The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-11
A TITLE DISPUTED.
a London Organ Grinder Claims TO BE
EarI's Son.
etter in Philadelphia Time

Letter IN GnlaUelpnld Times.
The death of William Henry Poulett the
sixth Earl Poulett, in his residence at st.
Johns Wood to-day, will precipitate a Bit
ter contest over the succession to the titles
and estates of the dead earl, and will Incl
dentally revive the scandals that have been
repeated about London at various times of
the prot1igacy of the earls youth. 1t will
also settle in the courts the question of the
legitimacy of Niscount Hinton, the claimant
to the succession The latter is a. we'll
known street musician about London an
organ grinder by profession, who created
sensation some three or four years ago by
claiming that he was Earl Pouletts eldest
son. These claims he persistently main
tanned and the earl as persistently denied,
though it must be admitted the viscount
had rather the better of the argument. The
earl, in fact admitted that the viscOunt was
the son of his first wife, born after his mar
riage to her, but maintained that the birth
Of the son led to the disagreement between
them which caused a separation within a
year after his marriage AT the time the
early claimed the viscOunt an Legitimate
and discarded his wife therefor She, on the
other hand, said that the claim was a mere
ruSe to be rid of her, the earl tlring or her
shortly after their marriage, which was it
self the result of a drunken reVeI ana
hasty bet.
As the story goes, the young earl in his
youth was a harum scarum fellow who
spent his time in rowing about in vain en-
deavor to spend the vast income which his
fathers estate had imposed upon him. One
of his many pleasures was his yacht, on
which he made frequent cruises, travelling
all over Europe with party of congenial
COMPANIONS bent on nothing more or less
than an endeavOr to help him spend his
money as rapidly and wildly possible,
In one of the many drunken carousals which
the party enjoyed the earl made a bet with
a fellow which decreed that the loser
should upon his return to London marry the
first woman ne should meet on landing. The
earl was the loser, and upon his return full
filed the promises of his wager and mar
ried after a short courtship, Miss Elizabeth
Virginia Newman, the daughter of a land
port pilot, who was the first TO greet him
lf 1fnrea. to md Flne L.
lived together for scarcely eight months,
during which time she gave birth to d son,
whose paternity the earl Immediately de-
MED. After a quarrel and some bitter words
they parted the earl supplying his wife with
means to live until her death some time
after. The two were never divorced though
il is likely that action would have been be-
gun had not death interviewed
Immediately upon her death the earl mar
ried again, choosing Miss emma Sophia
Johnson, who also died after a brief mar
ried life leaving no issue. Ag"5 the earl be-
came benedict. marrying he third time
the daughter of Alfred Hugh le Melville
Miss Rose de Melville. who bore him a son
twenty odd years ago.
This boy, Hugh Poulett. is tbs generally
accepted heir to the earls estate and title.
There was no question Of his rights till
some four years ago when Viscount Hinton
first told his story. The earl denied it in its
essential details, but the organ grinder per-
sisted. refusing all offers of money 10 sell
his claim TO the estates. The earl then
sworc that even should he be acknowledged
by the courts after death the estates should
profit him nothing.
From that day the old nobeman began a
prodiga expenditure that soon reduced even
his large wealth materially. What he has
retained unencumbered the courts must de-
eide. He maintained his two residences. at
St. Johns Wood and at Hinton st. George,
near Crewkerne, with lavish luxury. 1t Is
believed that the major portion of his estate
that was supposed to be lost i'm gambling
was In reality transferred TO some trustee
to be held for the recognized son, who would