The Portland daily press., 1896-02-08
THE ANNEKE JAMS DELUsION.
1t Has Broken Out Again and People are
Being Fooled BY 1t.
New York Times. }

NEW YORK Times.
There is to be held in Cleveland, Ohio,
today meeting Of the heirs OF Anneke
JAMS. Not all Of the heirs will attend,
for there are 1900 of them, according to
the latest estimate, but the several as
sociations scattered about the country
will send delegates, while many hopeful
claimants will go to Cleveland without
credentials and at their own expense.
Delegates were chosen for example, on
the 3Oth ult by 100 of the heirs who live
in Chicago.
This Anneke Jams mania broke ont
afresh few weeks ago, and the new at
tack appears to have been caused by cir
culars sent to various parts of the country
from the office of clnim agent in this
city We noticed the first signs of it in
California, where the progress of the
disease was promoted in December by
San Francisco newspapers which use
common sense in dealing with other top
les. The infection spread rapidly. and
the malady now prevails In several
States, notably in Illinois AMI Ohio.
The property which the heirs see in
their visions consists of 1872 acres in the
heart of this city, (inoluding Trinity
Church, Wall Street, and adjacent dis
trlcts), and $50, 000 900 s'in actual cash
lying in the Bank of Holland. The
heirs have been informed that their title
to this cash was confirmed few weeks
a o by the courts in Holland, and that
the money will soon be handed over TO
them. In addition they expect to obtain
possession in few months of the Trinity
Church property, the Wall Street district,
and some other real estate trifies, to the
value of about S750,000, COO. The Ohio
papers publish the following as to new
legislation which the heirs have heard
abe ut:
"They rely for victory on a law which
was passed by the New York Legislature
on New Years Day, providing that all
holders of real estate in that State, with
out clear title, shall surrender it to the
State. If no good claim is made for it,
1t will be used for State purposes.
These fheirs' associations could easily
have ascertaiGsd that no such law was
passed at Albany on New Years Day.
The session was opened on that day, and
hfter the work of organization had been
completed both heus:s adjourned for a
week. And they could easily have OBJ
5ained copy of the following warning,
issued by the Corporation of Trinity
Church
"To all whom 1t may concern:
Gas letters are constantly being re-
reiyed from various places in the United
States making inquiries about supposed
butts pending against this corporation in
respect to it's property, or about negotia-
tions assumed to be on foot in respect te
the alleged claims of the descendants Of
Anneka JAMS OF nf other persons, notice
is hereby given that no such suits arc
pending and no such negotiations are GO
ing on, and all persons who suppose
themselves to be descendants Of Amt kt
Jams, or otherwise interested in claims
hostile to the title of this corporation
are cautioned against paying out money
to any person alleging the tendency o.
such suits,ar negotiations
MORGAN DIX, Rector.
rs v. r. CRUGER, Controller.
"STEFHEN p. NASH, Warden"
The heirs allege that several suits ar
pending and profess to expect ga decision
anyday now"
We cannot understand why so man,
respectable newspapers i n the West assis
in the development of every crazy projec
Of this kind, whether it be the concerted
movement of the Anneke JAMS associa
tiensts or some equally wild scheme TO
the acquisition Of an enormous es5at
alleged to be held in England for Ameri
can claimants, but really having no ex
istence this side Of the moon.