New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-24
Missing Heir to Scotch ssronetcy
Sought Here.

NsrziAs. in the Old World as In the
Nsv. are actively engaged in search 10
discover who among them Is the rightful
heir 10 the baronetcy of Menzies and tho
rhieftsinship OF that old Scotch clan.
There are quite a number of claimants
20 these distinctions, but the one who
seems 10 have the best chance-H no can
he found-is old Duncan Menzies. son OF
Donald Menzies, Of Tichraggan, Weems.
lie was for several years In domestic ser
vice as coachmsn TO one Of the county
families OF Dumfriesshire, and II Is
known that when the late Fletcher Men
zles, uncle Of the last baronet, and Tor
nearly forty years the secretary OF the
Highland Society. met him on one oc-
casion at one OF the society's agricultural
shows at Dumfries, he had a long talk
with him, and strongly advised him 70
give his children 2 good education. pre-
sumably In view of the fact that one of
them might be called upon to succeed 90
the family honors and estates
This interview took place about gen.
Grafton ago, and, according 10 recent In
vestigations that havo been in progress,
old Duncan ana his family, including
ward to the New World. though whether
they settled In the United States or
Canada It lie impossible TO say as yet, ali
trace Of them having been lost.
Perhaps old Duncan Men2ies is dead.
But his sons must surely be living. and
there seems to be little doubt that If the
eldest OF them presents his claim 70 the
bsTonetcy and the chietainship Of the
clan before the Court Of Sessions at
Edinburg IL will be allowed.
Whether or not the heir can recover
the large estates, amounting TO over one
hundred thousand acres In Scotland,
along with Castle Menzies and other
country seats, Is a doubtful question:; for
the last baronet, Sir Neil Menzivs, who
died in December. 1910. had on the death
q his father. IN 1906, presented petition TO
the Court Of Sessions for the disentailing
q the property. which was granted, his
Uncle Fletcher, who had no son, offering
no opposition. II Is probable that had old
Duncan Menzies, the former coachman,
or failing him, his eldest son. known of
tho matter and raised any objection
thereto as second heir, tho permission TO
lsentail would not have been granted,
il IS this plea that Duncan or his sons
VII have to prefer, once their claim to
he uaronetcy Is acknowledged II they
wish 70 recover the estates.
These are now IN possession OF the
widow OF Sir Neil, formerly the wife OF
the Earl Of Stair who divorced her in
lS5, naming Sir Neil as correspondent.
Sir Neil married her on the very day
that the decree Of divorce was made ABB
solutc. She was the eldest daughter of
the late Sir James Grant-Suttie, and had
previously incurred much public criticism
LOT bringing ali sorts Of cruel charges
against Lord Stair, which were thrown
ost OF court as unfounded.
Naturally, her antecedents did not COM
msaa her TO the clan Of Menzies nor 10
toe county families OF Perthshire, 10
Enieh most Of the Menzies estates are
foeated, and she is now showing her
"''srness about the treatment which she
IscelVed at their hands by offering AZ
PUBIC suction this week d considerable
portion Of the property. In fact, she has
sven II 10 be understood that she IN
shas 10 convert into cash not only all
cls rest OF the Menzies property. but even
,asue Aenzies Her action Is creating IN
H. lnolsnatlon among the Menzles 1ah-
inct,t III elan, and several OF the name
Nnaudihg ID. y. Men2ies, OF PleaD, Sur
tttsbife' nave been endeavoring 10 stop
M. Saie, ss next heirs 10 the baronstcy.
tecogn oiEurlsi however. have, refused 90
oghze their claims until II can DC
an" ~ mat the old coachman. Duncan,
fs.mnN III nls sons have died without maze
MARQClSE DE FONTENoa'