Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-26
Government Collection of Ring s
Watches and Other Relics of Those
Whose Heirs Have Not Been +
Found Receives Many Ad-
ditions as Years Pass.
ditions as Years Pass.

claim his effects five years from now?
| Would be excused by saying I gave
| them to--a sweetheart?"
Yes. but we were together so long.
/ For 20 years We took our vacations to-
gether. But we never married"
SO? Vacations together unused
Uncle Sam. Where did you so on
| your vacations?"
ITO Colonial Beach" she replied,
Uncle Sam drew out picture from
the dead mans effects Recognize this
MANI" he asked.
! yes. it's John. the old dear. John"
Another picture was produced and
! handed to the lady. 1T is l." she said
identifying herself. Now, can't you
give me his efrects?"
1.-The law won't permit me. I'm
sorry"
III I return in six months will you
| give them to me?"
No"
Six months later a woman ambled
| toward the Old Pension Building. fol-
| lowing the phantom footprints that lead
to the Bureau of Dead Mems Shoes
81" she said. calling attention to her
presence, Am an old sweetheart of John
Does. May have his effectS?"
''SweetheartS cannot inherit effects"
said Uncle Sam.
But you told me I could have them"
No. no, They are for his family or
relatives. Are you relative?"'
Why, no--1m just an old sweet
heart"
That was her last visit. She went out
and was swallowed by the city. no one
knows where. John Does legacy is
sealed in package waiting year after
year for his relatives or family. He
once had sweetheart.
Another case He was a. captain in
the American Army in France Killed
in terrific explosion which shattered
his body Not even lock of hair to
bury. He left only name and a
roll OF muddy substance that looked like
Havana cigar. Now. reasoned Uncle
Sam. unless this muddy substance has
no value, sentimental or monetary. the
man viii have left only a name as a
legacy. A name cannot be sealed in
package. for it is like an idea. So,
carefully examining the cigar" Uncle
Sam found that it was made Of wrap
pings, each layer of which was green
back. The Treasury Departments ex-
pertS piled their cunning and tools.
The muddy cigar" yielded 20 less
than$lS0 in American currency, which
is deposited to the credit of the cap
tain's heirs.
+ Usually when effects are returned
to the custody OF a family their
Joy Is unbounded. Hundreds Of long
letters attest TO this. Only once have
the services of Uncle Sam been SUBJ
iected to the fire of bitter sarcasm and
hateful criticism. After going 10 con-
ENeH eaYNr IA Sx~ u
Transporting the Identification tag worn
by certain soldier killed in France,
the keepsake was forwarded to his
mother, living in a Western State.
IT hereby acknowledge receipt Of the
dog tag" the mother wrote II don't
know why you sent it or why I need It,"
Many articles and effects are held
pending some agreement on their dis
position by brothers, sisters and rela-
tiyes. There must be unanimity of
opinion among the heirs, and 1t must
be expressed In writing Otherwise
the Government refuses to satisfy the
claim.
The Government has custody of a
ring on whose face are engraved the
Initials M. H. S" and 1910" The
initials probably refer to some high
school whose first letter Is M Although
% pSNbAAC vi JAils ING lt6o uScIl GItOWn
in theaters all over the country. no one
has ever laid claim to IT, Inquiry has
been made at countless high schools,
but with no results Now i8 years old,
this piece Of jewelry shows signs of
considerable wear. 1t was made. 1t
seems. for a girls finger. although 1t
was found on the body of dead SOL
der II Is a sphinxiike riddle and
like many others in this morgue of
hearts. may never be solved
More than nine-tenths of the lega-
cies include rings And to heirs, more
sentimental value attaches TO mere
band Of silver or gold than TO a host
Of other articles. Mr. Robbins has on
hand a box of more than 800 rings
whose owners are nowhere TO be found.
Most men leave watches, too. Some
men left as many as three and four
watches One man left so pairs of
spectacles.
Out Of a lot of accumulated watches,
Mr.. Robbins once referred the serial
numbers TO watch manufacturers.
In this way he found that one of his
best samples had been purchased be-
fore the World War by man who was
later killed in France. Communicating
with his family, Mr.. Robbins was con-
WINGED Of their right to inherit the time
piece. The dead mans parents knew
the article so well that they repeated
the exact serial number and detailed
description. The watch was sent 10
them, and they, because they were hon
est or conscientious, returned another
watch, saying:
The watch you sent really belonged