The herald., 1897-10-24
Can Prove That Her Name
Is Elliott
THE PROOF OF HER IDENTITY
PROVES HER TITLE TO MANY
MILLIONS
A Romance of the Days of Gold in
California and in Foreign
Countries
Associated Press Special Wire.

| Associated Press Special Wire.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. ga San
Francisco girl raised in moderate cir
cumstances has been transformed into
an heiress of one of the greatest fortunes
that ever fell to the lot of Californian.
Grace Elliott, young lady of q years,
living with her adopted parents on
O'Farrell street has been informed that
she is the rightful owner of property said
to be valued at $25OO0,O0O. The colossal
fortune awaits her in England. With
out contest, simply by proving her ident-
ity which can easily be done, the millions
will be transferred to her
A New York dispatch published here
last Monday stated that Vice President
Hobart and Governor Griggs Of New
Jersey were endeavoring to obtain from
the English courts settlement of the
estate of Imblay Clarke.a mining oper-
stor who had died 20 years before. There
were two claimants to the estate, Nan
Clarke Squire of Jersey City and Grace
Clarke of New Brunswick both nieces of
the deceased millionaire.
The efforts of Hobart will probably re-
suit successfully, but the $4,000, 900 will
not go to the Eastern nieces, as Grace
Elliott of this city is Grace Clarke, the
daughter of the dead multi-millionaire.
In 1876, Imblay Clarke, wealthy mine
owner of Peru and Australia arrived in
this city with his wife. A daughter was
born to Mrs. Clarke. In delicate health
before the event, the mother was unable
to survive and a short time after died.
leaving the father and the daughter only
a few days old, in a strange country and
without friends. Clarke was broken
hearted over the death of his wife and
determined to take her body back to her
native land. Aware of the folly of at
tempting to take the child with him, he
set about looking for place where she
might be provided for until he could
return, consigning the remains of his
wife to the earth of Australia.
To Mrs. Griswold he entrusted his
little daughter, announcing that he
would return to California and would
then take charge Of the child.
| Before his departure Clarke christened
his child Grace"
Months passed but Clarke did not re-.
turn as he had promised. The officials of
Australia were communicated with and
from them was learned the reason for
Clarke's failure to keep his promise. He
| was dead
Borne down by the grief of his loss
he had survived his wife only a few
weeks and soon after he had placed foot
on Australian soil he passed.
Mrs. Griswold inserted an advertise
ment in local paper stating that girl
of good parentage could be adopted into
a respectable family. Among the many
that read the advertisement vas the
wife of w. r. Elliott. Application was
made and the legal matters attending
the transaction were gone through with,
the daughter of the millionaire thus be-
coming the child of the Elliotts. Years
| passed by and none of the family sus-
pected the riches that had lain for years
unclaimed, until the newspapers pub
lished last Monday when it became
known that Grace was the true heir.
There is nothing that would admit of a
contest, declare her lawyers, so con-
elusive Is the evidence and all that is
now to be done is to prove to the salts
faction of the British government that
Grace Elliott is Grace Clarke.