The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-24
OFFICIAL DEATH
OF KING OF zap
DAY FOR HIS LEGAL DEMISE.
ATTORNEY PARTRIDGE WILL BE
PRESENT ON MAY IL.

MIR. Hartridge Is Now Making Prep
nrntions to Make the Trip with
out Serious Delays En- ROute-Be-
Ileves There viii BE no Difficulty
in Establishing the Rights of the
Wife and Daughter Who Are Res
, Lawyer Doesn't Think He'll Need
War Vessel This Time.
Walter c. Hartridge, Esq, of the
firm of O'Connor. O'Byrne & Hartridge,
is now arranging plans for his trip to
the Isle of zap in order to be there on
May u, when David O'Keefe, former
king of the island will be declared
dead, and the estate which he left,
which has been appraised at $500, 900
will be administered on.
During his first visit to the Isle of
zap Mr.. Hartridge possessed himself
of all information possible concerning
the possessions of the supposedly dead
King, and also Just how he had dis
posed of his estate. The widow and
daughter of the dead king are residents
of Savannah, and it is in the interest
of these that Mr.. Hartridge is acting.
During his visit to the island Mr..
Hartridge found that the possessions of
the dead king amounted to about $780,
900 and that he had left this estate to
his legitimate daughter in Savannah
and to his illegitimate children in zap.
The will was opened last May and on
May IL, under the laws governing the
islands, O'Keefe will be declared legally
dead and his estate will be admin
stored on as he has set forth in his al
legged will
Claims of Savannah Heirs.
Before he left Yao for the return
trip to America Mr.. Hartridge filed
the claims of the American heirs tc
their part OF the estate, and when the
will is submitted for probate in May
he will be present to represent these
claims in person. Mr.. Hartridge says
that he is confident that the matter
will be satisfactorily adjusted without
contest, and that the American heirs
will have so per cent. of the estate
Under the laws governing the island
illegitimate children cannot claim over
90 per cent. of an estate.
Mr.. Hartridge is now making ar.
rangements to make the trip to YaI
without encountering the ditticultie:
that attended his former trip to tn,
island. when he was stranded for sew
eral days, at Hong Kong, and finally
had TO make application to the Wa
Department of the United states tC
make the trip to the island. Mr.. Hart
ridge says he homes to make the en-
tire trip this time without stop or de-
lay, and expects to be in zap som'
days before the ayill is administered
on.
How O'Keefe Was Lost.
The story of the King OF zap is still
fresh in the minds of Savannahians
Mrs. Katherine O'Keefe, of Savannah
wife of the dead king, was apprised o.
his death through his private secretary
In May. 1901, King O'Keefe sailed from
Hong Kong in his own ship, bound fol
his possessions in the Carolines. A
Chinese typhoon swept the coast abou
the same time and nothing more ha.
been heard of King O'Keefe and those
who accompanied him. Pieces Of
wreckage were discovered along the
coast of China some time later, and
this was believed to have come from
the ship of the king.
No trace of his majesty the Soutf
Sea Ruler, was ever found, and he was
given up as dead within the month
Yet under the law he still lives and
will continue to live three years from
the day he was supposed TO have died
unless proof positive can be produced
that he is dead.
Mr.. Hartridge says that the laws Of
administration in zap are much quick.
er than they are in this country and
when he returns 10 America again HI
nah heirs TO the estate Of the dead kinl
in his possession.