New-York tribune., 1910-01-16


leaseholders to Xavier Jones, the original ovnr-
1909.
Who was Xavier ZONES: Who and where wers 8
descendants of Xavier Jones:
On its face the problem was an easy one, but !
it afterward proved. this was puzzle Of serious q
tanglement.
THE work of investigation began the second
of May; but up to early August there appez
to be no tangible result.
This case is the worst ever. said Jimmy Foz
Sargent, senior, one afternoon. Il have arm
at the jumping OFT place, and am convinced Z
Aav1er ones was never born, never lived and nEs
died. That IS, as far as the records 60 he was ng
born in New York, never lived here and Cera-
did not die here. And he never paid any taxes 4
he never cast vote, and he never took part in 2
war of 1912. And Xavier Jones never lived in Ph
delphia, nor in Boston. nor IN Baltimore, nu
any other town of any size IN the year 1909 Iks
searched the records of the oldest banks. / hzt
examined the history of all the local trades =
professions; | have exhausted the cemetery recrE
| have read the local gossip in the old newSpgz
from 1900 to 1920, / have read the advertisemg
and the lists of advertised letters and the seanE
arrivals and departures. Why, have compiled q
correct geneaOgy of at least a dozen ones fanIle
L have talked with thousand Jones and wrtten
a hundred more out of town. TODAY I am Ir
expert. L know more about the tribe Of Jones T.
any living man.
Il thought the name of Navier would assist y0-
said the LAWYER
Yes; but there never was a Xavier. " replied
with show of temper. Il have found Nahu-
and BOla, and a Ruzen, and even man nan
MIttyhank Jones; but no NaVier. The case IS U
cannyl There isn't another puzzle Of this kind a.
where on earth. And what bOthe-s me IS how N
named Jones ever got a handle Ike Naver 70 ?
name. 1t is more than | can tell.
TT so happened that the next rno-uing Jimmy
= dropped in at the Hall OF Reeds and engas
Jeremiah COnlin in conversation. He told the q
man the full measure OF his trouble Then u
argued and discussed and compare news and ne
suggestions, and finally they went rver the reeo-
OF the Snow property together, tracing the o"1'
ship of the lease over the ninety-nIue wears
At last, after several hours of research they e4l
to the records of 1909 where first app cared the n
OF Navler Jones. as copied from the or1gIna! o. +
lease The book was verv small and was tied VII
string to keep 1t from falling apart The leaves
yellow with age The writing was a mere Outline 4
ink having faded from black 10 brown suia
enough the name was there IN al, It's original y
terry. Navier Jones' the Letters written IN 81
rounded hand but very dim. almost uosCuTed
Fox carried the book 70 the window that the :
might cast a more perfect hS-- OH the ye-o" l-s
Suddenly he gave a gas .- ASt2nis lInsA" =
hastily reaching in his coal brought -orth = 3
pocket microscope. His hand -rsr ed as he -
the glass over the unCanuy name
See, COnlni' he cried Look ~ that. oeS
letter \ in JOneSi IL is more Ike -r than " y.
heavens, mani It isn't Zones at a.- Ihe h~.-
JorreSl In copying the lease from Year TO yea,-~
assignment to assignment, they have used me =
of Jones by mistake. And sure. he cred eXui' -
Jorres is Spanish name Navler Jorres,. -
upon time 1t was probably spelled Iorrez- uA n.
III find the heirs! Trust me, The iS IS not II ~
long shot"
TT was not an easy task. The name of Torres q. %
appear in the New York directory, nor hau
peared since 1914; but the search perSlSteh.
exhaustive. At the end OF TWO weeks man -
Jose Torres was found in Camden, wrapping csSli \
a local tobacco shop. He was forty-two wears y;
slender, genteel chap, very poor. and Struss'A'
mere existence. tbss
Once the Spanish name Of Nav'cr orreS u H'r IN
established. inquiry was made in New YORK az