The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-16
THE WEBER HEIRS
Feel Confident the Holland Millions Are
Theirs.

"Our millions are in sight," exclaimed
an enthusiastic Weber heir of South
Portland Saturday.
This expression was brought forth by
the news received in this citv
from A. H. Webber of Schuylkillha ven.
Pa, that documents had been drawn up,
under instructions from the government
of Holland, and admitting the claim, so
long contested, involving $45. OOO, 900.
In Portland, South Portland and the
Islands there are several score of heirs
direct and indirect, to these millions
Among the leading and most persistant
claimants are DR.. Lowell, Richard Web.
Der. John Merriman, Mrs. Henrietta
Woodbury., Mrs. Lizzie Sprague and Mrs.
S. P. Webber.
For years these people, combined with
others in corporation, have feed LAWYERS
in New York city and Holland to press
their claims to the immense amount of
money named, and which is held in the
great vaults of the Bank of Holland. The
story in brief of the millions is as follows.
Some 112 years ago John Christian
Weber, wealthy merchant of Antwerp
became angered because his son married
"beneath his station" and cut him off
from his will without penny. On his
death the old man left his entire wealth
to the Holland government, but with the
porviso that the money should be re-
turned, with interest, to his heirs of the
third generation. The government accent.
ed the trust, and now, according to the
local heirs and claimants,is ready to hand
over the great wealth.
The most of the claimants now reside In
America, and last spring A. H. Webber.
quoted above, was chosen representative
to visit Holland in thier combined inter-
ests. He did SO, returning only short
time since. Wednesday last meeting
was held in the Pennsylvania town of
representative Webber heirs, and A. h.
Weber. then declared that there was no
longer any doubt Of their finally, and that
quickly, getting possession Of what was
due them.
The following letter was received in
Portland Saturday morning. and the
good news communicated to some OF the
expectant and enthusiastic heirs:
Schuylkillhaven, Pa, Aug. IL.
Mrs. S. P. Weber:
Dear Madam am happy to state that
there is no doubt of the validity of our
claim, and at our meeting tomorrow I
shall lay all proofs before those present.
You and others will receive report in
due season. Legal teohnica1ity will of
course delay payments for some time, as
proofs of Identification of heirs will be re-.
quired. The several millions itself should
be in this country by the first or middle
of next December.
Yours truly,
A. II. WEBER.
Several of the heirs were seen by a re-
porter, and they expressed great
satisfaction at the news. One or two who
said they had been paying in money to
lawyers SO long that they had become dis
couraged, remarked that they hoped it
was not scheme to gain time and more
cash. They admitted, however, confidence
in A. FL. Weber. and thought all must
be well unless his enthusiasm had got the
best of him, or the Holland legal gentle
men drawn the wool over his eyes.
This case in which the Portlanders are
interested is that generally known as the
claim of the heirs Of Anneke JAMS. There
are about 100 claimants.