The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-03-20
WELSH CLAIMANT
AFTER $4,000 900
The Drymma Estate, near Swansea, the
Richest in Wales.
A MERTHYR MINER THE CLAIMANT
When the History of the Drymma Es-
tate, Once the Richest and Most
Extensive in Wales, Comes to BE
Written, it will be Exceedingly Ro-
mantle in Many Ways.

Extensive in Wales, Comes to BE
Written, it will be Exceedingly Ro-
mantle in Many Ways.
When the history of the Drymma es-
tate, at one time one of the richest ana
most extensive in Wales, comes to be
written. Some of it's most interesting
pages will be those dealing with the
action of q young miner from Merthyf
to establish his claim to the property
and to the enormous sum, amounting
to over three millions and a quarter,
which is now lying in the secret recesses
of the Chancery. When the case is
called for hearing-when that VIII be it
is impossible to say. but it Will be pro-
badly at an early day-the story which
will be disclosed TO the court Will in
all probability be of such a romantic
character as to awaken the interest OF
the whole country. The mere fact that
such huge fortune is claimed is sur
ficieut to create more than usual inter
est in the case, but the social position OF
some of those now in possession of
what is alleged to be portions of the es-
tate will, should the effort about to be
made to release the money from the
Chancery be successful, tend to make
IL one Ol the IlOSl StllSdllOId+ Ol NiiN
kind.
A CHAT WITH THE CLAIMANT.
couple of days since our reporter
had the pleasure of meeting Mr.. Ma
thaniel Richard Thomas, the claimant,
at Cefn House, Pontypridd, the resi-
dence of Mr.. Tom Edwards, who is TAX
ing an active interest in the case. Mr.,
Thomas is yet on the sunny side of 30,
and has a frank and pleasing counten-
ance He was born at Cefn, and FOR
years he earned his livelihood as col
lier at the Own (Cyfarthfa) Pit. His
father too, was a collier in the same
pit, where he was deprived of life as
the result of an accident some years
ago. rhe educational advantages which
fell to the lot of the claimant was very
slight, as is invariably the case with
those whose parents have little to spend
out of their hard earned wages upon
their scholastic training. Mr.. Thomas
is, however, of a studious turn of mind,
and his retentiVe memory, sound intel
ligence, and good knowledge of Welsh
and English, help to make him an
agreeable conversationaliSt in either
tongue. He is single and now lives with
his step. brother, Mr.. David Meredith,
who is married and who until recently
was also employed as collier Both
are of quiet and unassuming DISPOSE
tion, and Mr.. Meredith, who devotes his
time and energy to his step brother s
case, has a pair of bright eyes, is eX-
ceptionally intelligent, and possesses a
marvellous memory which serves ma"
terially in the prosecution of the case.
The bonds of affection between them
are strong, and they are deeply at
tached to one another Both are mem-
bers of the Welsh Calvinistic church.
Mr.. Meredith was with Mr. Thomas,
and the few hours which our repreSen-
tative spent in their company We're ex-
ceedngly interesting and instructive.
The conversation now and again turned
to the estate, and Mr.. Meredith es-
pecially has wonderful grasp of the
case. 1t WAS carried on mainly in the
VernaCular, and some of the incidents
which they related as having occurred
since they commenced to work up the
case were of romantic and highly en-
tertainiug character. few of them
can we'll bear repetition. 1t is interest
ing to note how Mr.. EdW ards first came
to be associated with the case. About
20 years ago, when he (Mr. Edwards)
lived at Cefn, the present claimant s
father one day asked him to examine
some documents which We're wrapped
in 4 red pocket handkerchief, and which
Mr.. Thomas declared related to some
property. The documents We're handed
over to Mr. Edwards, who Immediately
perceived that they We're of great
value. Unfortunately, however, Mr..
Thomas was not destined to proceed
far with his claim for early in the
morning of the 9th Of May, 1866, a stone
fell upon him whilst he was at work at
the Cwm Pit, and he was carried to his
old home in Cefn dead. His son, Ma
thaniel Richard Thomas. had not then
attained his majority, and several years
We're thus lost in proceeding with the
claim.
A VERY STRIKING INCIDENT
which has considerable bearing on the
case occurred in the following Septem-
ber Acting upon legal advice, the pres
ent claimant, accompanied by some of
his friends, proceeded to the grounds
of the Drymma Mansion. which is situ-
ate near Llansamlet, and the first step
he took with a view to establishing his
claim was to cut down tree He was
not, of course, allowed to proceed with
his work without interruption, for the
presence of the strangers and the cut
ting down of the tree was speedily COM
sion, who was soon on the spot. Ma
thaniel Thomas held an axe in his hand
and was about to cut down another tree
at the time. He explained, in answer
to questions, who he was, and said that
his friends and himself We're going to
pitch their tent" on the spot. They
had the necessary poles and canvas for
the purpose, but this was not done, and
Mr. Thomas was soon afterwards served
with summons for alleged trespass
In due course he appeared in answer tc
the charge before the magisterial bench
at Meath, but the magistrate refused tc
accede to the request to commit him
and Mr.. Thomas and his friends We're
we believe, 'let off,
ANOTHER INCIDENT.
This incident however had but little
cf the air of romance which enyeloped
another that occurred at the commence