Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-07
BATTLE NOW ON
FOR WERTzMONEY
Heirs Get Together at New
Harper and Outline Plans
for Legal Fight.
AT HOLLAND GOVERNMENT
Letters Read Bearing Up Claim To
Huge Fortune Thought to Be
Awaiting in Europe.

started today. Vert warriors are
pouring into this city from al. parts
of the country, and this afternoon I'M
der the leadership of Mrs. EstelIe Sny-
der, are beginning the battle to recov-
er the vast fortune which they are con-
fdent awaits them. Mrs. Snyder has
traced the American branch back TO
the Black forest, Germany. and now
money must be raised to look up the
German antecedents. A big fund is 10
be raised to pursue the search for the
original will of General Wertz and in
looking up the old German records.
which are complete back TO the year
1000.
CLIMB ONE OBSTACLE
The chief obstacle, d law passed in
the Netherlands in 1852, that all es-
tates unclaimed five years thereafter
are esCheated to the state. is 10 be
overcome, for Mrs. Snyder has a let
ter in her possession which proves
that claim to the estate was made by
/ the heirs previous to that year The
letter is from Miss Julia Ahlstrom OF
Augusta. Ga. and reads in part as fol-
lows: We are direct descendants of
a family of WeTtzes who lived at Kon-
igwinter on the Rhine. Germany. some
years ago. These Wcrtzes lid claim
TO the Wertz estate in Amsterdam,
Holland long previous 10 1852. The
/ Holland government at that time ad-
mitted the justice of the claim I read
a cablegram from London last Janu-
airy. stating that family of Wertzes
in Birmingham, Eng, laid claim to this
same estate and expected TO be able TO
prove the claims very soon. My I'M
Gle says that when he was quite lad
! in Konigswinter he remembers that
this claim was made by our family to
direct relationship to the Wertz who
died in Amsterdam and left this for
tune. I have made inquiries through
the consul for the German empire, IN
| Charleston, S. c. of the American con-
sui in Amsterdam to which has been
received the following reply: Dear
/ Sir: Replying to your letter of the
{ End, have already received inquiries
/ regarding he Wertz estate and can
/ only reply that under the law OF the
/ Netherlands passed in 1852 all estates
unclaimed five years thereafter es-
cheated to the state. I 90 not believe
there is the least possibility of recover
/ ing this alleged estate, but if you wish
ed TO follow this matter, you might get
in touch with the following attorneys
/ there are given the namesD.
( FRANK w. MAHIN, Consul.
/. CONDEMN A COUSIN.
This letter was read at a meeting
/ last night. At midnight the men held
an informal meeting and decided to
draw up a set OF resolutions denounc-
/ ing NJ. A. Wertz of Washington. d. c.
and stating that he has misrepreseut-
/ ed the case and is only after the coin.
a copy of those resolutions will be
mailed to the president and other
men high up with whom complaint will
be made.
MANY COME TODAY.
The great majority of the big men,
the state attorneys and lawyers, arriv-
ed this morning; and are voicing their
opinions this afternoon. A delegation
of u heirs from AledO arrived this
morning, including Attorney George
Wertz of that place who is on the pro-
gram to speak. Attorney G. Frank
Wertz of Forreston. H., is also slated
for an address. The main talk is be-
ing given by Mrs. Snyder. however,
who is taking as her subject, The
Vert Family-Their History as far as
Known" When asked regarding the
accusations to the effect that she was
merely calling this meeting for the
purpose of getting the genealOgy COM
plete. so that she could write a book
and that she had no idea of being able
to get the fortune, Mrs Wertz said
You can say for me, absolutely that
I will not write a geneaIogy of the
Wertzes nor viii write a novel there
on. The only people that would be in
terested in the book would be the
WeTtzes themselves. I am busy writ
ing novels and plays, so that I have
not the time to devote TO this thing
any more Furthermore, there is a
Vert descendant in Chicago now,
Mrs. Della Stockley, who is working
on 4 geneaIogy. I have no selfish mo-
tive in calling this meeting, other than
the matter of family pride in tracing
the family back 800 years or more, a
thing which very few families can do.
I am absolutely done with the affair
from today on. and the burden viii
have 10 be taken up by others.
MRS SNYDER'S SPEECH.
The speech made by Mrs. Snyder be-
fore her man cousins this afternoon in
part was as follows:
IT is a great pleasure 10 me 70
stand before you this afternoon and
welcome the many cousins that have
travelled from far and near IN order 10
be present at this remarkable reunion
OF the Wertz family. ] call you cous-
ms advisedly for I feel confident that
we are all descendants OF the same
parent stock. Ny object in calling to-
gether the branches is not alone for
the purpose OF devising practical
means Of drafting a claim for the