Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-19
VAUDEVILLE.
MISSING EVIDENCE
Would Be Worth Big Sum to
WatervilIe Parties
To Complete Their Claims to a VAL
liable Estate in France.
sEharles eriard Of Waterville and Other
m Relatives the Claimants.

~ A story as romantic and interesting
Las can be found in most novels has been
Quietly progressing in the city for sew
sAral years past and gives promise of
nragging along for many years to come
wbefore the end is reached. 1t is the old
fDlot Of the vast estate begging for heirs
In the ''old country but 10 different
s1rom most Of them, for the estate is
ACTUALLY known to be in existence and
sto be held in trust by a public admin
vibrator until ownership can be proved.
There is no doubt about this for pros
pective heirs from this city have been
there several times to see it and to ex-
anime records regarding it. Then the
story has an original romantic flavor
all its own that distinguishes 1t from
the customary NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
mOney-to -get-me-Out-and you shall
have-all-but-a-me -pittance kind.
In this case there Is no smooth
tongued agent to dilate on the size and
value of the estate, but all facts must
be dug out persistently and patiently
from the records. Charles Briard, who
lives on Front street in this city, is the
leader of the supposed heirs in this
country and has spent much time and
money in the attempt toprove his claim.
His business on this side is done byFred
w. Clair and he also has lawyers in
France in his employ to look out for
that end of the case. H has been to
France to examine the property and is
! planning to go again after the holidays.
There are numerous other heirs on this
side and he is being backed by them.
Mr.. Briard is by no means mono
maniac but is a level-headed man who
sees what he considers good clear title
to the property. doing his best to estab-
lish it and willing ito accept failure
should that be his lot.
1t seems that 10 or IL years ago one
named Thomas Briard of Quempeller-
lily. De Finistere, France, died without
known heirs, leaving large estate. The
public administrator took charge Of it
and has since been waiting for heirs
with well-established claims ITO appear.
Mr.. Briard of this city claims that his
grandfather was a brother to Thomas,
the late owner of the estate, and that
he came to this country at date not
yet fully established, having left
France for political reasons. He settled
in Canada, adopting a sobriquet accord
~ ing to a custom among his countrymen.
This was part of his own name and
he married under this name, having it
so recorded. and it is right here that
the great difficulty is experienced in
establishing the claim.
David, his son and the father OF
Charles Of this city, adopted the right
name and all the records from his time
are correct and complete. Now, David
came to this country with his family
Of five children and leaving them in the
care OF some good soul here dis
appeared. He was followed for
time and then all trace was
lost. 1t is believed, however that he
died somewhere in the vicinity of New
port in this State.
~ This makes Mr.. Briard of this city a
direct heir to Thomas, of France. and
his estate. OF the five sons of David,
four are now living. Peter. a veteran of
the Civil War and a one-time familiar
figure on the streets of the city here.
being the only one who has died.
The others besides Charles of this
city. are Joseph Of Berlin. N. H., David
Of Lawrence. Mass. and Esdras of st.
- Joseph, Canada, and they with their
children are the heirs of the estate.
So far as can be learned Thomas
Briard who died in France. never mar
ried and had no near relatives in that
country. There Is a story Of David
h Briard having returned to his paternal
estate in France, and thus having bur-
led all traces behind him here. but it
liz now more generally believed that he
died in this country.
III II the change Of name made on the
grandfather's arrival in Canada can be
proved beyond a doubt the title to the
estate will be clear, for all the other
records are correct. Unless the claim
of the heirs in this country can be sub
stantiated the property will revert to
the government OF France. If st is
proven. there will be a comfortable
fortune for all the heirs. as the estate
Is q large one.