Unclaimed Fortunes in English Banks
There are about $800,000,000, or more, it is said, tied up in the banks of England. Many of these are accumulations from forgotten lawsuits involving big fortunes. The heirs to some of these fortunes can not be found, and most of the rest of it, including cash securities, jewelry, gold and silver plate, has accumulated owing to the death, disappearance, or forgetfulness of depositors. There are prominent men who feel that the government has a better right to this than have the bankers, and a bill is before Parliament to compel the banks to disgorge. The effort to obtain this money shows the straits to which governments are coming under the rule of militarism.