The Portland daily press., 1896-05-01

Prove, AS Ever; On In vestigatiOn. To Be
Shadows.
Year by year, almost, one might say,
month by month, family of Americans
set chasing fortunes alleged TO have been
left to them by European ancestors.
The chase is the traditional one for a
pot of gold at the rainbow-end
The exposure of tho f1imsiness Of the
fortune" has nearly always followed
close on the heels of the original an
nouncement,
Still there seem still scores of other
gullible Americans who will swallow the
same bait when held out to them.
For this reason it is part of newspa-
per's public service to bring out clearly
the worthless nature of these lures and it
is pleasure to assist
A case has just come to hand in this
city where investigation has been prompt
and full. 1t is worth reciting.
E. S. Morse, of this city, had call
rom an acquaintance not long since,
who stated that he was one Of several
hoAIo VI Od0 SAuA OH SOUUy WIZ Aod
married in America about century ago,
and who was herself heir to a vast estate
in the Netherlands, the proceeds of which
amounted to several million dollars in
bank in Amsterdam, waiting proofs of
claims from heirs in this country. He
gave me certain information to substan-
tiate his claim, and upon knowledge
thus obtained, it seemed worth while to
make some investigation, and learn alb
solutely if there was anything in it.
Mr.. Morse wrote Sen. Lodge to asoer-
tain if he would assist mo in obtaining
quick reply from the American CONSUL
at Amsterdam, as l did not know but
what inquiries of this kind were so nu-
| merous that without influential backing
my letter would scarcely seem worth an
swering. Upon receiving a prompt and
cordial reply from him, expressing entire
willingness to do so, | sent the following
letter:
edward Downes, ESQ.,. United States
Consul, Amsterdam, Holland:
81 desire to make some inquiry con-
items have recently appeared in Ameri-
can newspapers. They are to the effect
that there is large amount of money in
| a bank in Amsterdam, awaiting proof
of claims of the heirs of Anna Van Colt,
| who was married to one John Wetmore
at Long Island, New York, about A. D..
| ITS. What I wish to learn is if there is
any truth or foundation for truth in
| these statements, for any Information
you can obtain for and transmit to me
about the matter, will be duly appreoiat-
ed, and any expense attached to obtain
ing the same will be promptly paid.
e. S. MORSE"
This letter being aocomps MED by one
from Sen. Lodge, insured this reply:
| tThe Van Colt estate. like the AN.
neka Jams estate, 'Cronkhert estate, -
"Cronk estate" etc., is myth. The
law on the subject is fully explained in
a printed letter which I send under sepa-
rate cover.
EDWARD DOWNES, Consul"
| The matter which came under sepa-
rate cover was a small printed pamphlet,
with the title, estates in Holland. :"
This pamphlet gave very full and COM
plete information concerning old Dutch
| claims from which are taken the follow
ng extracts:
| "Your inquiry belongs to a numerous
class, and the frequency with which APP
| pIica tions for information with regard
| to supposed estates in Holland have been
made to this consulate for several years
past has led to patient and careful inves
| tigatinn thereof, in several instances
where the information furnished by the
application seemed to be specific enough
to warrant such proceeding. In no
case has the existence of the supposed es-
| tate or alleged unclaimed fortune been
| verified. Moreover, the legislation of the
Netherlands is such as to efectually and
without appeal dispose of oil claims,
| an actual and known heritage, which
were not presented and proven prior to
| 1852"
During one of my calls in the Office
| of that court, the clerk showed me on the
| files letter written as long ago as 1876
| by the person who is most prominent as
| the agent of claimants in the United
States, asking if there was such an estate
| there. A reply was sent that there was
| not Yet the same agent Is certainly
| making efforts to keep up the excite
ment, and to obtain contributions on the
| plea that he is sure to succeed if he gets
| money enough. One OF these agents
| am told, spends his time in Amsterdam
| engaged in other adventures and derives a
handsome revenue from the contributions
| OF Americans. who are persuaded that
| they have a claim that will in short
| time be allowed. Since my residence
| here vast number of letters of inquiry
on this subject have been sent to me.
| have made SC me effort to check the delu,
sion as matter of public benefit"
Gin 1857 all those old Dutch claims,
$50 much noised about in the United
| States passed forever into the possession
! of tie Dutch government, and adds Mr..
| Muller, I trust that the supposed heirs
of Brandt. Metzger, Webber, Leitner,
| Van Fleet, Dubois and others will make
note of the foregoing and forever dis.
card all dreams of suddenly becoming
millionaires. They are hunting mere
phsntoms
There was much more than the above
r. ..nir, oil Of ,;al
proves conolusively that the various
Dutch claims are myths, and that Those
| which are constantly bringing them be.
fore the public and apparently making
efforts to collect them are INSCRIPTIONS
financial neutrality-suspicious. an
unlawful business. Boston Advertiser.