The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-11

FRANNLtN

IEw diver of Franklin, Ind, an
MAJ nounced to the world last
Wv Christmas morning that J.
w. Dawson, a New York
millionaire, had drafted his
will, in which ne bequeathed to her his
entire estate valued at $2,0OO,OOO conster-
nation reigned supreme among the resi-
dents of the quiet college town.
When later the excitnent occasioned by
Miss Vandivers most extra ordinary story
of her good fortune had died out to some
extent, there began to be much specula-
ton on the part of the citizens of Frank
lin as to the identity of the young wom-
ans benefactor and the motive Of the
unknown millionaire's unparalleled gen.
erosity.
To all seekers of information, however,
Miss Vandiver is battling, answering their
inquiries with a laugh or an evasive
statement
AS result of the attitude Miss vandi-
ser has assumed regarding her legacy,
and the air of mystery in which she has
enveloped it, the story of her being made
the heiress of an estate valued at $1,000,
600 is no longer given any credence in the
city of her birth, but it is openly disputed
by the residents Of Franklin, who base
their suspicious of the truthfulness of
Miss Vandiver's story on the one fact
that she offers no evidence to substan-
tiate her statements. They claim further
more that they are justified in their
doubts as to- the veracity of her story
and that their suspicious are but
strengthened by Miss Vandiver's contin-
ued refusals to offer any evidence Of a
conclusive nature. Her story is purely a
fabrication, they say, but for what pur-
pose it was created no one has an an
swer.
Who and where is ]. W. Dawson, Miss
Vandiver's benefactor and mysterious
millionaire of New York City?
Who and where is Paul Ravini, who is
said to be a lawyer residing at Albany,
N Y, and to have been appointed Miss
Vandiver's guardian under the terms Of
Millionaire Dawson's will?
When Jessie Marie Vandiver answers
these questions giving at the same time
indisputable evidence as to the identity
and the existence Of J. w. Dawson and his
millions, and his alleged agent Paul Ra-
VIM, there will be left no room for sus-
picion regarding the story of his extra
ordinary good fortune. But until she
does this it will be set down as a fabri-
cation created for an unknown purpose.
Miss Vandiver explains her strange con-
duct in refusing to tell anything regard
ing Millionaire Dawson by saying that
she is but acting under his instructions
and those of her guardian, Paul Ravini
to say nothing regarding the matter.
Miss Vandiver is besieged at her home
numerous times daily by the people OF
Franklin, and newspaper men have
swarmed to her in delegations to inter
view her to ascertain from her if possible
the motive Of Millionaire Dawsons unpre-
cedented magnanimity in bequeathing to
her his entire estate But all along
throughout this siege and bombardment
of questions from every side Miss Vandi-
yer has remained firm in her position,
persistently and absolutely refusing tC
say a word more than that she is tbs
lucky young woman selected by a lonely
millionaire upon whom he could bestoW
his immense wealth.
Miss Vandiver says she made public the
quest of Dawson himself According tC
her statement she received a short letter
from her guardian, Paul Ravini, which
contained the news Of her legacy, a de-
scription Of the various pieces of prop
erty, and other resources Of the Dawson
estate, which was for publication in the
Franklin papers.
Miss Vandiver now says she is sorry
that she was requested to do this, and
that Dawson also regrets that such q
step was taken. According to this let
ter, which has never been seen by anyone
outside the Vandiver family, and which
Miss Vandiver refuses to show, Dawson's
estate consists of stocks and bonds to the
value of 81, 50O0 GOO. 1900 acres of valuable
lumber land located in northern Maine
1000 acres of land near Berlin, Germany
two residences at New York City anC
one at Boston. Miss VandiVer also saiC
that Dawson owned two pieces of valua
Bile property at Indianapolis, but that as
he no longer made this city his home, he
had disposed of his possessions here
When asked for the address of Dawson's
former home at indianapolis, Miss Van.
diver assumed her customary air of mys-
terry and replied that "at Jacks Request
she was not at liberty to answer the
question
On Miss Vandiver's absolute refusal t.
say anything to establish the fact thai
the mysterious Millionaire Dawson ever
lived in the city, the Indianapolis city
directories for the past fifteen years were
searched. but the name and address OF
Any j. w. Dawson, such as would fit tbs