Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-10-01
HUGE AGGREGATE OF
UNCLAIMED FORTUNES,

Special correspondence
ONION Sept. FOLK IN America
who believe themselves entitled to
- fortunes In this country will be
Interested to hear that according to
returns made during the parliamentary
session just closed there is now over
1921 100000 In the hands OF the Brit
lsh government. awaiting lawful clalm-
ants. There is small likelihood, how
ever that any considerable portion
Of 1t viii ever find Us way into the
pockets OF the latter. This vast sum Is
retained by the crown officials be-
cause those 20 whom Il belongs have
not succeeded In proving their claims
20 Il to the laws satisfaction or, ig-
nOrant Of what is due them, have not
put In any claims for Il. TO get the
government 10 give up money II has
once got a tight grip on IL very dit
ncult and costly matter. For a poor
claimant without the means Of de-
fraylng the legal expenses the chances
Of obtaining restitution are well nigh
hopeless. II is perhaps, therefore, just
as well for their peace Of mind that
hundreds Of poor people scattered over
the world have no knowledge that I'm
the British treasury are large fortunes
to which they are entited-proylde
they can prove IT,. II they knew II and
undertook TO prove It IN the great ma
jority OF cases it would simply result
In the lawyers getting what little mon
ey they have. Meanwhile the govern
ment does not advertise for claimants
TO any portion Of the colossal hoard IN
It's treasury,
In the great morgue Of litigation and
expectations --ChanCery--tunds and
estates aggregatng in value S2i3,6l2,-
S05 are now tied up. But as tund is
not considered unclaimed until Il has
been In court undealt with for rs years,
Il Ia impossible to estimate the pro-
portion VI this colossal sum which
belongs 10 missing owners II Is GER
tain though that most Of them win
never get penney OF Il. Funds IN
chancery In Ireland amount TO S2i,-
392,5Oj OF which the same statement
is equally true.
All government stock and dividends
unclaimed for ten years Is transferred
10 the national debt commissioners.
On March 81 last the balance on this
account amounted TO S.IS5.5S5 which
does not include sums previously APP
propriated by the government I'm 1868
for instance Mr.. Gladstone cancelled
$4,000, 900 OF unclaimed stock. II Is
amazing how remiss people are IN
claiming dividends, concols and other
government investments. on April Q
last the dividends "due and not de-
manded" amounted 10 nearly 100000
The Consolidated fund holds nearly
$4,000 representing interest on South
Sea stock paid to the chancellor Of
the exchequer between lSi5 and 1852
which has never been claimed.
People who die intestate bring con-
siderable money TO the crown as well
as Profit 70 the lawyers, on Deem
Der 81, last there remained In the hands
OF the treasury teS2. lS5 from intestates'
estates OF which the crowns share
amounted to over $4,000, Some peo-
pie are still seeking 90 get a share Of
the property left BY Mrs. Helen Blake
who died intestate In 1878. In addi-
ton 20 considerable real estate she left
personally OF the value OF $3.50 000 For
the benefit Of such claimants Il should
be stated that they have not the ghost
Va NhhlAht VI kNAAlik nlAN NiAlNNf A'Nf
BY an order Of the court dated 1883,
the crown was declared entitled to the
estates and appropriated them.
In Scotland intestates' estates await
ing claimants amount 10 over $4,000
Of which the crown has a grip on
$4,000
Unclaimed dividends on bankrupts'
estates amount TO s5,7s5,O0O and such
L. fa1f oil 10 d.
bulk Of II Will never be advanced and
suhstantieted that much Of the money
has been appropriated TO pay for the
erection OF the Bankruptcy offices.
Army prize money still undivided
amounted on March 81, 1908, 10 1858,
go and that the great bulk Of II will
be retained by the treasury may be
inferred from the fact that during the
year preceding this date only sSe5 was
paid 10 soldiers or their representa-