Evening journal., 1897-03-13
BONDS
he Queens Agents Advertise
For Missing Securities.
IsAPPBARBD MANY YEARS AGO.


hey Were John Robert Turner'S, who
Made a Fortune. which Reverted 60
Her MaJesiy-The Missing Bonds Were
American Securities Worth 100000.
NEW York, March 13.-Ilcr majesty, /
10 queen Of Great Britain and empress OF /
ndia-a thrifty woman, hy the way-is /
ioking for lost goods on this side OF the /
'ater.
The following advertisements published |
a Now York paper may be of service to
hose desiring to assist her maiesiy
ITO Stock Brokers and Others-In- |
ormation wanted as TO purchase Of rail
yay or other s,arl. or shares i'm American
ompanlcs on bvhali Of John Robert Tur-
Ter Of Chorley, Lancashire, England, cash
er (for some time resident in the United
;tutes) who died in England in 1878;
late of supposed purchases uncertain. Any
lerson aifording information which will
cad to discovery Of such (unrealized) in
fostments will be suitably rewarded. Ad-
lress Messrs. Hockmeyer, ~ Greene
street, New York.
Queen Nictorias interest IN those miss
ng bonds takes one back to the days Of
King Edward III. The story Of John Rob
srt Turner is more prosaic and should be
told first.
Turner, shrewd thrifty man, lived at
Chorloy, Lancashire He was cotton
trader and by dint Of hard work and saw
ing ways had accumulated fortune Of
between $3.50, 600 and 5000, 600 when he
died at Chorley in 1873.
His pastimo was tho clipping OF coupons
from American securities. lio had often
visited this country, and tho bulk Of his
wealth. it is known, was invested in this
manner
But the relatives found no will and but
$4,000 in English bonds, which were
made payable to the order Of Turner.
About this time Lancashire lawyer who
had charge OF Turner's affairs, disappear
ed. The American securities were payable
to bearer and not trace OF them was
found.
But worse luck for the rclatlves, they
did not get the only bonds found. Turner
was an illegitimate son, and, according to
the ancient law Of Lancashire, he had no
relatives and therefore died intsstnto.
Tho bonds, therefore, reverted 20 the
Duke of Lancaster, who, I'm this instance,
is no less parsonage than Queen Nicto-
ria. The duchy of Lancaster Is "a unique
principallty. Il was created in the reign
of Edward III. The heiress married John
Of Gaunt, son Of the king, and the duchy
was settled upon him and his heirs forey-
er by royal charter in 1862.
Duchy Annexed to the Crown.
In 1851 the duchy Of Lancaster was an
noxed to the crown but was held separate
from all other hereditaments. Since the
reign Of Edward ~ the law has provided
that tho estates Of intestate illegitimate
children shall be secured to the duchY.
Queen Victoria, as the duke Of Lancaster
mot the duchess), came into possession oi
the English bonds left by Turner.
The relatives of Turner ceased the search
for the other securities when they learned
that these II found, would 60 to the royal
exchequer. Tho queen had a faithful, en-
ergetic servant in the person Of frrnci,
Whitaker, administrator Of the duchy o
Lancaster, and no in turn had a gooC
friend in William Lees, Lancashire law
yer.
Mr.. Lees, though a clerk, quietly renteC
Turner house az Chorley. thinking that
after all, the lost securities might have
been concealed by the old miser. They
ransacked the place from cellar to garre
without finding so much as trace.
1t seemed certain then that the securities
had disappeared along with Turner's law
yer, and efforts were turned in another
direction. but without results
The securities, being payable to bearer
could be negotiated as easily rs Bank o.
England notes. 1t was known that thesl
were IN Turner's possession just before hi
death, and the queens servant and Law
yer Lees had concluded that the chance
Of recovering them were small indeed.
Still there was a ohance-one in a thou
sand as Mr.. Lees put IL last night-an'
so, as he had come to America on business
It occurred TO him TO advertise for the Sc
curities that disappeared 20 years ago. TIL
names OF these securities are not known
and there IS no more information than
found In the advertisement.
Alessrs Hockmeyer Of 127 Greene stree
are old friends Of Mr.. Lees, and their ad
dress was given merely for convenience.
Il have very little hope Of recovering th
securities" Mr. Lees said, "for 1 do no
believe that they have been overlooked 4
this country after % years