WOULD RUIN FRANCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 69, 22 February 1937, Page 7

WOULD RUIN FRANCE.

ONE FAMILY’S HUGE CLAIM. From Colbert in the 17th century to Vincent Auriol to-day, every French Treasurer has been worried about the Thilerry fortune, for every year someone claims the heritage that it wou'd ruin France to meet. The claim winch was estimated in 1890 at 31,000,000,000 gold francs, this week bobbed up in a letter, with a stamp for reply, which begged Auriol ‘“to end the breach of trust, for which all French Governments up to and including Blum’s, have been claimed that France owes the Thierry heirs capital, with compound interest, on 56,000,000 Venetian gold florins, a massive ingot ot gold valued at 35,000,000 florins, six barrels ot ■ mid dust and other treasures. ” The founder of the fortune was Jean Thierrv, of Chateau Thierry, who made it out'of champagne, died aged 96 in 1675 at Venice, and loft it to Ins brothers and his brothers’ heirs Thierry had 15 brothers and sisters but certain Government officials thought it expedient they should not be found. In 1797 when Napoleon entered Venice at the head of an army he seized the Tlnerry heritage In 1931 the Seine tribunal affirmed that the heirs who now numbered hundreds, had cost the Government nothing, and Uncle Jean’s money was not handed over M. Gruesse has told Le Matin that the heirs, whom he represents, will now take a 0,000.000 francs.