Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-17

a doubt He vouchsafed the interest
ing tale of the century's fight In court
TO secure the money, and here ii is:
\ century ago Greece was down.
trodden beneath the iron heel of Tur-
key. but the movement was alreaLy
on foot which resulted in the great
revolution and in 1921 freed her from
Mohammedan rule II was in this
revolution that Lord Byron, the cele-
brated character of English literature.
fought and died.
Before the revolution could be be-
gun, however. funds were necessary.
and patriots made secret tours
through Greece and eastern nations
soliciting money to help release the
kingdom from bondage. Among these
collectors was an aged monk.
Entire Fortune Is $4,000, 900.
This monk proved an excellent so
licitor and collected a sS=n equivalent
in American money to millions of dol
lars. Not daring to place TINS
money in the Grecian banks, for it
would doubtless have been confiscat-
ed Dy the Turkish oppressors. he plac-
ed it in the First National bank OF
Russia. Later he suffered an attack
OF heart failure and died. This was
in 1918.
For 80 years the money remained
in the bank unknown to relatives, to
the government of Greece or to the
revolutionists In the meantime, the
latter had. in 1921. won their fight and
made Greece free.
After 80 years had passed the Rus
sian government learned that the
monk had relatives in Greece, and
these were notified that the supposed
ly poor man had left a fortune. The
heirs Immediately prepared 10 collect
it. but at the same time the Grecian
government learned of the money and
for. what purpose it had been secured.
and also prepared to collect 1t.
4 legal battle ensued and for years
the government and the monks rela-
tives fought the case out in the Rus
sian courts. In the meantime the
heirs constantly increased.
German Lawyer Successful.
Ten years ago the heirs discharged
all of their old attorneys and retained
a German lawyer, said to be one of
the most brilliant in Germany and
man who was close t6 the royal fam
lily. He agreed to charge nothing If
he did not win the fortune for the
heirs; on the other hand to take one
half of it in event he was successful.
Through his influence and ability
he won the battle, and as his share
took one-haIf. or s3O,0OO.O0O. The re-
mainder was distributed. This was
only a few weeks ago.
Andrew Zerbinos, one of the 80
heirs. had. in the meantime, moved
to this country and practically given
up hope of ever recovering his share
of the money. In fact he had almost
forgotten its existence when the news
reached him that he was a million
aire At the same time he received
a letter from. a brother in Greece
stating thai his portion of the money
WIS awaiting him in Greece.
Zerbinos. however. is not the
only Moline Greek who will pros
per by this unexpected turn of af-
fairs. His nephew, James Zerbinos.
now a clerk in the uncle's store. will
receive approximately S250,000. James
has already notified his uncle that he
intends to abandon his contemplated
career as a grocery clerk and will re-
turn to his native country to spend
the rest of his days in luxury.
Mr.. Zerbinos also announces
that he will dispose of his business
here and return to his native land.