The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-04
FIGHT FOR FORTUNE
ALIEN OUTCAsT AND ARIsTOCRAT-
IC SOCIAL LEADERS PARTIES
TO THE ACTION
TANGLED FABRIC OF FACT

Threads Run Hitler and Thitbar
Forming Intricate Figures, Vivid
I'm Contrasts and odd in Fre.Ls
of Fancy-Thirtyu Years of Ro
mantle Family History Are In
volved-Legal, Evidences Few.
A nineteen-year-old boy, whose short
life has peen spent among aliens In a
strange land, knowing neither parent or
kin. poor and friendless, claiming de-
scent from the Saxon kings. Such ia
the hero OF strange tale that lies buried
among the dusty documents of two courts
In Philadelphia This is the plaintiff In
two litigations just begun there to re-
cover fortune and obtain recognition
for the principal in one of the Oldest and
proudest families in a town of blue blood
and family trees.
The wool of the fabric of fact Is a tan
gled one. The threads run hither and
thither, forming intricate arabesques and
photographic figures, vivid contrasts and
odd freaks af fancy. The shuttles havo
been busy during thirty odd years In a
score of hands-those of a wealthy bank
Ell. a farmer litigant, an American wom-
an living in Europe, a nurse, inquiring
solicitors, and, finally, the husband of
the woman whom the boy claims as his
mother, who, by repudiating the lad, gave
him chance to win a fortune. And the
whole, as 1t comes into this youths hands,
seems rather the magic carpet of an
Arabian fairy tale. than the cold record
of family's history in this prosaic age.
The legal evidences are few and simple
The land and title trust company, guar
dams Of Arthur Fitzroy Somerset Dun
das, minor, began proceedings in eject
ment in common pleas court, No. 4,
against Ralph Wurtz-Dundas to recover
share In Philadelphia real estate worth
ABOUT $5O0,000. Almost simultaneously
petitions was filed in the orphans court
asking that the proceedings in the estate
of Anna Maria Wurts-Dundas, deceased,
be opened and reconsidered, and restitu-
ton made.
Arthur Fitzroy Somerset Dundas claims
he is the repudiated son of Anna Maria
Wurts-Dundas and a brother to Ralph
WurtS-DundaS The latter enjoys the
whole of the mothers estate. One &C
ton is to recover the claimants share in
the real estate, and the other in the per-
sonal property. d sVsd
THE OLD MANSION.
The scene of much of the story lies in
and about fine old-fashioned mansion
at Broad and Walnut streets, in Phila-
delphia. The high garden wall, now
fringed with blooming wisteria, extends
for entire block along the towns
principal street. IThesg grounds have a
depth of fully half the distance to the
next street. At one end rises q colonial
dwelling, with stately, pillared portico,
and great, many paned windows. A mag
nificent elm and fine old trees suggest
the verdant retreat unseen by the passer-
by. In the rear glimpses are had of
demes and curving roofs Of large con-
servatories. This bit of the old world is
hedged around with theaters, clubs tall
office buildi ngs- and hotels, belonging to
the new world, that accentuate it's syI-
van retirement. Directly opposite are the
hotels Bellevue and Stratford, the houses
that made a name for George c. Boldt,
of the Waldorf-Astoria.y =
This mansion was once the home of
James Dundas, a lawyer, prominent for
many years as bank president and finan-
cier and a leading spirit in the develop
ment Of Pennsylvania coal interests AS
scion of the Dundas family Of Manour.
Scotland, he traced hts ancestry In a
direct male line for twenty-three genera
tons through the Earls Of March and
Dunbar to the Saxon princes of North
cumberland and the Saxon monarchs of
England. He fell heir to the family es-
tate at Manour, but was dispossessed by
the alien laws of Great Britain.
Mr.. Dundas died on July 4, 1866, leav-
ing property inventoried at $SS6,S1415. A
realization upon an estate which he in
hertted through his wife raised the total
n O O11f
city real estate and coal lands, which
have appreciated in value three or four
times since then. His mansion alone
which was subsequently sold to his niece
for trihe over 100000, could not now
be bought for less than $1,000,000. The
will of the decedent was peculiar. The
chief beneflciaries Were his niece, Agnes
Dundas Lippincott, and her husband
Joshua Lippincott, and their children;
MI and Mrs. Joshua Lippincott each re-
ceived an annuity of $4,000. Their son.
James Dundas Lippincott, and daughter,
Anna Maria Dundas Lippincott received
sixteen and twelve parts respectively, of
the forty into which the residuary estate
was divided.
SOCIAL LEADERS
The son, ]. Dundas Eippincott, and his
wife, ranked for years among the leaders
In Philadelphia's most artistic society
Inc daughter. Anna Maria, the claim
ant says, is the mother of the two boys
who are now in court fighting for her
fortune.
The remaining twenty-five fortieths of
James Dundas' estate were divided among
his niece, Agnes Dundas Lippincott, and
the children of his deceased brothers,
William H. John and Henry Dundas
numbering ten persons. And thereby
hangs tale of weary years First the
executors right to sell the real estate
was contested, and carried to the states
highest court Of decision. 1t Is now
one of the authorities in the lawyers
text books. Then one of the residuary