The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-25

the possession OF Governor oglethofl,a
laughed as heartily as the author and at oila
or its enjoyable meetings Mr.. Head was
unanimously chosen the historian Of Jeckyi
Mark Twain's belief in the guIIibilisy of
the general public of America and IT'S de-
hght in being perpetually fooled was exc
emphhed in the reception accorded third
literary experiment of Mr.. Head, entitled
"A Notable Lawsuit. little pamphlet
privately printed within the present year.
This study In early American history
purports TO be the account Of a lawsuit
brought by Frederick Law Olmstead. the
fair and the designer of Central Park.
against the present holders of the wealth
aecu .lI latin from the original fortune
OF the fictitious case is drawn from the an
nails of Deer Island Me-, where Mr.. Ohm
steads summer residence is located. Mr..
Head writes that the hortfculturist's au-
cestors owned all of the island holding it
as a gift from an Indian sachem in graft
tude for the white mans dressing OF the
RED mans wounds caused by the too fire.
quent caresses of a bear. The transfer OF
property ownership was ratified by the sec
rotary OF the treasury during Washington's
second term, thus acknowledging the Ohm
and.
But after time the Maine island was
discovered to have been the famous terri
tory where the immortal Captain Kidd
buried his enormous treasure. proofs of the
existence of which Mr.. Head makes in-
dubltahle by presenting a picture of the
heavy box that contained the captains
wealth. But the box, unfortunately, was
buried In a portion of the island which the
original OlmStead ancestor, Oliver Crom-
Wen, mad sold to an employe of the original
AStor, French-Canadian, who has secret
~ discovered the whereabouts of the treas
ure and who in turn gave it to Aston in
payment OF indemnity. Aston on opening
the heavy chest, found it filled with Jewels
and gold of Captain Kidd. Its enormous
wealth enabled him to purchase real estate
in primitive New York, thus laying the
foundation of the vast Aston fortune. MIR
Oimstead claims that in default of Kidd's
desceidants the original treasure, with its
accruing interest, belongs to him. As the
Astor heirs hold contrary notions, nothing
was left to satisfy his rights as a man but
the notable lawsuit" in which he is rep
resented by Attorneys Joseph II. Choate
Stewart l.. Woodford and Freder w. Hollis
Elihu Root and Edward w. Isham appear
for me Astors, and allege that the cause
of action, If ever valid, was barred by the
statutes of limitations.
Such is the entertaining story of the
most thrilling romance of the law ever
printed" Such is the history that has add
ed its share to the growing reputation OF
Franklin H. Head as a literary hoaxer of
unquestioned ability. Perhaps some time
soon a fourth volume will take its place at
the side of the earlier three, volume
which will travel far away from the leg
ends of America and the chronicles OF
Shakespeare to visit and report the times
and manners and the life of the great Flor
entine poet, the wandering Dante who UNI
barred to the world the gates of heaven,
hell and purgatory, ito whom his country
hers refused 10 one"