The times., 1897-11-02
CLAIMING MANY MILLIONS
Grace NJ. Elliott Rival of the
New j rsey Heirs.
The Adopted Child OF Liquor
Dealer in California Declares
Tint She is the Legal Heir.

San Francisco, Nov. The claims OF
Nan Clarke Squire, OF Jersey City, n j.,
ana little Grace Clarke, OF New Bfumswick.
to the s15,ooG,o00 lcft by InIllay Clarke,
a mining man who died in Australia about
twenty yeats ago, are to be disputed ~
a young wonauoi this city, who, foftwenty
years, has borne the name Of Grace Mar.
garlte Elliott. Here is the story told
bay her foster parents.
Sne was born In san Francisco August
8, 1877, Her father was Imblay Clarke
Her mother was named Hannah. The form
er was ldner, having interests of un-
known value i'll Australia. Within u week
the mother died
The father, not knowing what else TO
do with the babe, confided her 30 the
keeping of Mrs. Martha A. Griswold,
superintendent OF the HOlne for the Friend
less, near North Beach. Inblay Clarke
took the ashes Of his wife to 4 Australia,
and presently came the tidings Of his death.
William X. Elliott, saloon-k keeper,
and his wife fell in love with the little
baby and adopted it,. Mrs. Grisuold gave
them papers showing who Grace's parents
were. These papers Were preserved
The child grew up supposing she was
"a daughter OF the Eliotts The latter
ed from san Francisco 10 Chicago, 10
Cincinnati, to Fresno and back to San
Francisco. In one Cf these moyings Grace
found the papers and learned the secret of
her birth She was then fifteen. She was
told that Ger name, Grace, was her mother S
name.
Mrs. Griswold, Elliott says, told him she
was sure the father of the girl was rich
and advised him to make inquiries in a us
tralia But he was ignorant and had no
money To throw away, and 50 he let the
matter pass.
A few days ago the story of Grace
Clarke, the New Brunswick girl, and her
claim TO millions which had been left
unclaimed Tor twenty years, was repub-
lished in San Francisco. 1t caught the
eye of Mfr. Elliott. He was struck by the
name of Imblay Clarke and the coinci
denee of dates and other circumstances.
The heiress TO this fortune was his Grace.
Beside himself with 10y he rushed home
Grace he CRIED what do YOU think
my Iasy? You are heifess to $25, 900. 600 as
sure as fate. Just read this story"
And she read it, with shining eyes and
hta wing bosom, you may believe
The little heiress has taken tie news
of her good fortune quietly. 1t is as
toifishing what horde OF friends ha vc
cropped up since the story came out.
Lawyers, finaBcieTs, and warn-hearted
enthusiasts of all sorts OF whose existence
she was obHyieus, are rushing forward
to proffer help TO get the fortune and
help spend it, no doubt But the Efiiotts
realize that the fortune which has waited
twenty years is not likely to run away,
and they are going slow.
SIr. Elliott iias written TO Vice Presi-
dent Hobart, who has 50 great an inter
est in the claims OF Miss Clarke. OF New
Jersey the granddaughter of brother
cf Imblay Clarke, and is patiently waiting
for his reply.
Meanwhile, the newspapers of the city
are prtRupss columns about the little
hciress, , from the cutting OF her first
tooth 90 her pIaas to endow an orphanagc
in san Francesca fnr other little hefresses
IN distress.
But the chief ambition Of lfer life, she
says, is to crafty every wish of the
dear father and mother she found when
God took away her own.