The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-09-27
DANISH GOVERNMENT is
ASKING ABOUT NORRIS
Old RanCher of Hawaii Attracts
Attention of His Old
Country.

Letters in the Norris case have proved
the interest which the Danish govern
ment has taken in the death of its
former subject at Waiohinu. Copies of
these letters have reached Hawaii and
form another INK In the interesting
romance which surrounds the lonely old
Hawaii rancher, and which remained
unknown as long as he was alive.
One of these letters is as follows;
ITO the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Copenhagen.
"Under date of the I'd March, 1922,
according to the birth records, was
born, in Marstal, Gotthilf Wilhelm
Becker Christensen, who, Immediately
after his confirmation, went to sea as
cabin boy. In 1888 he deserted from
a Danish ship in London. After some
years he came to America, from where
his mother, in 1915, received a letter
from him, attached as Exhibits and
d. In Exhibit D it will be seen that
his name in America was Samuel Nor
ris. Both parents are dead according
to death register Exhibit b, and y.
In America he had accordingIto what
one knows still, large estate in Sac
ramentO, near San FranciscOl and on
Hawaii, and, according to general be-
lief, Norris, for a period of years, was
a very rich man who has very large
areas of land and an estate. In 1868
he was on a visit at Aero, but'in latter
times he has not been in theD country,
but through different returning sailors
to Marstal has the family from time to
lime heard about Norris and his large
fortunes; also that he was still unmar-
ried. AS the living heirs in Marstal
are for the most part very poor, has the
bank director, Clausen, in Marstal, on
the request of an heir, written to firm
In San Francisco named Esehen a.
Minor, who are both from Marstal and
both personally known, Eschen even re-
lated with one named Clausen. and
from this firm has Clausen received the
accompanying letter in Exhibit i, from
which it will be seen that Norris was
IN May, 1910, alive and considered as
a rich man..
Another letter, showing the interest
of the Danish government in the Norris
case, is as follows:
MINISTER of Foreigp Affairs Dept.
Copenhagen, July 20, 1910.
"Samuel Norris, Deceased.
From Attorney H. p. Nielsen in
Marshal the minister of foreign affairs
has received the accompanying informa-
ton of the 21st, wherein he informed
the minister OF the facts concerning the
death in Waiohinu p. o., Hawaii, r. H.,
in the beginning of this month of the
death of Samuel Norris, alias Gotthilf
Wilhelm Becker Christensen. Accom-.
panying this are Exhibits c, D, +, G.,
II, !. Consequently we request the
consul to look into the matter in the
interests of the heirs and to try to take
care that the boets status does not re.
ceive any harm. How large is the
estate, who is the deceased 5 heis, the
value of the estate, how much fees
would be necessary? Request also to
get power of attorney from the consul
to appear as the heirs representative,
and what other papers and proofs 1t is
necessary should be sent out from the
heirs in Denmark. If you could inquire
whether or not the deceased 5 property
was correctly registered, so that the
status quo can be maintained. Under
the date OF the 26th the following tele-
gram was sent:
+" Estate 5. Norris Waiohinu secure
status quo
"When the consul is through with
all the papers kindly send them back,
"P. NJ. V.
(Sgd) r. KRAG.p