The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-14
Montreal Man Says He Now Has Evil
dence That should Bring Many
Millions to American Heirs.
IN POSSESSION OF LORD HOWE
FOR SIX YEARS MR.. JENNINGS HAS
PURSUED HIS SEARCH.
Curious History OF an Estate That
Was In Litigation for Nearly
a Century.

Corr = pgrdence OF the Indianapolis Journal.
LONDON, June fit is beginning to look
as II David Jennings. the Montreal man
who came to this country recently to prove
himself the rightful heir TO the famous
Jennings millions" was certain to get a
hearing before the Chancery Court. and II
he does some people in the United States
viii find themselves immensely interested
I'm the remarkable proceedings which are
likely TO follow.
'"The Jennings Millions" of course, are
those which were left by William Jen-
nings. or Jennens, the British ironfounder
who died intestate in this country 104 years
age, and for the possession OF whose vast
estate rival heirs fought in the Chancery
Court for almost century. The case. with
its interminable history of claimants
ruined by litigation. became world famous.
especially after Charles Dickens had satir-
lied II under the name of "Jarndyce VS..
Jarndyce'' in BLEAK House"
Meanwhile the original 100000 left by
Jennings. most of which was in gilt-edged
stocks, had gone on increasing until, at
the time that the struggle for it's posses
sion was supposed to be finally closed, the
Chancery Courts return estimated the
fortune at the amazing sum OF $15O.O000OO,
which amount David Jennings, who is in
possession of a perfect mass of evidence
10 prove his claim thereto, has come to this
country to lift" as Sir Thomas Upton
would say.
1t was just about thirty years ago that
the Jennings suit ended, the court decid-
ing that the contested millions should re-
main In Chancery. while Earl Howe, who
by the way, Is direct descendant Of Sir
William Howe, who commanded the Brit
ism forces In the American Revolution, was
left In possession of the rich Jennings
property, which his Lordship's aristocratic
family might be said to have Jumped"
Immediately after William Jenningss
death The estate includes GopsalI Hall,
In Leicestershire, where Earl Howe re-
Gently entertained the King; Acton Place,
Ashton Hail. the so-called Penn estates"
and house In aristocratic Curzon street,
London. This decision having been reached
by the Chancery Court, every one supposed
that the famous case had been settled for
always.
Recently. however, there has been a sig
niicant activity among the jennings claim
ants In this country, whose hopes were
dashed temporarily by the Chancery Courts
decision In Earl Howe's favor. One of them
announced the discovery of documents
throwing an entirely new light upon the
case. and there have been other indications
that the famous legal contest, upon which
IL is estimated more than $4,000 has been
spent, soon would have to be opened again.
Then came the appearance the scene OF
David jennings. the Canadian claimant, an
elderly man. who has spent several years
already In collecting documents to prove
himself William Jennings's lineal heir, and
whose claim is thought so well of by certain
Montreal capitalists they are backing him
financially in the attempt which he pro-
poses to make to get the Jennings acres and
guineas away from Earl Howe.
HIS LABORIOUS SEARCH.
Soon after his arrival In England Jen-
nings laid his case. so far as it had got then,
before lawyers here, who encouraged him
to go on after looking over the documents
which he presented. Next Jennings, who,
by the way. does not impress one either as
a fanatic or a man likely to suffer from de-
lusions, invaded the public records Office
wherein the records of births, marriages
and deaths since time out of mind are kept
and there for several weeks he has spent
day after day in porting the musty
volumes in the search for further evidence
on which to base his claim. He has refused
obstinately to have anything to do with pro-
fessional ''searchers." and the officials in
the building, who do not generally sympa-
thize with folk engaged in such a search as
his. say that they never have met any one
of the species who pursued his object with
more diligence than Jennings.
Whether the man who means to Dust Earl
Howe has discovered anything at the rec
ord office likely to assist him In doing so
he declined to state when questioned the
other day. but 1t Is significant that his So
licltors now say that they hope to get him
a hearing before the Chancery Court before
July.
First, however, all the evidence upon
which the claim is based-and this means
thousands upon thousands OF folios of
closely-written matter-must be read and
discussed before a legal luminary called
the master in chancery. who must decide
whether the case Is one that ought to oc-
cupy the attention OF one or two of his
Majesty's judges for time that might ex-
coed that OF the first Jennings suit itself.
Hard work and sleepless nights appear to
have left their mark upon the old man, and
when he was seen by the writer he was by
no means inclined to straighten himself out
to talk. IT am disgusted." he commenced.
with the way the English newspapers
have distorted the facts of my case. They
have tried to make fun out OF what is a
very serious matter both TO me and Earl
Howe. The earl does not take IL so flip
PANTY. I can assure you he understands
the gravity OF the situation.
81 am receiving shoals OF letters daily
from all parts of the world. many of them
resting their claims manifestly mag
mary foundations. There are claimants
from New York. San Francisco, Buffalo.
Toronto. New Mexico. Melbourne, Adelaide.
Burmah. Port Said. Paris. st. Petersburg.
and even Moscow
"All claiming to be descendants OF the
celebrated William Jennings?"
Eyes. but I can. after years OF hard work.
trace the pedigree OF only six out OF pos
sfbie three hundred. and these. with two
exceptions. live In America. two in San
francisco. one In Melbourne. one in New
York. one IN Toronto and one In Burmah."
s.Are all these three hundred contributing
toword the cost OF the present ltigation?''