The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-11
KINGS GOLD THERE
MATTER HARTRIDGE is BACK AT
HONG KONG.
FOUND GREAT WEALTH
LEFT BY KING O'KEEFE IN FAR
OFF CAROLINES.

Property at zap Is Valued Mt $780,
600 in American Money, and That
at Hong Kong Is of Equal Value.
O'Keefe Left a viii in Which His
Legitimate Daughter in This City
and His Legitimate Children in
the Far West Are Named as His
Hefrs-Cablegram Received from
Hnrtridge at Hong Kong Cost $50.
Did Not Go Into Details.
King David O'Keefe of zap left an
estate valued at $500, 600 to his daugh-
ter in this city, Mrs. Lula Butler, and
to his illegitimate children in the Far
East.
Walter c. Hartridge, Esq, has re-
turned from the Caroline Islands TO
Hong Kong, and in cablegram TO
O'Connor, O'Byrne & Hartridge yes
terday morning he conveyed this in
formation. There were only few
words in the message, but they cost
$50.
The estate in the Carolines is valued
Kong are worth the same amount. This
fact is stated in the cablegram, which
also tells of the opening of the will
and the discovery that O'Keefe left his
property to his illegitimate children,
along with his legitimate daughter.
How many illegitimate children there
are living is not known. 1t is believed,
however, that there is only one, two
sons having been lost with him on his
vessel in the South Sea. The living
child is said to be pretty and accom-
plished daughter who was educated in
a convent. She speaks several lam
guages fuently, and is said TO have
been reared in affiuence. 1t is
known in Savannah that this daugh-
ter is not a myth.
1t is not stated in the cablegram
when the will at Hong Kong WAS
opened, and Mr.. Hartridge did not say
what his next move will be. 1t is not
known whether he will attempt TO
break the will or simply wait at Hong
Kong until the estate has been wound
up. The Savannah claimants to the
fortune are certain to get one-half of
the estate in the Carolines under the
German law that governs proceedings
on the islands.
Under this law a man cannot leave
more than SO per cent. of his estate 10
illegitimate children or charity. The
law provides that his legitimate family
is entitled to one-half of his estate, and
Mrs. OKeefe and her daughter are
certain to get this much of the prop
erty in the Caroline Islands.
Under the will left by O'Keefe Mrs.
Butler of this city, his legitimate
daughter, will get her share of the
Hong Kong property. The English
law holds good there and the iHegiti-
mate daughter, or children, can re-
cover all that is provided in the will.
Mrs. O'Keefe. however, is not shut
out in this property, even though she
is not mentioned in the will Under
the English law she is entitled to her
dover right, which is one-third of the
value of the real estate, during her
life.
Mr.. Hartridge left zap on the Unit
ed States government vessel Justin. He
was taken to the Carolines on the JUS
tin, and the captain promised to stop
back for the Savannah lawyer. This
was done, and Mr.. Hartridge was
landed at Cavite, from which place he
went by steamer to Hong Kong. Mr..
Hartridge left Savannah for San
Francisco on Feb. z, last, and his wan
behring's have been discussed, along with
the estates of the late King of zap,
far and wide.