The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-03-17
LONDON news LETTER

London. March 1.-THE missing es-
ate swindle is evidently again being
worked extensively in the United
States. The embassy here is over
whelmcd with letters from American
"heirs' askin how best to secure
estates due them. Some letters indicate
that victims are induced to part with
all their property to pay expenses or
pseudo representatives OF the chancery
court.
Ten years ago the state department
at Washington received sc many re-
quests about missing estates in chan
Gerry that q special investigation was
made by Henry White. then first sec
rotary of the American embassy here.
He reported that it would be practic-
ally impossible for any American to
secure an estate from the court of
~chancery. The report showed that the
large estates constantly spoken of as
dormant in chancery" or awaiting
claimants in the Bank Of England
were purely imaginary. and usually
the invention of swindlers, who OBJ
ain money for the prosecution of
claims to fictitious fortunes.
The funds in %chancery open to claim
! are few, averaging less than $1,000
each, two only approaching $75,O 00, and
most of them inevitably would con-
sumo their own value in the expenses
Of recovery. The fullest proofs Of gen.
eology are demanded, and in the case
of Americans such proofs are almost
impossible. even the clearest claims
are usually barred by the statute Of
limitations. About the time Of this
| report the inquiries became so heavy
that they overloaded the correspond
ence of the embassy and a printed form
Of reply was adopted and this Is in
use today.
| -4 -. -I,a. o-o 80 +t,o-o ,xy;Yoj-
lers persuaded a number Of alleged
descendants in America that the es-
tate of their ancestor, Sir Francis
Drake, was ready for distribution by
the court Of chancery, the swindle was
widely exposed by the American news
papers, with the result that the in
quiries practically ceased until with
in the past few weeks.
Mrs. Scott, mother Of the Captain
Scott who lost his life in returning
from the south pole, has been offered
one of the apartments in Hampton
Court palace. These are at the dispOs-
al of the king, who usually grants
them to widows Of men who have dis
tinguished themselves in national
| service. Although the apartments are
| finely appointed, they are not always
a delight to those to whom the king
offers them rent free. 1t is customary
for the tenants to pay the rates and
taxes, which amount to something like
$500 a year. For this price a fairly
| good cottage can be obtained in the
vicinity. Hampton Court has it's dis
advantages, among them gossip n
misunderstanding, as the life is some
what like that of a community. Many
Of the apartments also are very high
! up and have no elevators. This in
convenience is not altogether met by
.-f- 49, - - 81 La
| down to the postman or tradesman. On
the other hand, the oom are very
beautiful and the tenants have the use
of the gardens in the early morning
before the crowds of visitors arrive.
P. Amaury Talbot, of the Nigerian
Political service, who has Travelled
much through Africa studying the
various tribes, a the Ibibios, ma
tives Of southern Nigeria. who are OF
such a low type that they are called
mud fish. rank among the most an
cient of southern Nigerian tribes, and
speak different dialects Of a very old
and primitive tongue.
Witch doctors dominate the life Of
the race. AS a protection against farm
thefts, certain spells are recited over
the long hoe used for breaking up the
ground, and a medicine" poured over
it.. after which it is given back to it's
owner to be hung up in some conspic-
uous place on the plantation. No SOON
airy, than the magic hoe springs to his
hand. Unconsciously his fingers clasp
themselves around the haft. He Is
bent down by a power there is no re-
sisting. and finds himself forced
against his will to hoe and hoe.
mot for a moment can he pause,
even to straighten his back, SO long as
a Gin pIo wood foINanirS IN tho fa rro a
single yam needs banking or a single
clod would be the better for breaking.
So long must h evil-doer continue to
work for the man he had intended to
rob. Only when the owner arrives on
the scene, should he SO wish, can the
magis hoe be released from the hand
of the thief. 1t Is not said whether
the magic has ever worked.
Quaint burial customs prevail. Slaves
are frequently sacrificed at the death
of a chief and buried with him. Until
prohibited by the government chiefs
were buried in their houses with
strange ritual and sacrifice. A burial
chamber was prepared underneath n
Of the rooms, and in this the chiefs
body was placed. His best loved wife
and two of the most beautiful Of his
slaves entered the room and seated
themselves at a table opposite their
lord. After some ceremonial all but
the women withdrew, the chamber
was sealed mp, and the unfortunate
women were left to a lingering death.
A petition in favor OF the plumage
bill to DO presented to the house Of
commons has been signed by 21,585
persons who visited the bird court of
the exhibition Of Australian manufac-
turers last fall. So strong lis Australian
opinion in favor of the bill that 1t Is
stated in official circles that had the
petition been circulated publicly Ii
would undoubtedly have been signed
by 95 per cent of the population.
This ntens feeling is due, apart
from humanitarian reasons, to the
conviction that systematic slaughter
OF birds for the plumage market lis
having a most detrimental effect upon
agriculture. Public opinion is also in
censed by the fact that prohibited
skins and feathers are smuggled out
Of the country I'm spite Of the vigilance.
OF the authorities, and lit is recognized
that onlv pI0siira Df fhs bdYyfa