Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-01-28
.NOBLB ORGAN GRINDER.
Will Probably Secure the Estate Of
Earl Poulett.
THERE. ARE TWO CLAIMANTS.

The Eldest Son of the Earl, Who Has
Just Died, Was Discarded by His
Father Through No Fault of Ills
Own-An Interesting L.fo Story.
London, Jan. 24-Wllllam Henry,
Earl Poulett died In this city on Sum
day in his 72d year. It Is probable that
the succession to the title and estates
will be disputed.
The deceased earl was thrice mar
ried. According to gossip, he ..iade a
wager, when harum scarum youth
and travelling about, that he would
marry the first woman he met on land
ing In England.
Accordingly. ut Port Sea. in 1S49, he
married Miss Elizabeth Virginia New
man, daughter of Landport pilot.
Within few months she gave birth
to O son, whose paternity her husband
denied. The couple from that time
wed apart. the wife dying in August,
1871. The child. who now calls himself
Vlscount Hinton. and claims the Sue
cession. has long been living on the
streets Of London as an organ grinder.
and his pretensions were always stern
ly repudlated by the deceased earl.
About six weeks after the death OF
his first wife Lord Poulett married Miss
Sophia Johnson, who died In 1876, with
out Issue living. In 1879 he married
Miss Rosa De Melville, daughter Of AL
fred Hugh De Melville, and their son
Is. generally recognized as the right
full heir.
The long standing quarrel between
the late Earl Poulett and the organ
grinding viscount has furnished the
material for many London sensation.
Only month ago the claimant to the
succession issued an appeal to the pub
lie to take a phllanthropic interest In
the condition Of the poor. among whom
he has lived and earned his living. He
prefaced II with q brief biographical
statement, which Is interesting just
now, as likely to form the basis Of I'M
portantylItigatlon between him and the
son Of the late earl by his third wife.
in the course of the appeal the noble
organ grinder" as he Is known In Lon
don, said:
II am. Vlscount. Hinton. William
Turnour Thomas Poulett, eldest son or
Earl Poulett, of Hinton st. George.
Somerset; hence my title. On the
death Of the present earl. against whom
I hold no enmity whatever, expect to
Inherit. Hinton st. George. still a mag
nificant domain of 10000 acres. The
estate is worth G12.0OO per annum.
which shall some time enjoy.
4, tai of
be nameless. my parents lived apart.
my mother enjoying a good income,
which died with her. The earl
shortly acterward took another wife.
who lived for some time. After she
left this world he took unto himself
another. Certain affairs took place
and was thrown on my own resources.
Friends took care of ME and kept
me going for time. I was advised BY
and old friend to try to win living in
the streets. An organ was procured
for me, to which l am compelled to
stick not being able to turn my hand
TO anything else. The work is very
hard. especially during the winter
months Some people think and say
1t is an Idle life. Let them try it. l
amvearning an honest living with my
piano organ.
IT am also learning a phase Of life
among the London populace which l
believe few members of the nobility
have-had chance to know. When
I take my seat in the house OK lords 1
think shall come equipped with bet
ter understanding of its duties toward
the public than had I squandered
patrimony- or idly wasted in inheri-
lance. AS one OF the thousand OF more
organ grinders In London, should
say that the proper housing of the poor
was more important just now than the
multiplication of warships or the
adoption of new races of men,"
The late Earl. Poulett conscientiously
involved himself in debt. sold every
family possession he could sell and
mortgaged the remainder up to the
limit. in order that "the noble organ
grinder" In the event of ultimate sue
cession to the title and entailed es-
tates, might benefit as little as pos
slble. At one time the courts refused
him a certificate of discharge In bank
ruptcy on the ground Of unjustifiable
extratagance In living. He made no
secret of the reason for his prodigality.
The old earl's hatred for him whom he
called 1.-The impostor" was intense. and
his, anlmosty extended to the wife OF
the claimant, who has invariably &C
companied him with the piano organ
about the streets of London.
LORD .Poulett died uncertain as to
what would be the outcome of his life
long efforts. to defeat the aspirations
of Elizabeth Newman's son. The child
was born In wedlock. and the claim
ants legal advisers have all along as
sured him that his claims to the sue
L. Iafa tod