The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-11-17
S4,OOO,OOO CASH.
Baker Heirs Attorneys Said to Have
Found It.
NOW IN A PHILADELPHIA FINANCIAL
INSTITUTION.


cash in 3 Philadelphia institution, and
proceedings win be begun Immediately
10 get possession. says the Pittsburg COM
mereial Gazette
This startling discovery has been kept
quiet for some time. 50 that further con-
elusive proof Of the existence Of the mon
ey could be obtained.
It appears that when the attorneys, F.
r stoner and r. NJ. Ewing. representing
the Baker Heirs association of Western
PENNSYLVANIA and Eastern Ohio, went 10
Philadelphia, they had nothing TO go on
save the fact that these stories about the
fabulous wealth of Jacob Baker were
handed down from generation to genera
ton in the Baker families.
But every branch Of the family, how
ever remote, told the same identical story
OF wealth, a ninety y-nine-year lease, and
the fast that they were told by their
fathers before them. that some day the
family would be immensely wealthy.
Every family repeated the story of how
Jacob Baker. in order to get revenge on
his sister for marrying against his viii,
fixed his property so that neither she nor |
her immediate descendants could get hold |
Of it. This made it appear that there was |
something in the story. and when they |
went to Philadelphia they determined to
run it down and ascertain once for all, if
possible, whether or not there was Baker
money in that city, or in fact, anywhere
else.
FORMED A WORKING COMPACT.
Attorney II. J. Miller Of Chicago. also
representing Baker association in the
West, was already working in Philadel-
phia, and had compiled records of the
entire Faker family from the beginning
of the last century. He was an heir him
self and had firm and continuous faith in
the proposition that there was money
waiting for him somewhere.
When Attorneys Ewing and Stoner
with Miller and agreed TO disclose what
they learned about the estate, leaving out
the question of whom they represented.
The various records of the different
Bakers who had left estates in Philadel-
phia county were referred to, and the
orphans court records looked up to dis
cover what the executors had done with
each of the estates. They finally, possi-
bly, accidentally, came upon an estate
that had never been settled.
1t was shortly amer this that Miller dis
covered that Jacob and John Baker, pre-
sumed 70 have been brothers, had invest
ed certain money in the year 1872 in Phil
adelphia, and afterwards died. The heirs
of these men could not be located when it
came 10 settle the estate. They were
supposed 10 have been bachelors, and
their family was scattered.
The money that had been invested was
paid into court in the early part Of this
century, and when the court could not
locate the rightful owners, the money
was deposited in financial institution in
Philadelphia, and there drew interest and
compounded, awaiting the claim of heirs.
CONSULTED WITH THE HEIRS.
When the attorneys made this diseov-
cry they left Philadelphia, it will be re-
mem bered, in a hurry, and came TO Pitts
burg 10 consult with the executive COM
mittee of the Baker Heirs association,
relative to further procedure in the mat
ter. They left Attorney Miller and others
TO continue along these lines and run the
entire transaction to earth.
Since that time these persons have heen
at work and new information has been
received which leads the attorneys here
TO think that there can be no possible
doubt about it now. The trouble is now
TO prove who are the heirs, and to COM
pei this institution to hand over the ae-
cnmulated funds. Ifthe heirs can estab-
lish a good title to the funds they will
have no trouble in getting their money
in the near future, according TO the attOr-
neys' statements.
A great deal of preliminary work is still
to be done in the matter, and the attor-
neys refuse to state what institution has
this money They have figured it out
generally and estimate the amount to be
in the neighborhood Of 8, 100000. This is
only one line Of the work accomplished.
Property has been discovered in North
and South Carolina, though how it is in
volved they can not say at present The
way the money was invested they also
refuse to disclose at present.
The trouble the heirs will have now is
to establish their claim TO portion OF
this cash. While there are several hun
dred heirs, it is very probable that many
Of them will be unable to prove their
claims, and msybe but few will share
in the final wind-up.
WILL TRY TO PROVE THEIR CLAIMS.
Attorney Ewing was in Braddock Sat
urday consulting with the president and
vice president of the association. They
came 10 the conclusion that it would be
all right to let the story out in general
way. although they dii not want ali she
facts known at presenl, so that inquisi-
tive persons could meddle with the work
in Philadelphia The Pittsburg attor-
neys win go to Philadelphia in the near
future to try and establish their clients
claim 10 this money located.
This puts a new phase on the Baker es-
tate story. The 99-year lease has been
knocked out 1t may be that these Bak-
ers are not the same ones represented in
this association, but the money, so far as
discovered, has not been paid. and the
| t>ls-lG III " lllic t1rootftob Itlrh - III
eladed has never been settled in the
courts of Philadelphia, so far as the at
: torneys have discovered 20 date.
The associations of l3GiSer heirs are nu-
merous. In this part of Pennsylvania
there are in the neighborhood of Is asso-
Citations. all under general executive
committee, of which Rev. George Baker
of Allegheny is chairman. Among these
branches are the Pittshurg branch, Brad
dock, Beaver, Butler, Johnstown, Wash
. ington county, Westmoreland county,
Somerset, East Liverpool, Youngstown,
Beaver Falls, Greensburg and others.
In the West number of branch asso-
Citations have been formed. and for many
> years a search has been carried on for
, this money, which, it is now alleged. has
been located. At first it was reported
that the estate amounted to S5SO.O00.000.