The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-09-10
DEMANDS HER SHARE
OF NINETY MILLIONS
Mrs. Thomas A. Gary Says
She Is Heir of Baron
Springer.

Alleging that she is one OF the two
principal living heirs 10 an estate Of
500, 600 90. covering the land upon which
Wilmington, Del, is now situated, Mis-.
Thomas A. Gary of 22l0 Eighteenth
street. this city. has filed claim 10 the
property I'm question. This is the sec
ond claim TO be filed since the publica-
ton a year ago of a similar instrument
filed By descendants of Baron Spring
or. who, IL was alleged. owned the site
Of Wilmington.
Mrs Garfs claim. knowledge Of which
first became public today. is based upon
being one Of the two principal heirs
10 the estate Of Capt. John HUM, the
other heir being a cousin, John Rod
ney, now living in Delaware. The heirs
/ OF Captain HUM take exception to the
claims of the Springer descendants, con-
/ tending that the land never belonged 10
/ the latter personally.
The story involving the immense tract
/ of land read like novel when it WAS
first made known. Today It unfolds 3
Remarkably romantic story dating back
7 more than a century and having for lis
principal figures some OF tie most noted
men of the day.
Baron Leases Tract
Baron Springer came TO this country
many years ago as the representative
/ in Delaware of the Swedish govern
ment. He leased large tract Of land,
/ the site OF which is now the city Of
/ Wilmington. II developed last year
/ that in leasing this land Baron Springer
| had done so in his own name, probably
for. the purpose of expediuns the trans
action. The lease was for Einety-nine
years. The property reverted TO its
/ original owners in 1882.
/ Heirs of Baron Springer last year
! made plans to prosecute their claims 20
1 the estate on the ground that the prop
/ erts had been bought by Baron spring
| er. not for the Swedish Church but FOR
| himself Lawyers were engaged and
! considerable correspondence ensued Inc
| records in the church files were referred
/ to, and it was found they were ali IN
/ the Swedish language
Agent of Church.
/ II developed that Baron Springer did
! not figure personally in the transfer Of
/ the property except as an agent OF the
/ church. and a letter from William
/ Lyons, IT,, deputy register of wills, as
/ sured the lawyer of one of the claimants
/ that there was no manifest ground for
/ q slIit of the character contemplated
I y
and her cousin are the principal heirs
10 this vast estate it has developed that
! the land in question originally belonged
to Capt John HUM. It was he who
negotiated the lease of his property 10
4 the Swedes for ninety-nine years. the
/ lease. expiring in 1852, and the property
1 therefore reverting to the estate Of Cap
/ tain HUM. Captain Hunns daughter,
/ Miss Susan HUM. married Caesar
/ Augustus Rodney. who was Mrs. Gary S
/ granddaughter, and attorney general in
| the Cabinets Of Presidents Jefferson and
/ Madison. The land at that time was
of little value, but since then has in
! creased rapidly until it is estimated to
I be worth S90.000,000-
/ For some years, Mrs. Gary has en-
ployed a lawyer TO look out for her
! interests lie has been maintained
on a contingent fee. and has never
Host track Of the case There is an
old English law still operative in Del
aware, Mrs. Gary says, by which landed
estate may never run out Of date. and
so the heirs of Captain HUM are still
owners Of the property.
Mrs. Gary has records dating back
lmany years proving her claim and cor
Irespondenee of the greatest value IN her
case