The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1911-05-05
Fortunes Left Not Claimed.

Every day the police report the death
] OF men and women in the city OF New
| York whose relatives are unkno wn.
| The general public does hot realize the
wealth of legal detail which is behind
these bare announcements. The gem
eral supposition is that the poor un-
| fortunates is only another addition to
the unmarked graves ON Harris Island,
which is best known as Potter's Field.
| But this in vast majority Of cases is all
wrong. The personal property which is
| often left by these poor unfortunates who
die intestate aggregates over a half of
million of dollars each year, and il re-
quires the services OF a public adminis-
traitor TO settle their estates
The office of the public administrator,
which is held in New York county by
Mr.. William H. Hoes, and in Kings
county by Mr.. Charles +. Teale, is far
from being a sinecur-. The response
bilities are far more exacting than the
remuneration which consists of fees.
II the personal prop rty left by the
frIendless man or woman who dies intes-
tate amounts to only ore cent the same
care must be given TO The administration
of this estate as il it amo lnted to several
thousand dollars
uDllG dtOl TUGS Ol, MdIl-
haitian, has just filed an accounting of his
stewardship for the yea 1910. The es-
tates which he was called upon to admin
lister upon during the past II months of
last year represented a cash value of
S422, 90. The money which he dis
bursed from this amount was $2SS, 74I.I5,
leaving a cash balance of S263, 46S 20,
awaiting claimants.
Glancing over the 1910 report of the
public administrator it is surprising to
note the money value OF the estates
which were left by some of the foreign
born population who were denied word
OF consolation from grieving relatives
in their last moments. August Zolver,
whose address in New York was not F
even known, left an esta, valued at
Sal I4I. The Teutonic character of the
name prompted the public administrator
to put his nationality down AS German.
Francisco Geronido, native of Sunny
Italy followed the seas until death over
took him in New York Without kin
it became the duty of the public admin
istrator to take charge OF ms estate,
which approximated the comfortable
sum of $40, 1877.
Nicholas Horan. though only en-
ployed in the menial capacity of watch
man, amassed competence Of $40, 244.
But the expense attached in the admin
istration of his estate amounted to So, o64.
The case of Carl and Alma 5tilzner is
an interesting one. They came from
Germany many years ago, and by frugal
living and industry they left an estate
of SS,574 when they died. Strangely
enough the public administrator could
find no relatives. In his search for the
next of kin, funeral and other Incidental
expenses, he spent S4,233
Michael Larkin, recluse, managed I'd
acquire an estate valued at $5os7, when
he died The money is still awaiting
a claimant. Mary L. Warner who's,
home address the public administrator
could not locate, left a fortune OF 81 ,o63
which can be claimed any time an,
relative appears and submits the neees
Sary proof.
For years John Nettlefield was tn
coachman of one of the best known fam
lies in New York When he died hi
left an estate of SIG, sal, but not singl
relative could be located. < osin
Heath, native of England, by man
years service as a domestic, had ban
account of $6,53I. Deducting a charge
SIo5 for funeral expenses, the baand
is still awaiting claimant If the prop
claimant comes along he or she ma
collect an estate valued at 5000, whiC
was left by Herman Burger, who 20
Quoted a saloon business in New Yor
Amalia Gunlock, German donlesti
left an estate valued at $Io,4o2, whi,
was distributed among the different sa
ing banks.