The Washington herald., 1907-03-15
CLAIMS Big FORTUNE
Aged Nan Says He Is Heir to
Fitzherbert Millions.
THE SUM IS NOW $25,OOO,OOO
William Fitzherbert, of ParkviIIe. \.
v, Aged Seventy-nIne, Is Claim
Substantiate His AssertIOns-OId
Dublin Church May Hold CIew.

Brooklyn, March 1A-With S25.G00000 at
stake, William Fitzherbert, seventy-nine
years old, of Washington avenue. near
Ocean Boulevard, Parkville. man with
nine children and thirty-eight grandchii-
dren, has employed counsel since last De-
.eember in an effort to prove that be is the
last living descendant Of the famous Fitz-
herbert family, of Dublin, Ireland. and
consequently the only heir to a fortune
that has been lying for two centuries in
the Royal Bank Of England.
Mr.. Fitzherbert and other possible claim
ants to the Fitzherbert fortune have
eight years in which TO prove their right
full ownership to the money; two Of these
have already been consumed.
The history OF the Fitzherbert family,
If it is as claimed by the aged Parkville
man, Is dramatic in the extreme. It is
claimed that the original Mrs. Fitzherbert
from whom the Parkville man is trying to
prove descendency, was the morganatic
wife of King George " Of England
Deposit Grew for 200 Years.
At her death, about 200 years ago, her
money, some millions, was deposited in
the Coots Bank, In London. This money
has been lying in this bank then, for two
centuries. drawing compound interest all
the time. until now it amounts 70 some
thing in the neighbOrhood of 100000
pounds in English coin of the realm. soon
after the present King Edwards ascen-
dancy 20 the throne lie determined 70 have
house cleaning" as it was termed in
/ Parkville to-day. Among data made pub
1 lie by King Edward was that concerning
he Fitzherbert millions. According TO
/ English law. after such publication, the
heirs have eight years In which to prove
/ their ownership 10 such a fortune.
/ 1t was last December that the Parkville
/ Fitzherbert decided that he is the only
T living heir. and he promptly employed
/ counsel in Manhattan 20 assist him in get
/ ting MS alleged rights He has In his pos
/ session. be says deeds 20 his father S
grave in Glass-on-Ayon Cemetery, in
/ Dublin, a document which his counsel
/ considers a very strong point in the Park
4 vile mans favor.
! Fitzherbert says that so confident IS the
/ lawyer that he is the rightful owner that
\ he (the lawyer expects soon 10 pay the
/ Parkviue claimants entire expenses. tC
Dublin. that the work of obtaining proof
may be better carried on there.
/ The clew upon which counsel is working
/ at present TO establish the fact that
the ParkviIle man IS the one remaining
/ heir TO the Fitzherbert family lies in con-
/ nection with the parish records of St
I Michaels and ST. Johns Roman Catholic
4 Church. Exchange street. Dublin. Al
ready word has been received from the
! present priest of that church stating that
every effort is being made TO trace back
along the records To the christening OF
I the Parkville man. II was al this church
/ that the members OF the FitZheTbert fam
1 iIy have for years back been ChTistened
and upon the result Of the investigation
now being made viii depend whether ol
not the Parkville claimant will take q
/ trip 20 Dublin in the near future. Fitz
herbert is now attending the st. Rosa d.
Rima Roman Catholic Church, Parkvilie