The San Francisco call., 1896-02-15
AN INSANE MANS MONEY,
The Estate of John McDonough,
Who Was Prominent in Min
ing Stock Times.
Appearance of Two Claimants Who
Live in County Tyrone, Ireland,
Who Want $4,000.

For many years prior to the early part
of 1887 those who had business with Dr.
Fox, the well-known capitalist, stock
broker and mining man. were waited upon
by a stout. able bodied clerk who was
within two inches of reaching the six-foot
mark. His name was John McDonough,
and he was noted for the affable manner
in which ne received all who called at the
Office.
He disappeared from the office, and there
were but few who were aware of the fact
that melady had affected his brain to
such degree that he had to be com mitted
TO the asylum for the insane at Napa.
He was sent there on the 21st of March
of the year named, and in the desolate
home from which he was taken there re-
maned his wife and son Frank. These
were without relatives in this City or State.
McDonough remained in the asylum until
the 18th of June of last year, when he
died.
During the time he was an inmate of
the home for the unfortunate he met losses
which he never understood. His wife and
his son died, but the announcement of their
deaths did not produce anv effect upon
him, for his mind could not appreciate the
import Of the ne VS. impaired 10 him.
When the news of his death became
known in this City A. G. Freese, the Pub
lie Administrator, applied for letters of
administration, which were issued to him
on July 2 following the death, it appear
ing at that time that McDonough had died
intestate, and that it was necessary to look
after his estate, consisting OF $4,000 in
bank.
On the 4th inst. there was discovered
among effects that belonged to McDon-
ough a will which he had signed before he
lost his mind, and that fact was made
known to Attorney M. C.. Hassett of this
City, who, on examining the document,
discovered that it was of no more value,
from legal standpoint, than if it had been
so much blank paper. Mrs. McDonough
and her son were made the sole legatees,
but as both were dead and died before the
testator passed away, those who would
have been their heirs at law could not set
up claim to the property. Mr.. Hassett
has instituted search in this City for rel
atives of McDonough, but has not been
able to discover any. Some time before
the finding of the will he was engaged to
appear for and represent in the Probate
Department of the Superior Court one
Michael McDonough, who lives at Lion
Mills, in County Tyrone. Ireland. a
member of the Royal Irish Constabulary,
who claims to be a nephew of the de-
ceased.
Alexander Vogelsang, another attorney,
has entered an appearance for Susan Coy
of Toberlane, County Tyrone, who claims
to be sister of the deceased but, singular
1t u.s. that these two claimants are not re-
lated. McDonough, in communication
recently received, asserts that the rival
claimant was never named McDonough,
but that she is the daughter of Peter
Donaghey. Some time since commits
sion was issued to take dispositions in this
matter, and this will arrive here in few
days, when the testimony of Susan Coy
will be produced, and this may shed some
light upon the alleged relationship
Michael Trainor of this City, who was
well acquainted with McDonough before
he became insane, said that he met Nc
Donough in Sierra County in 1856, where
he was engaged in mining and where he
remained until the Reese River excite
ment in 1862, when he went there, was
miner and later was connected with an
assay office until 1871, when he came to
this city and entered the employment of
DR.. Fox. In 1882 McDonough became
prominently connected with the estate of
Michae! Lynch, a well-known capitalist of
Virginia City, New, who dying left an
estate valued at $l,0O0,O00. McDonough
was appointed guardian of Lynch's chill
dren and their estate by Judge Finn.
Mrs. McDonough was Roseina Scanlan
before marriage, sister of Willie Scanlan,
County Donegal, Ireland. Mr. Hassett is
waiting for the real heirs of McDonoueh
to present themselves.
German, Felix Moral, has secured the
concession from the Shah of Persia to con-
struct roadway from Bagdad to Teheran,
the conce sslon to last for seventy-fve
years. Moral has the privilege of charg-
ing tolls and OF erecting any kind of q
~ or IL rT-