The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-03-14
Resting for a Decade
Swindlers are Trying Out
Old Game on Soft Snaps in
the States.
EMBASSY
FLOODED WITH MAIL
Anxious Descendants of Sir
Francis Drake Hot on Trail
of Huge Estate Described
by Con Artists.
OBy Associated Press.)

Thy Associated Press.)
London. March 1.-THE missing
estate swindle il evidently again be-.
ing worked cxtcnsir In the United
states. The embassy here is over
whcln'ed with letters from American
heirs asking how best to secure
estates due them. some letters indi-
cate that victims were Induced to
part with all their property to pay
expenses Of pseudo representatives OF
the chancery court.
Ten years ago the state department
az washington received SO many re-
quests about missing estates IN cham
Gerry that a special Investigation was
made by Henry White, then lrss Sec
Rotary Of the American embassy here.
He reported hat h would be praC-
tically impossible for any American
Ia secure an estate from the court OF
c~hancery. The report showed that
tho large estates constantly spoken of
a. dormant in c~hancery" or await
ing claimants In the Bank OF Eng
landi were purely imaginary. and
usually the invention OF Swindlers,
who obtained money for the prosecu-
ton OF claims to fictitious fortunes.
The funds In chanCery open ia
claim are few, averaging less than
$hS00 each. two only approaching
$4,000. and most OF them inevitably
would consume their own value In the
expenses Of The fullest
proofs nf geneaiogy are demanded,
and In the case OF Americans such
proofs are almost Impossible. Even
the clenrest claims are usually barred
by the statute or limitations. About
the time Of this report the Inquiries
became So heavy that they overload
ed the correspondence Of the embas-
~. and a printed form 81 reply was
adopted and this II In use today.
Las year when one OF these swind-
lcrs persuaded "a number Of alleged
descendants In America that the
estate Of their ancestor. Sir Francis
Drake. wac ready for distribution hy
the court OF chancery. the swindle
was widely exposed by the American
newspapers. with the result hat the
Inquiries practically ceased until
within the past few weeks.
Mrs. Scott. mother 81 the Captain
S"att who lost his life In returning
from the south Pole. has been Of
tered one of the apartments ~ Hnmp-
ton Court Palace. These are az tho
disposal OF the kine. who usually
grants them To- widows of men who
have distinguished themselves in ma.
tional service. Although the apart
mrnts are finely appointed. they are
not always n delight to those to whom
the king oners them rent free. II is
customary Tor the tenants to pay the
rates and taxes. which amount 10
something like s300 a year. For this
price a fairly good cottage can be
obtained In the vicinity. Hampton
Court has It's disadvantages. among
them gossip and misunderstandings
as the life is somewhat like that of
a community. Many Of the apart
ments also are very high up and have
no elevators. This inconN enience is
not altogether met by a basket on
the end of a string let down To- the
postman OF tradesman ON the other
hand. the rooms are very beautiful.
and h tenants have the use Of the
gardens In the early morning before
the crowds of visitors arrive.
-
T.. Maury Talbot. OF the Nigerian
political service, who has travelled
mach through Africa studying the
various tribes. SAYS the lblbios. ma
tives of Southern Nigeria. who are
OF such a low type that they are
called mud fish, rank among the
most ancient or Southern Nlgerian
tribes, and speak different dialects
~ q very old and primitive tongue.
Witch doctors dominate the lie Of
the race. As a protection against
farm theNs certain spells are re-
cited over the long noe used for
breaking up the ground. and a med
icine' poured over Il, after which Il
is given back To It's owner to be hung
up In some conspicuous place on the
plantation. No sooner does the thief
creep over the boundary than the
magic hoe springs Co hits hand. Tn
consciously his fingers clasp them
selves around the haf. lie II bent
down by q power there IA no resist
ing and finds himself forced against
his Will To hoe aud hoe.
mot for a Ome can ne pause,
even to straighten his back. 80 long
as a single weed remains on the
farm. a single yam needs banking or |
a single olod would he the better for ,
%hTeaking. So long must the evil
aoer continue to work Tor the man
he had intended "a rob. only when
the owner arrives on the scene.
should he "a wish, can the magic hoe
be released from the hand OF the
thief II IA not said whether the
magic has ever worked.
Quaint burial customs prevail |
Slaves are frequently sacrificed az
the death Of q chief and buried with
him. until prohibited hy the gov
eminent chiefs were hurried In their
houses with strange ritual aud sac