The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-08
Altering an R TO an S Makes
Oumar Heir to an Estate.
PROPERTY VALUED At $4,000
Fathers Name Was MsNamss, but Dum,r
Was Abandoned When Only Five Years
0t-uncIs Then Adopted Hin.

New York, April Spy a decree OF
Judge Harrison s. Moore Of the Queens
county court which has just been filed.
young man who since boyhood has
been known 20 his friends as Charles
James Dumsr is authorized TO change
his name 10 Charles James Dumas.
BY the meres change OF a final "r' 20 a
final IS" Mr.. Dumas, as he should be
called on and after May /, makes himself
the heir 10 a snug little windfsll Of So. 900
or $4,000 which will come 10 him on the
death OF his foster father, James s. Du-
mas
In the petition filed by Mr. Dumar's at
torney, Hartford r. Walker the petit
toner sets forth the facts which outline
a pretty little romance. Mr.. Dumar's
true name Is Charles James McNamee.
His father, Thomas McNamee, disap-
peared from New York when his son
was only years old, and utterly aban-
doned the boy, whose mother had died
only a short time before.
Thomas McNamee was a better soldier
than father, for he was promoted from
a private 10 a lieutenant for conspicu-
Gus gallantry in action on the battlefield
OF Fredericksburg.
ADOPTED by HIS UNCLE.
and soon to be Dumas. in his orphaned
plight was taken up by his mothers
brother. James s. Dumas, who gave the
lad "A good home, educated him and be-
came very fond of him.
Naturally enough no ties bound tine
boy to the name OF McNamee, and he
readily assented 90 the wish of his uncle
and foster parent that he take the name
Dumas.
During his school days, however, so the
petitioner resites. the spelling OF the
name had become corrupted from Dumas
TO Dumsr, and In time he adopted the
change himself and signed his autograph
with the final instead OF the 3.
After his school days the boy learned
the printers trade. became an expert,
and ten years ago was the president Of
the New York Typographical Union, com
monty known as big Six"
When Vice President Roosevelt was
governor OF New York Mr.. Dumar was
n candidate for appointment 10 the office
OF state commissioner OF labor statistics,
and the Typographical Union paid him
the unusual compliment OF unanimously
indorsing his candidacy for that position.
For political reasons. however rhe ap-
pointment went 10 John McMackin. Mr..
Dumar Is now attached 10 the city staff
OF a New York morning newspaper.
UNCLE REQUESTS THE CHANGE.
James 3. Dumas. the uncle who adopted
the boy, has now passed life's allotted
span OF three score years and ten by
some four years He recently siguified
his desire 10 make Mr.. Dumar the resi-
duary Iegatee of his estate, but as pre-
cedeut formality TO the making Of Will
in his favor requested that the adopted
son should have his name legally changed
10 that which he had borne in childhood.
On the presentation OF the facts set
forth i'm the petition the court promptly
granted the request and decreed that
said Charles James McNamee, known
as Charles James Dumar, be and he
hereby is permitted and authorized TO
assume the name OF Charles James Du-
mas in place and stead OF said name of
Charles James McNamee. on and after
the FIRST day of May, 1901.
Mr. Dumar says i'm his petition that he
has seen his natural father. Thomas Nc
Nance, only once since he abandoned
him in childhood. and that was i'm the
year 1883; that he has not heard from
him since in any way, has no knowledge
of his whereabouts and believes him TO
be dead.