The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-11

which makes speciality of locating
American other foreign heirs to Eng
lish wealth, had been investigating the
case, and communicated with him.
The most conspicuous member of the
Knott family at that time was ]. Proc
tor Knott, the famous Kentucky lawyer
and orator. who was Mr.. Bickett's cou-
sin. He Immediately laid the matter be-
fore his distinguished cousin, and the
large amount of correspondence with the
foreign attorneys, which served to salts
fly him that Mr.. Beckett had a good
claim. In fact, he became so serious
about the matter that the cousins quar-
relied over the amount that Mr.. Knott
should receive as compensation in the
event he was successful, and he threw
up the case.
A short time after this Mr., Beckett
his son, the doctor. He had apparently
lost interest in the case and paid no
further attention to it, further than to
thoroughly inform his son of all the pro-
gress that had been made, and to turn
all the papers over to him.
Since his fathers death Dr. Beckett
has had Attorneys Anthony & Thomp-
son, of Maryville, at work on the case.
AS has been already seen, he Is able TO
trace his lineage back to Lord Percys
flaw i'll his fathers title, however, and
it has only lately been removed. 1t was
discovered to be impossible to find any
official record of the marriage of Jane
Hart to Thomas Knott. 1t was supposed
that the marriage took place in Annap-
oils; but when the lawyers communicated
with the proper officials of that city,
they learned that all marriage records
previous to the year 1900 had been de-
Stroyed by fire. Since that time the at
torneys have been working diligently to
supply this link in their chain of evil
dence. Mr.. Thompson says that they
have finally secured old letters, which
were in possession of different members
of the Knott family in California, Mary
land and Kentucky, written in 1921, 1892,
1870, 1904, 1888 and 1853, in which refer
ences are made to the marriage of
Thomas Knott and Ann Hart to her
connection with the noble English fam
lily, and to her children, by name; and
still more conclusive, a copy of the rec
ord of the parish church of Annapolis,
which shows that they were married
there in May, 1765.
The value of the estate left by Lord
Percy is estimated by Dr. Bickett's Eng
fish lawyers to be Ell, 000000. They state
that 1t is now occupied by large num-
Der of people who have absolutely no
claim to any part of it, but who will have
to be eJected by process of law. They
state, also, that to get the interest on his
money which has accrued since it's former
owners death, it will be necessary for
him to become naturaliZed Englishman
The doctor says he hasn't yet decided
whether he cares enough for the accrued
money to sacrifice his American citizen
ship to get it or not.
The story of DR.. Bckett's fortune has a
decidedly romantic tinge; but he and his
attorneys appear to be certain that he
will finally win. He does not look like
a man who would chase an ignisfatuus
He is tall, portly and distinguished look
ing, but is decidedly practical in his way
of looking at things. He is already sixty
two years old, but says that he expects
to live TO be 100. He thinks that if he is
finally adjudged Lord Percy's heir, he
will also get his title