Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1896-11-20

This Country DupSn8
ulous Americans
Some recent romantic tales about i'm
mense English estates which belong to
American heirs suggest republication
of an opinion written by Judah ?. Ben
jamin twenty-six years ago, says the
Chicago Herald. Following Is the great
lawyers letter:
Lamb Building, Temple, London,
Feb. 8, 1se9.-Editor New Orleans
Times: viii ayou permit me through
your columnSto send word OF warning
to the public against scheme OF
swindling which is now extensively
practiced in the United States?
"Since my call to the English bar
hundreds of letters have reached me
from Louisiana and other parts OF the
union, written by persons, many OF
whom are educated and intelligent,
making inquiries relative to estates
represented as existing in this country
unclaimed and awaiting the appear
ance of heirs residing in America.
In every instance that has come to my
knowledge the statements are false,
and evidently made for the purpose OF
defrauding parties out Of sums, large
or small, under pretext Of paying the
costs of records, copies, ETC., said to be
necessary for the assertion Of the pre-
tended claim.
Zone claim may be selected as an ex.
ample. A banker by the name Of
James Wood died in Gloucester in the
year 1885, leaving . fortune OF about
$500, 700. His will was the subject OF
much litigation, but finally decided to
be valid, and the estate was ordered to
be divided among the legatees under q
decision Of tho house Of lords in 1S47
Anyone DESTROYS of having particulars
of the litigation can trace it through
the different charts, rs follows: l. In
the prerogative court OF Canterbury
Canterbury reported In . Curteiss,
D. 50. .. On appeal to the privy coun-
ell in Q 'Moores Privy Council Cases,
at D. 1856; and 8. In the house Of lords,
in the case entitled The Corporation OF
Gloucester VS.. Osborne 1 House OF
Lords Cases. p. 272. Although his es
tate has thus been finally settled and
distributed for more than twenty years
do not at oil exaggerate in stating
that not month passes without my re
ceiving one or more letters from per
sons who are approached by some pre-
tended agent of some imaginary grea
firm of London solicitors engaged II
seeking heirs Of the great intestat'
banker, James Wood, whose fortune
amounting to G1O, 600, 900, is lying in tn
Bank Of England awaiting claimant
1.-THE usual mode Of proceeding adopt
cd is to propose to undertake the bus
ness free Of expense, the proposer t
receiver only a share of what may b
recovered. This seems 30 reasonabl
that in most cases the dupe readil
; swallows the bait A short time afte
: ward he is informed that all inquire
. and researches have resulted favorabl..
!, and that nothing is wanted to insul
: success except the cost Of q few copi'
!. Of records and other papers, and Thu
= the proposer, having already INQUIRE
= great expense in conducting the nece
sary inquiries and researches, Is lie
!, without resources at the very momel
= when n few pounds would suffice
secure the fruits of his labors and expe
diture. Many are the victims from who
= sums varying from EGO to $500 ha
- been thus extracted, and the number
= persons engaged in this system must
. very great, and the sums received
them very considerable, II at all in pl
portion to the number of letters !
!" ceived here on the subject. Ma
!, thousands Of pounds are known to ha
| 1a1 bx,t N
y afford to bear the loss in the pursuit
- the great Jennings estate; and some
"a those who have spent money in Il
y. way have actually been deluded il
o, writing to me their convictions II
. they were entitled to dislodge the pr
= emit duke of Marlborough from
'ss Blenheim castle, by virtue OF their
y. % scent from the famous Duchess Sar
Il. Jennings. Most of the persons who
=, duped are ignorant on two poir
:" which, in nearly every instance, wo
VI satisfy them at once Of the utter fo
Ao Of the hopes they indulge. The frs
es that an alien cannot be an heir in E
70, land when there is no will and that
w cannot take real estate even II left
TO him by will. The second is that
England estates devolve upon the
oi est son alone, and on his eldest sol
uo succession, and are not divided in sha
20, among all children as in Louisiana
OK other states. Yet nothing is more c.
'oe mon than for persons to assert heirs
~, to the supposed shares OF youn
nk brothers and sisters, or to claim as
nc tives Of the United States heirshil
no Englishmen who had left no wills.
-. "In the hope that this exposure
~ be of some use to my fellow citizens
'0N whose welfare retain the deepest
terest, and may protect them to 81
Y, extent from the sharpers who are p
dering them, remain, very respect
eS ly, your obedient servant,
~. p. BENJAMIN
Ugh
ard