The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-11-15
A STRANGE CLAIM.
Mrs. Mary Carpenter, of the Town OF
Bristol, Wants 100000 From
the English Government.
CLAIMS HER BROTHER S ESTATE
Former American Who Died in London
Eight Years Ago Said TO Have Left a
Large Estate.

Mrs. Mary ]. Carpenter, an old lady
more than eighty years of age, resid
| ing in the town of Bristol, claims that
the Queen of England and her govern
ment is indebted 70 her to the extent
| of two million dollars, and she is now
making an effort to collect this vast
amount from the British government.
The story which Mrs. Carpenter
| told to a we'll known attorney, who
has taken the case in hand for her, is
very interesting one. She is lady
of English birth, but came to this
country many years ago to live. She
had two brothers who came to this
country at the same time she did, and
on account of the death of one of the
brothers the large amount is claimed
to be due to her from her native coun
try.
Joseph Carpenter, brother of the
claimant, years ago lived in this city
and he was supposed to be worth
great amount of money. About fifteen
years ago Joseph Carpenter left the
United States to return to his native
| land and letter received some weeks
later announced his safe arrival in
England. This was the last heard of
him until some years ago, when let
ter was received stating that he was
dead and had left a large fortune.
! Mrs. Carpenter, who was the sole heir
to the fortune left by her brother, did
not take any Immediate steps to col
! 1eCt the money supposed to be left by
her brother, and when she finally got
trace of it it was learned that the es-
tate had been settled and that the en-
tire amount left by the brother had
been left in the pay office of the Su
preme Court at London, where all I'M
called for estates and 1egacies are left
awaiting a claimant. Mrs. Carpenter
at once wrote to the pay office, but she
was not able to receive any satisfac-
tory answer, and later it is stated that
she addressed a letter to the Queen
herself and received an answer, in
which the Queens secretary stated
that the matter would be given proper
consideration.
After waiting some years without
receiving any further answer from the
English government Mrs. Carpenter
placed her claim in the hands of Attor-
ney A. E. Buckmaster, who is now
making an effort to investigate it.
Yesterday the attorney received let
ter from the pay Office of the supreme
court in London, stating that no trace
of the claim had been found, but that
there were a number Of estates on
record in the office under the name of
Carpenter, and it was possible that the
claim could be traced to one of these.
The amount of property held by
Carpenter at the time of his death is
said to have been worth in excess of
$2,OO0,O0O and the interest that would
have accrued on the property i'll the
last ten years would have brought the
amount up to a much larger figure.
The people of Bristol seem to take
little stock in the claim of Mrs. Car
penter, and state that it is simply one
of the ha1ucinations brought on by old
age. The old lady however, is positive
that the English government is in
debted to her and insists that the debt
be paid to her other heirs.