Of Interest to Members of the Bedford Family
The following is the body of a letter written by G. G. Bedford of Peterborough, Ontario in 1970 titled "Of Interest to Members of the Bedford Family"
Recently and while browsing for something unusual to read I came upon a 1940 publication of the McClelland Co. of New York, written by Curtis D. MacDougall, entitled Hoaxes
I began to read it as I would any other off-beat type of book of light reading until I reached page 64 in the fifth chapter (which was entitled "Incentives to Believe: Financial Gain"). At the beginning of this chapter I was amazed at how easily some people had been 'taken'. Then, as I said, I reached page 64 from which I [G. G. Bedford] shall quote without regard to copyright laws. I shall begin to quote a little before I reach the portion pertinent to us [Bedfords]:
Despite repeated warnings by both British and American governments that no such estate exists, the racket was promoted successfully as late as 1935. Oscar Hartzell of Iowa alone made over $1,000,000 before being sent to Leavenworth for life. He took up the racket himself after being duped by Sadie Whitaker of Chicago. (I should add that the estate in question above was the supposed fortune of Sir Francis Drake)
I was becoming interested in light of the fact we Bedfords have at least dreamed of the fabulous "Edwards Estate". I read on and here again I quote from the very next paragraph:
Another is the Edwards Heirs fraud started in the 1880's by Dr. Herbert W. Edwards of Cleveland, Ohio, who said that he was descended from Robert Edwards alleged owner in 1770 of 65 acres of Manhattan Island, including the site of the Woolworth Building. Dr. Edwards founded the International Edwards Heirs Association, which his son continued, to recover the property - lost he said through legal chicanery.
It has not been my intention to change the views of or interfere with the the beliefs of any other family member, however the information is rather well documented, was written by a known author and was published by one of the most traditional and respected of world publishing houses. Is there an Edwards Estate ? Have we as a family been innocent victims of one of the most common hoaxes popular during the days of our forbearers?
(signed) George G. Bedford