Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-08-31
HILLS BIG FORTUNE
STILL IN VAULTS.
Though Judge Hlxon Is Confident of
Success In End,
TELLS OF GREAT TRIP WEST.
Traces the Deceased Back Many
Years Confident That Claim Of
Americas Heirs Will Be Established
, In the California Courts

Judge James A. Hi1on, who has
just returned to Americus from an ex-
tended trip to California in the inter
est of the Amerlcus heirs of James
Hill, who died in Los Angeles leaving
a large fortune, talks Interestingly of
his long trip to the Golden Gate and
the prospect of success in prosecuting
his claim.
The history of this strange and in
teresting case is well known in Ameri-
Gus and throughout the state but par
ticularly here, where the eccentric old
gentleman once resided.
And, to be brief, his relatives here
will ultimately get his money
This consists of S142, 500 in treasury
notes, the cold hard cash, which Is
now in the hands of the public admin
istrstor at Los Angeles awaiting the
final order of the courts as to its dis
tribution. Judge Hixon hopes that
this will not be long delayed, certain
Iy not more than the twelve months of
administration.
OF the many claimants to. the prop.
erty originally, the Americas heirs
and the claimants at Rrimfeld, Mass.
alone have the slightest hope, And
those here have the best claim.
Was the dead man James Hill of
Georgia, or Salem Charles, of Massa-
chusetts, is the question at issue,
Aud Judge Hixon has evidence Of
the most convincing nature that he
was none other than Jas. Hill, former
ly OF Americas. This evidence was
greatly strengthened by circumstances
regarding the life aud habits of the
late Mr.. Hill, and which Judge Hixon
secured while IN the west through
rigid Investigations.
He has the evidence of the chief off
cial of large mining company, wi Q
was we'll acquainted with the deceased,
to the effect that Hill stated to him that
he was a Georgian,
Judge Hixon secured there copies OF
Hills signature in banks and hotels,
all of which correspond accurately
with signatures of letters to relatives
in Americas. This and other more
convincing evidence will be submitted
at the final hearing in proof of the
claims of his clients here.
The Massachusetts, contingent, who
contend that the dead man was Salem
Charles and not James Hill, have not q
very strong case. There are many
discrepancies in their evidence, par
ticularly as to the probable age of the
deceased. Salem Charles should have
been ninety years of age or there
about, and very bald, it is said.
The dead man was about sixty i've
years old and but slightly bald.
Their main point is the finding
among the dead mans effects of an
old bible with the name "Sol Charles
Brim, Mass. illegibly traced in pencil
above some signature in ink that had
been erased. Sol Charles was the
father of the long lost Salem Charles,
of Brimfeld, Mass.
Then, too, there are two old shirts,
that have not been worn in many
years, bearing the initials y. 9.
When Hill lived in Americas he
marked his clothing with a bottle
stopper simply a blot, and all the
other garments found there were thus
marked One theory advanced is that
Hill and Charles were old cronies out
there, and when Charles died Hill
took the old bible and the two shirts
probably as keepsakes.
The two shirts and the bible is all
the Massachusetts, people have as eVi
dence of their CLAIM. Judge Hixon
has vastly more evidence, and far bet
ter evidence to substAntiate the fact
that the dead man was James Hill, OF
Americas, Ga.