Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-24

Newell and To other earlier correspond
ence on the subject contained IN a
pamphlet entitled Estates I'm Holland
issued by the Department Of state,
and of which number or copies
were furnished to the legation. In
this pamphlet the Netherlands law OF 1852
providing for the establishment OF a COM
mission to settle claims against estates OF
deceased persons. as well as against the
government. Is described and the method
OF procedure explained This law provides
for the final disposal of all estates that
were IN the hands of the commission De-
ginning with the date Of It's establishment
within five years and some months after
1872 when the law went into effect. From
this it is evident that all such ancient es-
tates, even If they had ever existed, would
now under the present law have trrev-
ocably escheated to the state. 1t may NOT.
however be amtss TO add that SO far in
yestigation has shown that these estates
never did exist except In Imagination.
"a recent letter from Gresham ore. writ
ten by "A Mr. G. W, Netzgcr. secretary or
the Oregon Society United Descendants OF
Baron Theobald Metzger Won Weibnom.
shows that in that state an organization or
the supposed heirs has been formed for the
Joint prosecution OF their claims. The
writer asks on behalf of his society and
several others in the ulted States
whether the legation would consider any
proposition relative to am investigation OF
the case. Similar letters are being con-
stantly received from Colorado. Pennsyl-
Of the property Is stated variously to be
from SOS coo 900 to 500 e00oep. \ clipping
from the Gazette of York. Pa. of NOvem-
Der p, 1903. recently inclosed, describes a
meeting of Seventy-hve heirs In that place
under the leadership of Attorney w. e.
Bradley and Mrs. Mary V. Mcdonald
both Of Philadelphia. This article also
states that each individual was allowed to
contribute what he thought proper toward
the prosecution OF his claim.
AS this matter has assumed such large
proportions. and 1t seems reasonable
to suppose that large number Of I'M
suspecting people are contributing money
to an enterprise in which there is abso-
lutely no hope OF return. | have taken the
liberty of setting forth the true status
of all such visionary claims and OF sub
hitting the matter to the department for
such action as II may think proper 10 take
toward warning the public as TO the UNI
reliability of the statements made by per-
sons soliciting funds for the prosecution
Of claims to estates in this country.
with regard TO imaginary estates in
Holland, II may be added that early as
1878 the United States minister at The
Hague made report In which the fraudu-
lent character of the publications soliciting
subscriptions In money from parties IN
the United States was fully set forth. Lac
Holland estates include the following: The
'Anneke-Jans.' the 'Cronkheit or 'Cronck-
heit,' the Van Cot the Van Dussen. the
Weber the Brandt and the 'Metzger.'
which are supposed to represent millions Of
money, but which actually represents moth
ing. As stated in report of Mr.. Edward
Downes. consul at Amsterdam, dated March
"a. 1895:
- These estates do not exist; they are
myths, will-o thewisps fakes. The Bank
of Holland" In which the unclaimed mill
lions are alleged to be deposited does not
exist. Careful investigation induces the be-
lief that these estates originated in the
brain Of some rascally speculator or specu-
latOrs, who. imposing on human credulity,
found many victims and heeced them most
uTOfitablE If these faT a
fide existence, then they came clearly with
I'm the purview Of the statute OF limitations
passed by the Dutch parliament I'm 1862 by
which all unclaimed Inheritance irreyocaby
escheated after a lapse Of five years 70 the
state. Every dollar spent in reference 10
these estates IS so much money wasted 70