Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-05

at the Times office and handed TO the
editor a slip of paper upon which was
written the following:
THIRTY -FOUR MILLION DOL
LARS WON FOR CROMWELL
HEIRS.
"A telegram received from England
reports that the fortune so long fought
for by the Crowell heirs has been Won
-Four heirs residing in Bath are: Mrs
James Dooley. Arthur Crowell, Samuel
Davis and wife.
The young man was questioned but
could give little or no information
about the case except that the estate
which had at last been settled had
been in the Court of Chancery in Eng
land--a sort of up-tO-date Jaundice
and Jaundice-fo1 80 or - years and
that there We're 80 or more heirs
among whom one "Elkony'' Crowen of
East Boston had been chiefly active in
working for a settlement.
Meanwhile there appeared in the
morning papers this dispatch:
Wakefield. Mass. Dec. "A num-
her OF sharp pistol shots in quick sue
ccssion about . o'clock tanight attract
ed the wife of John w. crowcn of this
city to the barn where she found her
husband writhing on the floor and
moaning, He has gone ana my
pocketbook with him" Fifteen minutes
after, Mr.. CroWcll died from the effects
Of two bullet wounds over the heart
Mr.. Croweli until recently was en-
gagged in the coffee and tea trade but
sold his business and for some days
has carried the money. a considerable
amount. on his person.
He left the house about o'clock
tonight to look after his horse and lock
the barn. a few minutes after. Mrs.
Crowell heard Il number OF shots. She
says she must have reached the barn
within 4 minute after the shots We're
fired. Yet not 4 sign Of any person did
she see
The case was believed TO have been
one OF murder and robbery but the
above dispatch was followed this af-
above dispatch was followed this af-
ternoon by the following:
Wakefield. Mass. Dec. At is
the general opinion here. this morning,
that John w. crowell, one of the So
called heirs of the Crowell estate in
England, who was found dying, last
night. from bullet wounds, committed
suicide and was not murdered as he
claimed when found.
His suicide is believed to be the re-
suit OF financial losses largely due TO
the expense involved in the investiga-
ton of the alleged fortune in England
which proved TO be Il myth.
Medical Examiner, who held an au
topsy today, expresses the opinion
bnt rrnh1 murdered.
His pocketbook which was supposed
TO be missing, was found on his body
with 81 in it. 1t is not certain whether
the case is one of murder or suicide.
Following is still another afternoon
dispatch bearing on the case:
'Somerville, Mass, Dec. 4.-Austin
Crowell of Somerville, one of the
claimants of the Cromwell fortunes,
is n distant relative of John w. Crow
Ell OF Wakefield. supposed 10 have been
murdered. last night. Austin GROWER
saws he does not think that John re
oeived any money by inheritance, but
thinks that he was killed for money he
had saved. Austin says that the Crow
ell heirs are still working in the inter-
est of the Crowell fortunes"
Lewis Knox, Il Boston gentleman
related to the Crowell family but IS
no, one of the heirs, informs the Times
that the statement in the Wakefield
dispatch 10 the effect that the Croweii
fortune is a myth is a mistake, ana
that n dispatch from Elkony Grower
ON Nov. 20 stated positively that the
case had been cleared up and that the
fortune was to be divided among tfie
heirs.
This Elkonv Crowell is a working man
Of East Boston, who has been III fnsi i,'Y'
several months trying to clear up thc
ease in which he is Interested aS ~ iie'i
lie is in the employ also OF the "'hri
heirs and has reported the progress Iil''u'
from time to time.
lie has informed them that the mono!
is there and in October reported that inc
ease WAS in court. That was the H'S'
heard until the Nov. - dispatch WAS SEM
tn the committee of the heirs III Sollei
vile. His report was To the erect 'i"'
the ease had been won.
There is another tragedy in connection
with the ease. James crowell OF Soifici-
vile, was the head of the committee
J'pon receipt OF the October dispatch nc
WAS much excited and sat up all nisil>
writing IL the other heirs. oVcrtaNihG
himself and dying from the effects the
next day.
There are three families in Bath inter
estcd III the eState-Arthur CroWeli ol IL
Willow street, Mr.. and Mrs. Samuel p'-
Wis Of Elm street. and Mrs. james I''iics
of upper Washington street. 1hey iic
cousins Of the fourth generation. me
property was left by Mr.. Croweh.
broadcoth merchant and the case mas
been in court for the pdst four years.
There are 100 heirs. i: Crowell of Bos-
ton. has been in England for some time
looking I'D the property and the dispatch
he sent to the heirs in this city, whicn
was received here, yesterday, was Sooo
news To them.