The San Francisco call., 1908-09-24
MAN DIES WITH
THE SECRET OF
MANY MILLIONS
James Duff Believed to Be Witt
ness to Will Made Thirty
Years Ago
Estate of S15,0OO,OO0 Undis-
tributed in South Africa Be-
cause Man Was Missing
Dies in Squalid Hovel After Liy-
ing Life of Recluse
and Miser

The death in this city only few
days ago of James Duff, an aged man
who was taken from squalid hovel
to pass away in the detention ward at
the central emergency hospital, has
brought to the surface strange ro-
nance that has to do with almost
fabulous wealh. 1t is story of mil
lions that have lain idle for 80 years
because of lack of proof as to owner
ship, but that possibly through the
death of this man will at last reach
the hands of the rightful owner.
That there could exist in such
place as that in which Duff passed his
last days a secret which would put
into the hands of a number of heirs
a fortune of $4,000. 900 seems a para
dox of fate That such is the case,
however, is the theory that has been
accepted by the public administrator
office in this city and deputies are now
at work attempting to trace the his
tory Oh James OuIl d1lQ COHH6CL iliiii
with events that transpired years ago
in the diamond diggings of South
Africa
DUFF WITNESSED WILL
Duff is supposed to be one of the
two witnesses of a famous will-one
of the two men for whom world
wide search has been in progress for
nearly 80 years. Because neither of
these two men hsIve ever been found
the great fortune of Williarn Mckay,
Scotchman. has been held without
distribution by the courts of South
Africa since 1877, while McKay's heirs
have vainly endeavored to secure the
property. One of these heirs is Miss
A. w. Steen of 1897 Webster street,
and it was through her that the case
was called to the notice of Public Ad-
ministrator NJ ]. Hynes yesterday.
William Mckay, who was native
of Durness, Scotland, left his home
about 1860 and went to South Africa,
where he later became associated with
Cecil Rhodes in the development of
the great Kimberley diamond mines.
When he left Scotland it was under
cloud which caused. him to hide his
identity by assuming a fictitious name,
and during all the years that he lived
III OOQNu <1lilOd HIS iQSulliy never De-
came generally known He accumu-
lated immense wealth in the diamond
diggings and was known in the Trans
vaal as the miser of Kimberley He
did not hoard his entire wealth, how
ever, in spite of the mystery that sur
rounded him. He had a brother, DAN
iel Mckay, living in Youngstown, O.,
and at frequent intervals sent him
sums of money, in amounts as large
as $4,000 at a time.
In 1877 William Mckay dropped
from. sight, supposedly dead, and a
short time later a will was brought
to light, leaving his s15.0oOo0O estate
in equal shares to eight brothers and
sisters. This document. the original
of which is still in South Africa, was
not signed by Mckay with his, true
name, but under the assumed name by
which he was known in South Africa
and was witnessed by James Duff and
| William Collins. In the will 1t was
set forth tnat the makers name was
an alias, but that his true name and
identity were known to the witnesses.
ESTATE is TIED UP
Duff and Collins were never found
and the entire estate was tied up bv
the courts Of South Africa. Agents
have searched every corner of the globe
for these men, but without success.
Former Secretary of State John Hay
was induced to take hand in the
Mckay heirs sent eight United States
secret service agents to South Africa
and also secured all America for Dufr
and Collins.
Now in the death of James Dun in
this city the mystery may have found
its solution, for many evidences have
already been found to point to the con-
ell lon 604 Jor MA
missing witness. Duff himself was
somewhat of a mystery to those who
knew him in San Francisco. being
known variously as James and John
Duff. He is understood, however. to
have come to this country from South
Africa in the latter seventies and To
| have made his home in San Francisco
after few years spent in the mines.
MAY ESTABLISH IDENTITY
| Even though 1T is too late to secure
Duff's testimony should he prove to
have been the man so badly wanted. the
establishment of his identity might
bring about the desired end. Efforts
will be made to learn whether he ever
made statements to any acquaintance
concerning the alleged witnessing OF
the Mckay will, and If copy of his
signature Is found il will be comnared
with the original upon the document
now in South Africa Should the sir-
nature prove authentic little more
would be necessary to establish the
validity of the famous document.
1t was through the alleged attemnt
| of a woman to gain possession az
Duff's little stock of wealth just prior
to his death few days ago and tha
| publicity given this affair that the
present investigation was brought
about. Duff was taken from his home
at 527 Waller street last week by de-
facftves and removed IN 49, -st-.4s-