The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-03-25
IN
EAST SAID
| TOBE myth
Out Rivals World Famous
Spanish Fortune; but lo-
cal "Heirs" Hopeful

WV. 900. goo and It's group OF cxpcc-
tAnt Seattle heirs and heircsses. Ia
myth and a fraud outrivaiing the
miscellaneous spanish fortune"
A month agc Il was announced
nat several Seattle people had sud.
denly fallen into fortunes varying
from q million and half to two and
= half milton dollars.
Other heirs and claimants TO the
vast estate OF Baker were scattered
turnout the country.
ESTATE or REVOLUTIONARY
WAR HERO
The estate vas that Of Col Jacob
Baker. Revolutionary war hero. IL
was announced-land granted the old
colonel by a thankful government In
return for his services and sacrifices
curing the war.
II included hundreds OF ac>es In the
heart OF Philadelphia. osner real es-
tate Of almost fabulous value. and
the accrued profits from ss.year
lunsehold. all IN eastern banks on
deposit awaiting distribution
Among the 900 legal descendants
- the original owner was Mrs Olive
Virginia Atkins. wife OF Frank r.
Atkins. = realty broker. living at
of5S First ave- y.
Mrs Atkins alone was reported en-
titled to some 100 acres Of Philadel-
phiA business property including the
gise OF the Philadelphia city hall. as
VEN as the entire city OF Chiilicothe.
Ohio. a place OF Is. 500 population
Atkins took charge OF the legal
business Of getting the estate
strzightened out for his wife and all
ether western heirs including hts
brother tn-iaw. Frank l.. Baker. OF
sets Harvard ave. N: Mrs. w. r.
Mas. has W. 5sth st. and the chill
lren Of the lafe James Lionel Baker.
~ Censraiia. who was a great grand.
80 Of the original Col Baker.
NOW REPORTED TO BE
FABLE AND SWINDLE
Now comes the report from Phna-
Geiphsa that the Baker estate Is a
fable. a fabrication and a swindle-
Mayor Moore OF Philadelphia. ac-
oprvting TO the report after an In
vexfigation caused John IL. Broadway.
chief counsel for the bureau Of Legal
aid, to issue the following statement
- findings:
"There was an estate Of Jacob
Baker. q Revolutionary veteran.
which was handled In the orphans
court Of Philadelphia county. The
records OF the court show II was dis
posed OF about fstT and the estate
vas valued at about IS. 900 or s. 900.
- set forth In the account which was
eiIed-
.Ths fake Baker estate which
has been used as bait turnout the
entire country. was supposed to con
sixt of a Sugar lease on certain real
estate in the city OF Philadelphia
part OF which Is now occupied by the
city hall. and on additional real es-
tate situated in the city Of Chilli
cothe. o.
"The persons who use this nebulous
lqestate as a means OF obtaining money
from unsuspecting victims by the
name of Baker declare that the 90
year lease as just expired and that
this enormous estate IL about to be
distributed. The records disclose no
lease. or any such property right
The orphans court reports the whole
mztfer to be fraud and the register
Of wills office has gone so far as to
print a postal card 10 this effect for
distribution to all inquirers"
Atkins. who Is directing the affairs
of the western heirs and claimants
from his offices In the Burke build
Ing. said today he does not believe
the Philadelphia report branding the
estate as a dream
Two weeks ago. he said. II got
word from 8. d. Abel. secretary OF
the Ontario Baker Heirs association.
o. Toronto. that their representative
had looked up the estate and found
property In Philadelphia valued at
5000 900. 900 or $500 900. 900.
sOf course. IL bchooves those Phila.
d~sphians to throw cold water on the
affair. The mayor naturally doesn't
want his city hall owned by a woman
In Seattle. They tried the same thing
Is years ago. and partially succeeded
IN hushing II up. II they can get
away with II this time. well and good.
III uSt WOffyAHb- '" W Apt d1S1-
Citations and have lawyers going into
the matter.
Meanwhile certain svindlers have
found out about the estate and are
using II as a foundation for hiking
innocent people out Of a lot OF
money.
Our attorney In Chicago informed
Oe a short while ago that a swfndler
N New York city was representing
himself as my brotherin law, Frank,
and collecting money from everyone
named Baker to employ counsel
The man wasn't arrested. burt I
sent word TO New York authorities
that the man was not Frank Baker,
but an Imposter, and they're looking
for him now"
IL the Philadelphia mayors claims
are true, hundreds OF letters have
reached him asking for information
about the estate. He says:
Eight hundred million dollars In
considerably larger bait than has
been offered in the notorious Span
uDh fortune, which has been offered
o. thousands OF Americana II they
UiII send various amounts OF money
- some city In Spain TO get out Of
prison the man who has hidden
fortune rivaling that OF Grover Berg.
doll The $500 100000 Baker estate
IL worthy Of the American swind.
kgs.s