The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-08
A WOMAN'S VAGAR RES
MRS. SEIBELS VICTIM or THE
MYTHICAL ESTATE CRAZE.
Her Trip to Europe and Detention i'm n
London WOrkhOuse-$14,SO0 Found
Sewed in Her Clothes.

LONDON, Jan. IA reporter called at
the st. Georges workhouse to-day TO in
quire into the strange story of Mrs. Cor
nelia Seibels. of Brookhaven, Miss, who
was found wandering in the streets of Lon
don yesterday, having apparently COM
pletely lost her memory. Mrs. Seibels is
about eighty-four years of age, evidently
lady by birth, and had nearly $1,000 in her
possession when taken TO the workhouse.
When seen this morning, Mrs. Seibels was
dressed in ordinary workhouse blouse,
and she was able TO talk connectedly on
every subject except that of the fortune,
said to be S500O0.0o0, which she was on the
way TO Germany to collect as her share of
the great Seibels estate. During the con-
versation between Mrs. Seibels and the re-
porter, Mrs. Seibels frequently interrupted
her remarks with the statement that there
We're millions at stake and that when she
had secured her share OF the estate she
would distribute 1t, as she is understood 10
have distributed her property In Mississippi,
TO public charities. Mrs. Seibels is, she
says, a cousin TO the late Justice Lamar,
of the United States Supreme Court, and
she has in her possession letters of intro
duction from Governor Stone and ex-Gov-
ernor Lowry, both of Mississippi.
Mrs. Seibels says that In 1867 a firm of
lawyers, Sharp & Broadhead, of ST. Louis,
informed her that she was heir to the Tenn
pie estate in England and the Seibels es-
tate, at Elberfeid, Germany. On her moth
ers side she is direct descendant of the
famous Temple family, of England Since
1901 she mas been trying to prove ner claim.
A few months ago she determined to cCme
TO England, and from here go to Germany,
to place the matter in the han.ls of la wyers
in both countries. For this purpose she Sold
property, consisting Of eight hundred acres
OF timber land, near Brookha5en, Miss.
Tor S,iOU, and then went TO Atlanta to
visit her niece, Sally S.ra.han. Mrs. Sci
bells remained at Atlanta for a week, and
then went to New York and from there to
Rotterdam. But she does not remember the
name OF the steamer on which she crossed
the ocean. From Rotterdam Mrs. Seibe.s
went to Bremen, where the United States
consul induced ner to start for London. She
was wandering in the streets here, and ap-
piled to policeman for lodging, where
upon she was conducted to the Casual ward,
III the buckingham Palace road, and was
later transferred TO st. George workhouse.
In addition TO the $1,000 found in her pos
session when taken to the workhouse, $14, 500
was found later to-day in bills, sewed in
her clothes. Among the letters found in
Mrs. Seibers possession was one. written
In September, 1895, from her nephew, Emmett
Seibels, of Montgomery, Ala, saying:
Don't think OF going to London TO look
after the Temple property until you are as
sured beyond doubt that there is something
in the claim, and that it will pay you to
60" Mrs. Seibels evidently greatly
distressed at her detention, and is anxious
to return to the United States. The ST.
Georges workhouse authorities have COM
municated TO the United States consulate
and the United States embassy here on the
subject.