Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-08-17
THE wEsBER HEIRS
Feel Confident the Holland millions Are Theirs


"Our millions are in sight" exclaimed
an enthusiastic Webber heir of South
Portland, Saturday.
This expression was brought forth By
the news received in this city from A.
H. Webber of Schuylkillhaven. Pa.
that documents had been drawn UP,
under instructions from the govern
ment of Holland, and admitting the
claims, SO long contested, involving
| $45, 100000.
In Portland. South Portland and the
Islands there are several score of heirs,
direct and indirect. to these millions.
Among the leading and most persistent
claimants are DIR. Lowell. Richard
Webber, John Merriman, Mrs. Henri
eta Woodbury., Mrs. Lizzie Sprague
and Mrs. S. P. Webber.
For years these people, combined
with others in corporation. have feed
lawyers in New York city and Hollan1
to press their claims to the immense
amount of money named, and which is
held in the great vaults of the Bank OF
Holland. The story in brief of the
| millions is as follows:
Some l12 years ago John Christian
Webber, wealthy merchant of Ant
werp. became angered because his sor
married beneath his station" and cut
him off from his will without a penny.
On his death the old man left his en-
tire wealth to the Holland government,
but with the proviso that the money
should be returned, with interest, to his
heirs of the third generation. The gov
ernment accepted the trust, and now.
according to the local heirs and claim
ants, is ready to hand over the great
wealth.
The most of the claimants now re-
side in America, ard last spring, A. H.
Webber. quoted above, was chosen a
representative to visitsHolland in Their
combined interests. He did SO, return
ing only a short time since. Wednes-
day last a meeting was held in the
Pennsylvania town Of representative
Webber heirs, and A. H. Webber then
declared that there was no longer any
doubt of their family, and that quickly
getting possession of what was duv
them.
The following letter was received i'll
Portland, Saturday morning. and tbs
good news communicated to some Of
the eXpectant and enthusiastic heirs:
Schuylkillhaven, Pa, Aug. II.
Mrs. S. p. Webber:
Dear Madam-I am happy to state tnat
there is no doubt of the validity of our
claim and at our meeting. tomorrow, |
shall lay all proofs before those present.
You and others will receive report in
due season. Legal technicality will of
course delay payments for some time. as
proofs of identification of heirs will be
required. The several millions itself
should be in this country by the first OF
middle of next December.
Yours truly.
A. H. WEBER.
Several of the heirs were seen by a
reporter, and they expressed great sat
isfaction at the news. One or two
who said they had been paying in
money to lawyers SO long that they had
become discouraged, remarked that
they hoped it was not scheme to gair
time and more cash. They admitted
however, confidence in A. H. Webber
and thought all must be well unless his
enthusiasm had got the best of him, or
the Holland legal gentlemen drawn the
wool over his eyes.
This case in which the Portlanders
are interested is that generally known
as the claim of the heirs of Annekc
JAMS. There are about 100 claimants
Portland Press.