of this miraculous turn in
fortunes wheel Is surrounded by circum.
stances OF a most dramatic nature. Nine
Gaudin was born in the midst Of the
Pyrenees mountains about SO years ago.
Her maiden name was Eglantine Marie
Emanuel. She was left widow whom
quite young and found herself almost pen
niless. Her aunt and godmother at that
time lived In California and by the assist
ance OF an American lady named Louise
jackson she came TO this country. on
her arrival here she very quickly discovered
the difficulty, amounting almost to an i'm
possibility, Of finding hsr godmothor.
She therefore at once set about earning
her own living as a drossmakor. BY tho
hid OF letters Of Introduction from Ameri-
can ladies she had met In France sho soon
surrounded herself with n fine custom
and worked for many wealthy and fash
ionabo women in this city.
Ago and III health at length overlook
her, and out of her savings she bought a
piece OF land at Woodcliff, whero in an
evil hour she entered into a contract with
a building society for a house. For some
reason the contractor has not fulfilled his
contract and the house Is not completed.
During the severe winter Just past the
water flooded the lower part Of tho build
ing, and she was nearly frozen out
The poor woman's funds had nearly run
out, and had IL not been for khe assistance
Of kind friends IL Is doubtful If she would
have survived the priyation and exposure
she had experienced.
Inquiries ms 10 Her Identity.
A stranger came to her house a few
weeks ago and mado some rather pointed
inquiries as to her identity, her maiden
name, her relatives, tho place of her birth
and her parentage. This stranger proved
to be something In the nature of fairy
godfather. He was lawyer from Califor-
mia, the legal representative and executor
Of the will OF Mrs Emile Pinaud, nee
Dampord, formerly of Franco, afterward
Of South America, hut more recently OF
California.
1t appears that this lady, who was the
lost godmother Of Mrs. Gaudin, had mar
ried a man named Pinaud while in France
and had gone with him to South America,
whore ho engaged IN the tanning busi-
ness, thereby making huge fortune,
which he had very carefully invested
There was one child of this union.
Around this child the whole of this
story turns. Had 10 never boen born Mrs
Gaudin would have remained poor and al
most homeless and would have had no ex-
peotatlon nor realization.
According to the law Of France, law
which prevails in Louisiana to this day
and in some parts Of Great Britain under
the title OF the claw Of Gavelkind, - the
birth of child leaves the widow absolute
possessor at his death of ono-half of her
husbands fortune. Andre Pinaud died
worth S34 900, COO.
Mrs. .5audin Is hoiross to her aunt and
godmother, and her fortune Is therefore
$1,000, 900.
Andre Pinaud had nephew and niece.
The nephew was Joseph Francois pinaud,
a married man, with two sons, Andre and
Henri. Their father became a missionary
on tho death Of his wife and died sono
years ago in China. Those two sons,
therefore, inherit between them tho sum
Of Ss, 800, 900.
The niece married MIR. Neutrenbergei
and followed his fortunes She has not
since been heard Of. She alone OF the
heirs is now missing, and the executors
are seeking her in order that they may
administer the enormous estate in their
hands
OF course Mrs. Gaudin's sudden change
Of fortune has spread like wildflre all
around the vicinity Of Woodcliff. and she
has had numerous offers of marriage de.
spite her 80 and odd years. She holds her
tongue as to her Intentions. but remarks
that there are friends whose kindness dur
ing her troubles and poverty she can never
repay, and she will remember them first.
Her own wants are small. She will have
no difficulty In satisfying them.